James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

The F-35 is an in-production, fifth generation combat aircraft and is capable of highly sophisticated manoeuvres and combat activity. There have been more than 200 F-35 aircraft delivered, with these aircraft now operating in the US, Italy, Israel and Japan. The coalition government is making unprecedented investment in this nation's defence, and the F-35 is the most capable and lethal aircraft to deter and defeat future adversaries. The F-35 is the most affordable stealth aircraft to meet the full range of threats Australia is likely to face in the future.