Australian Air Force F/A-18 Super Hornet Deal
On 3 May 2007, the Australian Government signed a contract to acquire 24 F/A-18 Super Hornets for the Royal Australian Air Force, at a cost of US$4.6 billion, as an interim replacement for the aging F-111s.
The order has proved to be controversial, with the critics including some retired senior Royal Australian Air Force officers. Air Vice Marshal (ret.) Peter Criss, a former Air Commander Australia, said he was "absolutely astounded" that the Australian government would spend US$4.6 billion on an interim aircraft.[50] Criss has also cited evidence given before the US Senate Armed Services Committee that the F/A-18 Super Hornet is inferior to the MiG-29 and Su-30, which are already operated, or have been ordered, by air forces in South East Asia. Air Commodore (ret.) Ted Bushell stated that the F/A-18 Super Hornet could not perform the role that the Australian government had given it, and the F-111 airframe design would remain suitable for the strategic deterrent/strike role until at least 2020.
The initial package offered to the Royal Australian Air Force will include:
48 installed engines and six spares
APG-79 AESA radar in each plane
Link 16 connectivity with the AN/USQ-140 Multifunctional Informational Distribution System (MIDS)
LAU-127 guided missile launchers
AN/PVS-9 night vision goggles
12 Joint Mission Planning Systems (JMPS)
AN/ALE-55 fiber optic towed decoys
On 31 December 2007, the new Australian Labor government announced that it would review the purchase as part of a wider review of the Royal Australian Air Force fighter procurement plans, with the possibility of the order for F/A-18 Super Hornets being either reduced or canceled. The main reasons given were concerns over operational suitability, the lack of a proper review process, and internal beliefs that an interim fighter was not required.
On 17 March 2008, the Government announced that it would proceed with plans to acquire F/A-18 Super Hornets. Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said that, based on advice from the review team, Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said no other suitable aircraft could be produced to meet the 2010 deadline for the retirement of the F-111 set by the former government and it was no longer possible to keep the F-111s in service past this date.
The Government has also sought US export approval for EA-18G Growlers. On 27 February 2009 Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon announced that 12 F/A-18 Super Hornets would be wired on the production line for future modification as EA-18G Growlers the additional wiring would cost $35 million. The final decision on conversion to EA-18G Growlers, at a cost of $300 million, would be made in 2012.
Still Indian Air forces want to purchase F/A-18 Super Hornets?