“Genocide Grants.” Government awards millions to F-35 suppliers

The Federal Government gave $78 million in grants to Australian companies that produced parts for the F-35 warplanes used by the Israeli Armed Forces in the Gaza genocide. Stephanie Tran investigates.

Contrary to the government’s claims, the investigation MWM It found the federal government had awarded more than $78 million in taxpayer-funded grants to Australian companies participating in the global F-35 fighter jet programme, with the majority of these grants awarded during Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

The same parts are now probably being used in the US and Israel’s illegal bombing campaign against Iran.

Analysis government grant records It shows that at least $78 million has been distributed to companies since 2011 to support their multinational involvement Joint Strike Fighter program.

Of this total, $48.5 million has been distributed since October 7, 2023.

The fund forms part of a range of industry support programs designed to help Australian companies secure jobs. F-35 Joint Strike Fighter ProgramUS-led global supply chain LockheedMartin F-35 Lightning II fighter jet.

The F-35 has been widely deployed by Israel. genocide in Gaza and attacks In Lebanon, Iran and elsewhere.

Millions of dollars in grants to defense contractors

The analysis reveals that relatively few firms receive a significant share of the funding, with grants aimed at expanding Australia’s role in maintaining and sustaining the F-35 fleet.

The largest recipient was Rosebank Engineering (formerly RUAG Australia), which received $30.2 million from multiple grants. This included $16.3 million awarded in April 2025 to establish a depot in the Asia-Pacific to repair F-35 power and thermal management systems, and an additional $9.1 million to develop a regional repair capability for landing gear.

Rosebank Engineering “supplies more than 150 components for the Landing Gear and Weapons Bay Systems” of the F-35 fighter jet.

The second largest recipient was Northrop Grumman Australia, which received $13.4 million to support the activation of a depot for the maintenance and overhaul of F-35 components for the Asia-Pacific region, with the potential to serve European missions in June 2024.

Other notable buyers include Moog Australia, Quickstep Technologies and Ferra Engineering, as well as a network of specialist manufacturers.

In total, more than 75 Australian companies are collectively involved in the F-35 program securing contracts worth more than $5 billion.

You can find the full list of grants in the document below.

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How do grant programs work?

The grants were provided through three primary programs administered by the Department of Defense.

Joint Strike Fighter Industry Support Program Sustainment GrantsIt provides funding to companies that want to expand their roles in the maintenance and servicing of F-35 aircraft, which will remain open until June 2028.

To be eligible for the grant, companies must have a contract with the United States Government for “maintenance and repair activities of existing components used in the Joint Strike Fighter Program.”

Applicants must submit a congressional letter from the U.S. Department of Defense approving the F-35 part number assignment and/or repair technology group as part of their application.

Originally launched in 2020 with $4 million in funding, the program was increased to $60 million in 2021 and extended through 2028. To date, $49.5 million in JSF Sustainability Grants have been awarded.

A second stream Joint Strike Fighter Industry Support Program Production and Modernization GrantsOperating from December 2021 through August 2024, it provides $4 million to help companies “develop new or improved capabilities to win business during the production and modernization phases of the Joint Strike Fighter Program.”

A previous attempt New Air Combat Capability Industry Support ProgramIt ran from 2010 to June 2021 and distributed $21.9 million to help Australian firms integrate into the F-35 supply chain under Defence’s AIR6000 project.

According to the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) the project intended Ensuring Australia’s air combat capability remains “Lethal, survivable, deployable and available throughout its Type Life”.

Contacted for comment, Greens Defense and Foreign Affairs spokesman David Shoebridge said the donations showed the government’s priorities were wrong. MWM:

“When you see tens of millions of dollars in Australian public grants given not to community groups or social programs but to global arms manufacturers like Northrop Grumman, you see the priorities of Labor and the other battle parties.”

They always have money for weapons and war.

“The F35 fighter jet is a key weapon in Israel’s genocide in Gaza, its illegal war in Iran and its illegal occupation of Southern Lebanon. It is obscene that this is supported by public donations from the Australian government.”

Grants vital to Australia’s role in the F-35 program

The ANAO attributed the success of Australian firms in securing F-35 contracts to these government grants.

“The allocation of financial resources and the implementation of grant programs… have enabled Australian industry to bid for and win business,” the ANAO said in its report. last report in major defense projects

“If an industry support program had not been established, Australian industry may not have been competitive enough to win tenders.”

According to the ANAO report, Australia spent $12.6 billion on the F-35 program, with most of the spending flowing into contracts with the US government.

Australian companies have secured more than: $5 billion contracts More than 75 companies are involved in the F-35 program and are involved in component manufacturing or providing sustainability services.

Because the F-35 program operates as a global supply chain, components manufactured or serviced in Australia are incorporated into the entire fleet.

This means that locally produced parts are used in aircraft operated by many countries, including Israel.

To hide

Ministry of Defense in late 2023 silently removed Details of Australian suppliers in the F-35 program are taken from the website, including the 2018 report published by the Department.

An investigation last year Declassified Australia It revealed that F-35 components manufactured in Australia were shipped directly to Israel on commercial passenger flights, despite repeated government claims that Australia was not supplying weapons to Israel.

One follow-up investigationIt was reported in the news that most of the parts stored in Australia for the country’s own F-35 fleet actually belong to and are controlled by the USA, while the logistics are managed by Lockheed Martin, the main contractor of the program.

This arrangement means Australia does not ultimately control how these parts are allocated. The US may direct that components held in Australia be reallocated and shipped abroad, even where these are required for Australia’s own defense capabilities.

Violation of international law

A. UN report He described the F-35 program as the “key” to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

It was used extensively in the genocidal destruction of Gaza.

The report warned that states supplying components could be involved in indirect transfers of weapons used in violation of international law.

Shoebridge stated that the donations reinforced Australia’s need to impose an all-out arms embargo on Israel, adding, “Given what we know about the crimes committed by the IDF using the F-35, it is difficult to see these as anything other than donations of genocide.”

“This data adds new impetus to our calls, supported by millions of Australians, for a total arms embargo on Israel covering all weapons and weapons parts.”

MWM The Ministry of Defense sent questions to Richard Marles (Minister of Defence) and Pat Conroy (Minister of Defense Industries) regarding the appropriateness of continuing the F-35 grant program in light of the genocide and the care taken by the government to ensure compliance with international law.

We received no response.

Australia sells weapons parts directly to Israel

Stephanie is a journalist with a background in both law and journalism. He worked at The Guardian and as a paralegal, where he assisted Crikey’s defense team in the high-profile libel case brought by Lachlan Murdoch. His reporting has been recognized nationally, earning him the 2021 Guardians of Democracy Award for Student Investigative Reporting and a nomination for the 2021 Walkley Student Journalist of the Year Award.