Royal Australian Air Force RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet fly over at Amberley Air Force Base, QLD

[jackcdempsey]

I would be shitting my pants being that close to another plane

[TheDudeFrom0Z]

we need flyovers at the rugby grand final and stuff like america has...its just needed

[Tehpolev]

Good thing were getting 100 of them New f-35's starting 2015, the jets + VSTOL aircraft carriers are costing us 20 billion ish.

[mmmail1969]

Why waste our own hard-earned on "aid". Australia already hands out a fortune to a range of countries every year, what does it really do for them - NOTHING! Look at PNG, it's more of a mess now after decades of generous support from Australia. Better governance practices, YES - aid, NO! Besides, Australia has never really got serious about its own defence spending...the Super Hornets are a step along the right path!

[gothekittycats]

@mmmail1969 Australia has a lot of of air defence for example a little know fact is that we created the AC 130 spooky. We are getting the new JSF our first stealth plane. and our navy is getting 2 new class of ship. The Hobart Class Destroyer and the Canberra Class Amphibious assault ship

[splintamike]

Only if everyone else decides to do it too.

[roguemale57]

Ok, it's high tech (and expensive) stuff but, instead blowing the s%7)t out of people would it be better to use the money for aid?

[theboxmike]

@roguemale57 our other fighter planes are 25 years old.....we needed an upgrade

[t4c]

@roguemale57 australia's air power means we dont have blow the shit out of people. deterrence against invasion.

[roguemale57]

@t4c that's a poor argument. It's only works for Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) not for the rapidly (and highly competitve) evolving conventional arms industry. A regional arms race distablises the region whilst, profiteering the arms industry. Everyone else loses...

[t4c]

@roguemale57 its not a poor argument. how can you say our air power has no impact in the decision making of other countrys. maybe you should learn about M.A.D. before you use it incorrectly. our air having the ability to greatly damage an opposing force before it gets here is not goin to destroy us.

[roguemale57]

@t4c Having a 'big gun' only results in regional neighbours obtaining similar. Instead of handing over hordes of cash to arms dealers why not use it for aid to neighbouring countries? Pauline Hanson used protectionism as ideology and look where that got her.