Air Power's Gap Insurance

Befitting Australia's biggest-ever defence purchase, the F-35 jet fighter was controversy-bound from its birth as an eight-nation joint venture dominated by the United States but including $300 million of Australian participation and expertise. There are the obvious concerns. Will Australia get value for money if and when it hands over between $12 billion and $15 billion for 100 of the so-called Joint Strike Fighters? Will the aircraft's capabilities neatly fit strategic needs specific to Australia? Was sel