Australia buying more F-35s

Australia will order 58 more F-35 fighters for $11.61 billion, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Wednesday. Australia approved the purchase of 14 of the stealth fighters in 2009, and the additional jets will provide the Royal Australian Air Force with enough aircraft to form three operational squadrons and one training squadron. The first F-35 aircraft will arrive in Australia in 2018 and enter service with the RAAF in 2020, Abbott said. (Source: Reuters, 04/22/14) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is home of the F-35 training center.