Menzies Defends Choice Of TFX

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30275, 30 October 1963, Page 11

Menzies Defends Choice Of TFX

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) CANBERRA, October 29. The American TFX bomber would be available for squadron service at least as early as the British TSR2, the Australian Prime Minister (Sir Robert Menzies) said today.

He told the House of Representatives this had become quite clear as a result of a mission by the Defence Minister (Mr Townley) to Washington. The mission had also shown that terms on which Australia agreed to purchase the TFX could not be rejected Sir Robert Menzies said. Sir Robert Menzies said earlier that it had been thought that the TSR2 would be available for squadron service a little earlier than the TFX.

The Prime Minister was replying to a Labour backbencher, Mr George Gray, who drew his attention to pictures of the TSR2 which appeared in Australian morning newspapers today. Mr Gray asked whether Sir Robert Menzies had misled the House in declaring that both bombers were still on the drawing board or whether the British aircraft industry had performed miracles in getting toe TSR2 from drawing-board to production in 24 hours. Sir Robert Menzies said there were various stages in production of the aircraft and it was not estimated that the TSR2 would be in production for the flying stage until 1965. Better Aircraft The Air Minister (Mr Fairbairn) told another questioner that toe Royal Australian Air Force evaluation team had described the TFX as a better aircraft than the TSR2. It had greater range, higher speed, bigger bombload, better electronic computers and could operate from shorter airfields. Mr Fairbairn said that the Government could take delivery of the TFX in 1967. Later Sir Robert Menzies said toe dominating factor in the Australian decision-—the delivery times being relatively equal—was the terms on which Australia could get the TFX and the fact that Australia could, if necessary, supplement its Canberra bombers with 8475. Sir Robert Menzies said he hoped toe details of toe agreement would be available as soon as possible. "It will then be completely clear that our deal with toe United States is toe most favourable

deal Australia has ever made with another country,” he said.

‘‘lt is a great mistake to regard this as something which means we are proBritish or anti-Brltish,” he said “I am not going to be called anti-British because of something like this. “My prime duty is to my own country and to the safety of my own country.” Mr Fairbairn, in answer to a further question, said Darwin, in the Northern Territory, was the only airport in Australia from which 847 s could operate constantly with full 27.0001 b bomb loads They could operate under reduced loads from many other Australian airports and could also operate from other airports throughout South-East Asia, including Guam and Butterworth, Malaysia.