Australia to buy aircraft, ship spares

Australia wants to buy almost $2 billion worth of support equipment and upgrades to keep RAAF Super Hornets and Growler aircraft flying.

As well, Australia is seeking to buy almost $350 million worth of spares and upgrades for the AEGIS combat systems on three yet to be launched Hobart-class air warfare destroyers.

Both proposed deals have been approved by the US Defense Security Co-operation Agency which, under US law, notifies Congress of potential foreign sales of US military equipment.

Neither has been officially approved in Canberra.

Australia now operates 24 Super Hornet aircraft and is in the process of acquiring 12 Growler electronic warfare variants of the Super Hornet.

The $US1.5 billion ($A1.87 billion) deal will include engine and system upgrades, test and training equipment and spare parts.

Prime contractor will be US aerospace firm Boeing.

For the air warfare destroyers, Australia wants to buy spares, test equipment and computer updates in a deal worth $US275 million ($A343.26 million).

Lockheed Martin will be prime contractor.