CANBERRA -- Australia's military has outlined a 10-year plan to buy new tanks, ships and helicopters to defend against terror threats, the government said on Friday.sounds like an oxymoron in this day and age...do politicians really believe that big ticket conventional weapons can defeat terrorists?
Mr Hill said the army will replace its ageing Leopard tanks, and was considering three options: the American M1 Abrams tank, the British Challenger 2, or the latest German Leopard.aha!
The air force will start retiring its 40-year-old F-111 fighter jets in 2010, five years earlier than planned. It will also replace it AP-3C Orion maritime patrol planes with more modern aircraft.2010? Those vietnam-era warbirds are sure providing sterling service...just like the beloved skyhawk
I think you r wrong in this expect, Challenger 2 was sold to Oman.Originally posted by laser51088:forgot to ask when i first posted: Will the Americans and British be willing to sell their Abrams and Challenger? How do the Aussies know they'll sell if the Americans and British haven't such tanks to other countries previously?
i think egypt and kuwait have m-1 tanks. anyway i'm sure the makers of merkava are aggressively pitching their product too.Originally posted by laser51088:forgot to ask when i first posted: Will the Americans and British be willing to sell their Abrams and Challenger? How do the Aussies know they'll sell if the Americans and British haven't such tanks to other countries previously?
Originally posted by gary1910:I think you r wrong in this expect, Challenger 2 was sold to Oman.
M1A1 was sold to Egypt, and M1A2 was sold to Saudi & Kuwait.
Both US & UK r willing to sell to Middle East for the extra foreign currency. Since Australia is an ally , they will certainly sell their tanks to them.