EyeBrock EyeBrock:
And as a stop-gap for the F35.
True, but the buy wasn't due to the delays and bungles with the F-35 program. Even if everything had gone perfectly the Aussies likely still wouldn't have received the F-35 in time to relieve the F-111.
The buy wasn't a statement of non-confidence in the F-35.
Also a good number of the Super Hornets are wired for conversion to EA-18 Growlers. I'd bet good money that even when the F-35 arrives the Aussies will still be using the Super Bug, just in a different role.
$1:
I agree with Bart though, the F35 is looking very TSR-2/Arrow like.
If we were only so lucky. The Arrow went from a drawing board in 1953 to the production line by 1957 and first flight in 1958. Despite the advanced nature of the aircraft its development was largely trouble free, save the fire control system and some landing gear issues.
Lockheed Martin could only dream of getting the F-35 moving in that time frame.
$1:
Hey, it's now 20 years since the EH-101 was canx. Great work Libs and Tories on getting a new aircraft. You both suck arse on procurement.
To be completely fair the MHP shitshow rests more on the shoulders of the Liberals than the Conservatives.
It was that crooked bugger Chretien who scrapped the first initiative to replace them. The Cyclone contract with Sikorsky was also signed under the Paul Martin Liberals.
The Conservatives had the choice of either cancelling the Liberal contract, having to pay penalties to Sikorsky, and starting MHP from scratch (again), or running with Sikorsky.
They chose to run with the Liberal-Sikorsky contract. In retrospect this may have been a mistake. To cancel at this point in time isn't feasible, Sikorsky will likely deliver the Cyclone in less time than it would take to have a third competition and pick another helicopter.
Let's just hope they're everything the military asked for.