Another RAN-related POD: FAA retains fixed-wing arm

Is tehre any way that Australia's FAA, after the scrapping of the HMAS MELBOURNE in the mid-1980s, could've still retained fixed wing strike or patrol aircraft (such as the Tracker ASW patrol plane) instead of becoming a purely helicopter naval force ?
 
Is tehre any way that Australia's FAA, after the scrapping of the HMAS MELBOURNE in the mid-1980s, could've still retained fixed wing strike or patrol aircraft (such as the Tracker ASW patrol plane) instead of becoming a purely helicopter naval force ?

well, the RAN was planing on buying the HMS hermes off the brits and rename it the australia, but i think when Bob Hawke and the labour party was elected it was almost immedately scraped. so for one, you would have to make sure Hawke dosent get elected, or at least their be a change in the labour partys defense policy.
 
No Falklands and a sex scandal involving Kim Beazley and Paul Dibb.

I wouldn't be surprised if we get some STOVL JSFs for our big 'phibs.
 
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