The US Government auditor has found plans to build a fighter jet

The US Government auditor has found plans to build a fighter jet which will be Australia's main combat aircraft are massively over-budget and face long delays.

The Government Accountability Office says the Joint Strike Fighter project could come in more than $40 billion over budget.

Problems in its development could also delay the completion of the planes by more than two years.

The F35 Joint Strike Fighter is planned to become Australia's main fighter jet from 2014.

Australia has ordered 100 of the planes at a cost of at least $14 billion.

The Joint Strike Fighters are also being sold to Britain, Canada and the Netherlands.

US fighter jets

Jerusalem - Israel to buy advanced US fighter jets

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Thursday that the purchase would significantly strengthen Israel’s military, but gave no other details.

Israel is planning on buying 20 of the warplanes for nearly $3 billion and will begin receiving the jets by 2015.

The warplanes would be capable of reaching Iran undetected by radar.

Israel considers Iran a strategic threat, citing its calls for the destruction of the Jewish state, its suspect nuclear program and missiles.