THE JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER

I welcome the nomination of and look forward to meeting the new United States Secretary of Defense-designate, Robert Gates, in Washington when I attend the Australia-US Ministerial forum in December.

The Australian Government has moved a step closer to ensuring Australia’s future air superiority, by giving First Pass approval for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. This will be Australia’s largest defence procurement.

I plan to sign the JSF Production Sustainment and Follow-on Development (PSFD) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in December, once final administrative arrangements are in place.

Signing this MoU will open up billions of dollars of opportunities for Australian industry. Twenty Australian companies have already won work estimated at US$90 million.

To cover against potential delays that can occur with projects of this scope, the Government is looking at cost effective options to ensure Australia maintains air superiority during the transition period.

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