So what airframe _do_ “the Aussies” want? Near as I can tell from all the discussion, it’s the Flanker, which with a couple of upgrades will be superior to the F-22. (At least, if you believe the Aussie forums that are discussion the horrible, terrible, inferior, so-bad-they-can’t-believe-anyone-uses-it Super Hornet vs the Flanker.)
The “experts” in Australia ideally want the F-22.That’s both impossible & impractical in most ways.The F-15E would frankly be the best fit.
The Flanker,with any degree of upgrades will still be inferior to the F-22.The only chance it would have is at close-range,but then pilot skill would become crucial.
The only people who are talking about Australia getting anything Russian are not real defence “experts”.
What we want is an immediate replacement for the F-111 and replacement in 2012-2015 of our legacy Bugs.
There really isn’t a replacement for the Pig in long range strike so in the end it came down to either the Super Hornet or F-15 (similar to the K or SG model). Both have their pros and cons.
The ideal post 2015 RAAF would have a mix of F-22/F-35 but there is no way the US is selling F-22 so the planned all F-35 force will have to do.