(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-02-24 16:55

CANBERRA - US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday he will look into F-22 fighters for Australia but made no promises to lobby the US Congress to lift a ban on foreign sales of the most advanced US fighter.

US Defense Secretary Robert Gates (L) and Australian Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon speak to reporters after a bilateral meeting at the Parliament House on February 23, in Canberra. [Agencies]

Gates said he would pursue it when he returns to Washington next week "given the importance that our Australian friends attach to it," but he said he did not know if it was realistic to expect action to lift the export restrictions.

"Because we have not had the ability to sell the F-22, to be honest I haven't delved into all the reasons for that -- what the complications would be, the questions about whether a new design would be required for export," he told reporters here.

"I just need to go back and get better educated on this and in concert with the secretary of state decide if this is a matter that we should pursue with the Congress," he said.

Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said at a news conference with Gates Saturday that Australia wanted the opportunity to consider the F-22 as part of a review of the country's air capabilities.

Gates said then that the United States had no objection in principle, but could not sell the fighter until the law was changed.

"I would have to say, quite honestly, I am not optimistic about that prospect. But we will work on it," he told Sky News in an interview broadcast Sunday.

Japan also has been pressing Washington to release the F-22 for export.

The stealth fighter can cruise at supersonic speeds, has radars capable of detecting cruise missiles, and wideband data links for networked operations.

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