Limited by resources and size the F-35 was the best, and largely only, option available to the ADF that guaranteed long term defense interests.
Like all aspects of the ADF, the Air Force has the need to contribute and enable Australia’s larger national power strategies.
How Modern Warfare Requires a Whole-of-Nation ApproachJason KorenstraAustralian Defence Force
Introduction
Defence Strategic Review and Adapt: Implementing DSR as a Wargame
David Hood
Australian Defence Force
Technology usually follows a certain progression – first the device gets more features before it reduces in size. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) fill this description perfectly, and we have yet to come up with an adequate defence for them.
Welcome once again back on the rollercoaster!
Technology is a key driver for Air Force capability.
Education is highly valued in the Air Force, with the acquisition of highly specialised skills and expertise being an integral component of one's career progression. Training comes in various forms, including mandatory, specialist, on-the-job, and professional military education. In addition to these forms of training, members of the Air Force have access to opportunities for scholarship, where they can apply for graduate programs at Masters and PhD level through civilian universities. These programs afford individuals the chance to focus on a particular "problem" for Defence, dedicating an extended period of time to research and scholarship.
