Avalon Australia: could Australia's LHDs one day operate F-35Bs?

One likely side conversation at next week's Avalon air show is likely to be about the recent launch of the HMAS Canberra in Spain. The Canberra will be Australia's first LHD (landing helicopter dock) and is likely to become operational in 2014, with a sister ship, the HMAS Adelaide, to follow in 2015.

These will be the largest ships the Australian navy has ever operated. With 16-24 helicopters per ship, the pair signals a resurgence of sorts in Australian naval airpower. The helicopters they are likely to carry include the MRH-90 (which recently joined the Projects of Concern list) and the S-70B Seahawk.

Helicopters on ships are, well, a touch ho-hum, but an industry source recently reminded me of the tantalizing possibility that a third ship could be procured and operate as a pure aircraft carrier with an air wing of F-35Bs. In 2008, apparently, the RAN expressed interest in the aircraft carrier idea, though the budget issues here would be considerable - not to mention all the issues with the F-35B itself, not least whether it will actually survive.

During a recent interview with RAAF Air Marshal Mark Binskin, I asked him about the ship's ramp.

"We're just too cheap to take them off," he replied, jokingly. As for whether Australia will buy the F-35B, his answer was an unequivocal "no."

Nonetheless, the ships will retain their ramps, and Spain's Juan Carlos 1, upon which the Australian ships are based, will operate a mixed wing of AV-8B Harriers and helicopters.

My guess? Australia's brass is tentatively interested in the F-35B for both ships, but wants to see how this troubled variant does during its two-year probation period. Alternatively, Australia could be retaining the ramps in order to support USMC F-35B flight ops.

And, no doubt, the RAN is casting its eyes northwards to Dalian, where Russia's former Varyag is being reborn as the Shi Lang.