World Affairs Board - View Single Post - The Australian Debate: Abandon F-35, Buy F-22s?

VarSity · 03-20-2008, 05:34 AM

Please bear with me if this is a stupid suggestion, but given Australia may want the F-22 for defence, could a different arrangement not be reached?

I am aware that RAF pilots fly US aircraft on exchange (and vice versa) so could the US and Australia come to an agreement where Australia ‘rent’ F-22’s?

For example Australia pays for the F-22’s, and Australia pilots fly them from a US base. But the actual Airframes remain the property of the US Government.
The US gets cheaper F-22’s (and therefore more of them), gets to renegotiate use of bases in Australia (if needed, I have no idea) and as the F-22’s run off a joint Australian/US base the US can handle all their security concerns.

…am I living in a fantasy world?

03-20-2008, 05:34 AM	#28 (permalink)
VarSity Contributor Join Date: 06-11-07 Location: Leicester Posts: 515 Country:	Please bear with me if this is a stupid suggestion, but given Australia may want the F-22 for defence, could a different arrangement not be reached? I am aware that RAF pilots fly US aircraft on exchange (and vice versa) so could the US and Australia come to an agreement where Australia ‘rent’ F-22’s? For example Australia pays for the F-22’s, and Australia pilots fly them from a US base. But the actual Airframes remain the property of the US Government. The US gets cheaper F-22’s (and therefore more of them), gets to renegotiate use of bases in Australia (if needed, I have no idea) and as the F-22’s run off a joint Australian/US base the US can handle all their security concerns. …am I living in a fantasy world?