Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne has trumpeted a collective $1 billion in contracts for the Joint Strike Fighter jet program as a model for Australia's bid to become a top ten global arms exporter.

Australia currently is ranked 20th in defence industry exports.

The Turnbull government announced an ambitious plan to ramp up defence exports in late January.

Mr Pyne said 50 Australian businesses were involved in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter project.

"In many respects (it's) the model of what we're trying to achieve across the entire defence industry in Australia," Mr Pyne told the Australian Defence Magazine summit on Tuesday night.

In 2016, the program underpinned 2400 Australian jobs. Mr Pyne says this is set to grow to 5000 by 2023, and not just manufacturing positions but maintenance jobs as well.

The first two Australian F-35 aircraft are expected to arrive at RAAF Base Williamtown in NSW in December.

Australia is buying 72 of the super jets at a cost of $17 billion.

The aircraft have experienced a raft of teething problems, delays and cost blowouts.