What we are contending is that for the considerable cost involved in regenerating an air combat force, it is not worth that expense in buying an aircraft that will be obsolete in high intensity combat within the next decade.From memory, the reason that the Skyhawks did not participate in East Timor was purely political. @MrConservative may be able to correct me if I am wrong. 75 Sqn were in Singapore at the time having been on deployment and what I am given to understand from personnel in the RNZAF at the time, the GOTD did not want the Sqn involved at all because it did not suit their political agenda. IIRC it was the beginning of the Clark Labour government.
NZGOV acquisition policy is to take all costs into account and with aviation assets CPFH / LCC does have a significant impact. If you cannot understand why I mentioned LO then you don't understand the full capability suite of the F-35 and what it offers. Yes there are some things that are not discussed on an open forum because of OPSEC or other confidential requirements, but they may be indirectly alluded to. For example we do that with the P-8A and the underslung super secret radar that some USN ones carry.
Yes I am being harsh with you, but it is time for you to have a dose of realism and think about the context what you are posting. You know full well that no NZGOV will acquire the F-35 but you still persist with your claim. Some of us are aware of things that you aren't just because we live in the country and move through different groups within the society. Some of us actually make a point of being on top of what's happening and not all of our sources of information are open source, so we cannot and will not publish confidential information or sources, however we will where possible allude to it in general terms. If you cannot accept that, sobeit and it's no skin off my nose. However I will say this, there is public support for increased Defence spending and more people are wanting a return of the ACF. That can be seen on various social media platforms and in comments on various media articles.
The PLAN is building CATOBAR aircraft carriers with their own version of the E-2 Hawkeye. They will introduce their own stealth fighters in these carrier air groups in due course (perhaps as early as a decade’s time).
A Super Hornet will simply not be survivable in this environment so any perceived CPFH cost saving is really a moot point.