Australia delays delivery 12 F-35s to 2019, citing budget crunch

As part of a media conference announcing Australia's next Defence White Paper, Defence Minister Stephen Smith has said that Australia will delay delivery of 12 F-35s on order by two years to 2019 instead of 2015-2017 as originally envisaged. Australia has 14 F-35As currently on order, with two aircraft due to be delivered in 2014.

Australia's next Defence White Paper is due in 2014, but this morning's announcement has revealed that it is being brought forward by a year.