Fed: Govenrment reportedly considering shelving F-111s
Australia's F-111 strike bombers are reaching the end of their life and a review ofthe Defence Capability Plan later this year may decide they're too expensive to keep.
A spokeswoman for Defence Minister ROBERT HILL says the current Defence CapabilityPlan calls for the F-111s to remain in service to 2015-2020.
She says the review of the Capability Plan still has some months to run before it getsto Cabinet.
The Australian newspaper reports the F-111s could be retired as early as 2006 undera defence submission to the review of the Capability Plan.
Australia ordered 24 F-111s off the drawing board in 1963 but the first did not arriveuntil June 1973. A further 15 surplus US aircraft were acquired in 1993 to make up losses,and 35 remain in service.
But the F-111s are not stealthy by today's standards and they are becoming increasinglydifficult and expensive to maintain.
AAP RTV mb/sb/cd/jlw/rp
KEYWORD: F111S (CANBERRA)
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