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December 8, 1999
Australia has unofficially begun the competition to replace its current inventory of combat aircraft (71 F-18A/Bs, 21 F-111Cs, and 14 F-111Gs). [The F-111G is the same aircraft as the FB-111.] A selection must be made by 2005 in order to bring the new aircraft into service when the F-18s retire in 2015 and the F-111s in 2020. The cost of modern aircraft means that Australia will not be able to buy 106 new aircraft to replace 106 old ones, but may have to settle for 40-60 aircraft and a number of cheaper recon aircraft. Candidates for Project Air 6000 include the US-built F-22 (which at $120 million is the most expensive), the Russian Su-35 (at $80 million each), the Eurofighter Typhoon, and the F-18E Super Hornet. --Stephen V Cole
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