THE HON. GREG COMBET MP
Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science
" COMBET REVIEWS PROGRESS OF JSF
Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, today visited Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, to view progress on the US-led Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program. Mr Combet toured the JSF production line and discussed the JSF’s progress with senior Lockheed Martin officials.
“The visit has reinforced my confidence that the JSF is the right aircraft to meet Australia’s future air combat needs and represents value for money for the Australian taxpayer,” Mr Combet said. ...."
I won't bore you with the rest of it, and yes, I know that this sort of media release is rarely possessing any substance. My point in drawing attention to it is that the wording of it sums up very succinctly the approach that two successive Australian Federal Governments have taken to the most crucial issue of Australia's Air Defence future.
This road to the JSF started during a Washington trip by the former Prime Minister John Howard. After a meeting with representatives of Boeing he announced the cancellation of a 6 year fighter evaluation process, and a committment to the JSF. Many concerned Australians hoped that the Labour government would take a rigorous look at this, but no, what we see in the press release above pretty well sums up their similarly laisezz-faire approach. Look at the second sentence, this sort of statement wouldn't pass muster in a junior high school project. Does not the honourable minister appreciate that "senior Lockheed Martin officials" are paid very large sums of money to sell their products?
The release goes on to talk about acquiring 100 of these single engine bomb trucks.
What Australia needs is several squadrons of Eagles.
What Lockheed Martin are selling us is a flock of budgies!
MiGMan
October 8th, 2009
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