Australian F-35 maintenance plan a big question mark

Nominated by me for the DMO Project of Concern List for some time now... the Australian F-35 program has been and is, in dire trouble.

DM Johnston and the rest of the fan-base don't know how they are going to maintain the F-35...even if it gets here in working order.

The two defense ministers also agreed to seek cooperation over the maintenance of F-35 stealth fighter jets that both countries plan to procure from the United States. Japan hopes to create a maintenance hub for the Asia-Pacific region, with the Air Self-Defense Force planning to buy 42 of the aircraft at present.

Note, there isn't a hush-house to be found in the RAAF Williamtown F-35 bed-down plan. Curious how F-35 jet engine maintenance will be worked?

Defence has no credible plan to use the F-35 as a weapon of war against a real threat. First it would get shot down. But second, running a combat jet maintenance plan like its airliner logistics is just... stupid. It is incompatible with sustained war operations.

Japan's F-35 deal runs on a home-industry/U.S. FMS plan. Australia's mistake runs on a JSF Partner Nation Plan. One is performance based. The other is not.


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