Lockheed Says Australia Could Still Get 28 New F-35s by 2029

Labor cancelled the order for 28 new F-35 stealth fighters, but the Coalition has said it will commit $3 billion to the purchase if it’s elected.
Lockheed Says Australia Could Still Get 28 New F-35s by 2029
A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-35A Lightning II lands during the Australian International Airshow in Avalon in Victoria, Australia on March 26, 2025. William West/AFP via Getty Images
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Australia could still get 28 new F-35 stealth fighters as early as 2029 if the Coalition wins the coming federal election and goes ahead with its pledge to commit $3 billion to the purchase, a Lockheed Martin executive says.

The planes were originally slated to become the country’s fourth F-35 squadron, but when the government unveiled the National Defence Strategy in April last year, it cancelled the order.

Rex Widerstrom
Rex Widerstrom
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Rex Widerstrom is a New Zealand-based reporter with over 40 years of experience in media, including radio and print. He is currently a presenter for Hutt Radio.