HUNDREDS “if not thousands” of jobs will be created when Australia becomes a hub for maintaining Joint Strike Fighters, Defence Industries Minister Christopher Pyne says.

Australia will buy at least 72 of the 3000 stealthy, supersonic planes for around $17 billion. They will replace the existing Hornet fleet.

The United States is building about 3000 in a $1.5 trillion project.

Mr Pyne announced on Tuesday that Australia would be a regional hub for complex maintenance jobs for the JSFs. The job is worth about $100 million. He said he used a recent trip to Washington to “strongly push” Australia’s case.

media_camera A Joint Strike Fighter during flight. Picture: Department of Defence

“This proves that we have significant defence industry capability — it was a competitive process,” he said.

“While contracts need to be finalised, it is estimated that this initial work will be worth between $80 and $100 million in today’s dollars and will create and sustain hundreds, if not thousands, of Australian jobs.”

The work will be spread around the country, with some going to South Australian companies.

The JSF project has been dogged by accusations of faults and cost blowouts. Canada is considering pulling out of its deal to buy 65 of them.

Recent reports suggested another $500 million was needed to finish the fighter, which is already well over budget.

Issues have included software and electrical problems and one caught fire last month.

Presidential hopeful Donald Trump has said it has “big problems” and threatened to cancel the program if he won the election.

But Mr Pyne dismissed that possibility, and said finding faults was a normal part of testing.

“This project is very far advanced,” he said.

“Issues in the early part of the program … have been well and truly been ironed out. Trying to reverse out of the project will be well nigh impossible.”

Asked about the one that caught fire, he said that was part of the testing process.

“When you test any kind of piece of equipment … you find out what needs to be done to improve them and what could go wrong,” he said.

“There’s no doubt the JSF will be the most lethal weapon in the air around the world.”