Australia will purchase 12 US Growler fighter jets

Australia has struck a deal with the United States for the purchase of 12 Boeing EA-18G Growler fighter jets, state authorities say.

The Australian government announced on Friday that it will buy the dozen advanced electronic warfare technology aircraft at a cost of USD 1.5 billion, though it did not mention when the Growlers will be delivered.

The purchase is aimed at offsetting the delay in the delivery of 14 Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) which is expected to cost USD 3.2 billion.

“It is quite clearly the case on our one analysis but also on US analysis that the Joint Strike Fighter project…has improved, but there are still risks associated with that and we’re not prepared to…take the risk of a gap in our air combat capability or superiority,” said Stephen Smith, the Defense Minister of Australia.

In 2009, Canberra and the US defense contractor Lockheed Martin agreed on a long-term strategy to buy as many as 100 JSFs at a cost of USD 17 billion, to replace in 2030 Australia’s aging aircraft including the Growlers and F/A-18 Super Hornet.

The US accounted for around 30 percent of conventional global arms sales, according to Amnesty International.

In 2010, the US announced an arms package with Saudi Arabia valued at USD 30 billion for the sale of 84 Boeing-made F-15 jets and 72 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters built by United Technologies Corp.