The F/A-22 is easily the most powerful jet fighter in the whole world. This should give you an idea of how powerful the thing is:
http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=1559921
Anyhoo, the F/A-22 would be most likely useless. There are a few possible regional threats (Indonesia, China), but they are unlikely to attack Australia, as they depend too much on Australian business, and Australia's relationship with the US and NZ would discourage anyany conventional attack, as the nation with the largest economy and most effective military is our strong ally. Even if we got the F/A-22's, what can we use them on? This thing is designed to shoot down other planes, and you're not going to use an F/A-22 on a bunch of gunmen hiding inside a run-down shack. A fighter/bomber like the JSF would be alot more effective. So are Helicopter Gunships, but we already have Black Hawks.
The F/A-22s are also incredibly expensive and, for the simple reason that they are so complex. The JSF is cheaper, and is more flexible. Australia is not a country to do something by itself, especially in military terms (since when have Australian troops invaded without request?), so we can offer support weaponry at the most.
Still, I'd say diplomacy and economic aid is a much better way of getting rid of potential threats (Japan post-WW2 as case in point). This would have the dual roles of creating stability for 'rogue' states, and creating better relations between the countries. Of course, that's appeasement, but having a carrot as well as a stick usually solves that issue.
http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=1559921
Anyhoo, the F/A-22 would be most likely useless. There are a few possible regional threats (Indonesia, China), but they are unlikely to attack Australia, as they depend too much on Australian business, and Australia's relationship with the US and NZ would discourage anyany conventional attack, as the nation with the largest economy and most effective military is our strong ally. Even if we got the F/A-22's, what can we use them on? This thing is designed to shoot down other planes, and you're not going to use an F/A-22 on a bunch of gunmen hiding inside a run-down shack. A fighter/bomber like the JSF would be alot more effective. So are Helicopter Gunships, but we already have Black Hawks.
The F/A-22s are also incredibly expensive and, for the simple reason that they are so complex. The JSF is cheaper, and is more flexible. Australia is not a country to do something by itself, especially in military terms (since when have Australian troops invaded without request?), so we can offer support weaponry at the most.
Still, I'd say diplomacy and economic aid is a much better way of getting rid of potential threats (Japan post-WW2 as case in point). This would have the dual roles of creating stability for 'rogue' states, and creating better relations between the countries. Of course, that's appeasement, but having a carrot as well as a stick usually solves that issue.
