Australia may not buy 28 F-35A aircraft because of the modernisation of the F/A-18 Super Hornet, the development of the MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone and the emergence of sixth-generation fighters

Australia is one of many foreign operators of the fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II fighter jets. The Ministry of Defence had planned to order 28 more aircraft, but may abandon the idea.

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The Royal Australian Air Force has ordered 72 F-35A Lightning II aircraft. The contract value was $12bn. The fifth-generation fighters are a replacement for the fourth-generation F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft.

However, Australia is now considering extending the service life of the F/A-18E/F. This would allow them to fly until the middle of the next decade, which calls into question the viability of potentially buying 28 more F-35A fighters.

Lockheed Martin's aircraft will remain on the list of candidates to replace the Super Hornet, but the Royal Australian Air Force wants to consider other options. In the middle of the next decade, alternative options will include an American (NGAD) and two European (FCAS and GCAP) sixth-generation fighters.

Another option in 10 years' time for Australia could be drones. In particular, the MQ-28 Ghost Bat (pictured below). This is the first drone in decades to be built by Boeing's Australian division.

Air Marshal Robert Chipman has stated that Australia is fully satisfied with the capabilities it has gained with the purchase of the F-35A Lighting II. However, he called the failure to consider alternatives to replace the Super Hornet an oversight.

Source: Aviation Week