It is true the price will increase if buyers drop out of the program. This is a concern however at this stage no partner nations have dropped out (though some have reduced buy numbers) and a few others like Japan, Singapore and Israel have expressed an intent to buy F-35's. Canada is in a different ballpark to Aust. They have a very tough neighbour and NATO partner to look after them but I suspect when the dust settles they will still buy the F-35. Our F-111's were unable to defend themselves and even though they had huge range were limited by the range of the escorting F-18's. The Super Hornet's on the other hand can protect themselves and with their AESA radars dominate the russian fighters in SE Asia. Unfortunately the USN only plans on supporting/upgrading the Super's until 2025 and by that time also the russian and chinese stealth fighters will be active. Aust buying more Super's now is only good for the next 10-15 years but if we buy F-35's they will be upgradeable for the next 30 (just like our F-18's). Who's to say China won't have an airbase in Indo/Fiji/E Timor within the next 10 years? If so, Aust will be cactus against their stealth planes. Yes the Collins fiasco gives me shivers. And now they are talking about cracking them open (billion dollar costs) and inserting new Japanese engines! We urgently need USN Virginia class nuke boats but sadly our pollies are too scared to upset the voters. Dunno what voters will say when they are forced to learn Chinese or Indo.
Trashcan, I reckon double the price of the Super Hornet's is more likely....so $500 million per plane x 10 years.
