![F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets (from Wikipedia)](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vLR-WJ1WfQnFxZ8dihSC14gOUrkdJqZ2CBO3L1ElV4U2ROcOEJUasueqpZVdHbx7wKAgB-95XEsFds4V_EvVoMefJbKGaNt8M7PY2urzz-Y6_ceTNWNeuQsHiTjcz7RmVsiMcrjJpL94OHG_KoQMA49nMgvC7L9g9GZGszwdmGmw6AE0HOZbP-2M7XOb0K=s0-d)
The Australian government is
considering buying 24
F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter/attack aircraft. The Super Hornet is a two seat derivative of the
F/A-18 Hornet currently in service with the RAAF.
The Super Hornet would be used as a stop gap due to a delay in the availability of the
F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. These are to replace the
F111s due for retirement in 2010.
The F/A-18F is relatively new design, has the advantage of being proven in service but is not a stealth aircraft like the F-35. While the Australian plan seems to be to only order enough Super Hornets as a temporary stopgap, it may make sense to retain them to replace the older F/A-18s. Australian could then consider if F-35s are needed, or if their job could be better done with UAVs exploiting advanced
computers and telecommunications technology.
![Lockheed Martin F-35](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uVHQ5AoHc_bQ7RSAcqssZwHDcYoeAUr99wWF9Xl--fHZDfw007JbBqiGbzjHmjIx_7gS6AYBGnhD-J57QTZCnP0C_aBtsyU1_4zagOFkLOtE4j2NEF=s0-d)
Lockheed Martin have proposed an UAV derivative of the F-35, with a typical mission consisting of four unmanned JSFs controlled from two piloted F-35 or F-22s. Sensor information would be shared between the aircraft via datalinks. However, the F-35 and F-22 are both single seat aircraft, leaving the pilot little time to fly another two aircraft remotely. In contrast the F/A-18F has two seats, making it more feasible for one of the crew to control the UAVs.
![Landing Helicopter Dock (from Australian Defence)](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_s9zCYRIMBRSySPnC-EX_5Dz478fqFSTG8XdP0gxwGK8xUK2-q79ddg3BGq-tbumtyVcq96IClnWbhbVSVOjXnFEYBQwPCNuE9zhsyZkIEKyzUvP0jCkCbNlP4_3FBLht4D9oUjc00N3Ot24OZGLJh2gI4C=s0-d)
Australia could also consider a mix of land based F/A-18Fs and F-35B Short Take-Off Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft based on the new
Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ships, which are essentially small aircraft carriers. The F-35B stealth capabilities would complement the longer range of the F/A-18F.
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