A Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35C Joint Strike Fighter
A Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35C Joint Strike Fighter is shown on the deck of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier after making the plane's first ever carrier landing using its tailhook system, off the coast of California, November 3, 2014. Two Lockheed Martin Corp F-35C fighter jets landed successfully on the USS Nimitz on Monday, marking the new warplane's first landing on an aircraft carrier using its tailhook system. Reuters/Mike Blake

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets (JSF) has arrived the Amberley Air Force Base after years of delays and it would replace the FA-18A/B Classic Hornets. The two fighter jets include the Lockheed-Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter and the Boeing EA-18G Growler Electronic Attack aircraft. Both fighter jets would be flown at Avalon Airshow Australia.

"I think it's an important undertaking and I think Avalon is a perfect time to do it." Defence Minister Marise Payne told the ABC. Payne said that the Air Force was particularly pleased to have the opportunity.

"Together, the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter and the EA-18G Growler represent a potent and technologically advanced air combat and strike capability that is essential to our ability to defend Australia and our national interests," Payne said. The defence minister noted that Australia was the only country outside US that would operate the Growler.

The country committed to purchase 72 JSF planes. The commitment was completed when former Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced in April 2014 that it would buy 58 more JSF planes. He said that the fighter planes would make a vital contribution to the country's national security. The total deal cost is $17 billion. Australia is expecting 12 Growlers to be delivered this year at the RAAF Base Amberley. The total amount cost $3.7 billion.

It was more than 15 years ago when the Federal Government first announced that Australia would participate the US-led Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter program. The program cost overruns of nearly 70 percent and technical problems leading to its delay. Increased risk of neck injury to lower-weight pilots when they eject from the aircraft was one of the problems encountered by the fighter jet. Issues with the radar software was another problem. It was also reported that F-16 outperformed it in a mock dogfight.

In December 2016, US President Donald Trump scolded Lockheed Martin for the out of control cost of F-35 fighter jets. He said that billions of dollars would be saved on military purchases after Jan. 20. However, defence industry minister Christopher Payne said that despite Trump's criticism, the country would stand in its commitment to buy the fighter jets. Lockheed has built F-35 models for countries including Britain, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Turkey, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark and Israel.

US has planned to buy 1,763 fighter jets that cost $379 billion.The jets included the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing jets. It would be Pentagon's largest weapons project operating the largest F-25 fleet worldwide.

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