The air force is about to scrap 71 fighters and 33 long-range bombers. By 2015 most of these aircraft will be in the junkyard. The RAAF has 4 years to decide what will be in the air in the middle of the 21st century. Basically the issue is how to keep up with the USA. To be effective as an ally the RAAF must have compatible technology. But can Australia afford it, and is the new weapons technology the answer when it comes to maintaining peace and protection for the Australian people?