[Alter Kaker]

Silly hysteria — the F-35 despite its failings is more than sufficient for Australia’s needs, and it can’t afford the F-22.

[catman67]

Don’t believe that the US is offering F-22s to foreign countries.

[tgusa]

Do you suppose the decision to buy Hornets and Lightning IIs might have to do with affordability? and do you think the Raptor might have some really stringent export restrictions?

[PAR35]

1 The F-22 isn’t presently available for export.
2 The F-22 is a single purpose air superiority fighter; Australia would still need a multirole fighter
3 Australia really can’t afford the F-22
4 One has to wonder if the writer really has a disarmament agenda.

[wastedyears]

Wait... the F-35 is outclassed by Russian jets? Didn’t we build the F-15 or F-16 to beat them? Or was it another jet?

[GBA]

As many others have said, a variant of the F-15 to replace their F-111s would fit Australia’s needs better than the super Hornet and probably the initial version of the F-35. If there is ever a fight, Aussie pilots are going to have to face off with some higher quality Sukois carrying upgraded missiles.

[Yo-Yo]

The F-35 will be adequate as long as close in dogfighting is avoided. I'll bet with Australian pilot training and an F-35 over PLAAF pilot training and the Su-30.

However, Australia also needs long range over water, and the single engine F-35 isn't the best choice. Nor is the SuperHornet with it's short range.

The F-15K with AESA radar would have been a much better choice for an interim air superiority fighter than the SuperHornet, and a much better replacement for the F-111 in the maritime interdiction role.

I can't imagine the SuperHornet cost that much less than the F-15K, and since so much of the SuperHornet is unique from the older and smaller (A)F/A-18A/Bs that Australia flies, commonality isn't a real argument in the SuperHornet's favor, either.

[Atlantic Bridge]

If the F-22 is not available the Australians should turn to Europe and buy up-to-date Rafales, Gripens or Eurofighters. Those planes are able to deal with the newest Russian products. Outdated US planes like F-15s do not necessarily.

Besides - the Australians were the staunchest buddies the US can dream of. WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Iraq etc. pp. The Aussies lost a lot of their sons for the defense of America. Therefore it is a dumb and primitive insult not to sell them F-22 fighters. To offer old BS is despicable. I could understand such mistrust on other US allies in central continetal Europe, but in difference to Australia they do not need to buy US products since they are building suitable planes on their own. Australia needs a helping hand and the US fail to reply the friendship they recieved from the land down under.

The US foreign policy concerning its friends is strange sometimes. No matter if we talk about the visa policy in eastern Europe or those planes in Australia.