RAAF force enhancements

[Aussie Digger]

It's a very much wait and see case with the RAAF's next generation fighter. It depends very much on whether the JSF lives up to it's promise, which political party is in office when the decision (around 2006) will need to be made, what happens to the price and level of capability of the F/A-22 etc.

If the US ends purchasing a larger number of F-22's and the price comes down significantly, you can bet your house on the RAAF doing everything it can to acquire even a small number of F-22's (say 24-28 jets). The chief of the Air force has openly admitted the RAAF wants the F-22, we just won't be able to afford it (probably).

A hi-lo mix of 24-28 F-22's and 70-80 JSF's would provide Australia with an awesome air combat capability far superior to anyone else in our region, but it remains to be seen if it happens...

 

[Aussie Digger]

LONG RANGE MISSILES FOR AIR FORCE

Australia’s F/A-18 Hornet fighter and AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft will be equipped with long range missiles capable of destroying land and sea targets, Defence Minister Robert Hill announced today.

Senator Hill said Defence would choose from the following three long-range air-to-surface weapons:

Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missile (JASSM) manufactured by American company Lockheed Martin which is a stealthy long range missile that can reach targets from about 400 kilometres away;

A variant of the precision-attack cruise missile KEPD 350 manufactured by the European company Taurus Systems GmbH that has a range of about 350 kilometres; and

The Stand-off Land Attack Missile – Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) manufactured by American-based Boeing that is modelled on the Harpoon anti-shipping missile, currently used by the Australian Defence Force and has a range of more than 250 kilometres.

"The new weapon will significantly enhance the ADF’s air strike capability, providing a long-range, accurate and lethal attack against a range of targets including fixed and re-locatable targets on land and sea," Senator Hill said.

"Combined with the new air-to-air missiles and upgraded precision-guided bombs, Australia’s fighter jets will be the region’s most lethal capacity for air combat and strike operations.

"The long range of these new missiles will reduce the risk to both aircraft and crew by decreasing their exposure in a high threat environment."

Defence will advise the Government of its preferred weapon next year after a process of information solicitation and evaluation. The project is worth $350-$450 million.

Senator Hill said the new weapons would be introduced into service between 2007 and 2009.

Obtained from www.defence.gov.au

The new missile will be the JASSM, no doubt. It's heaps cheaper than the others, has a longer range and will be available in a number of variants including an extended range version which will have a range in excess of 1000 kilometres...

 

[Aussie Digger]

DEFENCE MINISTER OPENS WORLD-CLASS AIRCRAFT TEST FACILITY



Defence Minister Robert Hill today officially opened a state-of-the-art facility where Defence scientists will undertake behind-the-scenes-work to ensure the aircraft used to train our fighter pilots of the future are safe.

The aircraft structural test centre at the Defence Science and Technology Organisation in Melbourne will be used to conduct fatigue tests on the Royal Australian Air Force’s new Hawk Lead-in Fighter aircraft.

"The Hawk Lead-in Fighter which is used to train Australia’s future fighter pilots will be the first aircraft to undergo a full-scale fatigue test in the new facility," Senator Hill said.

"The testing allows us to establish when and where structural failures are likely to occur in the aircraft so that we can put in place a pro-active repair and maintenance program that will allow the aircraft to keep flying safely.

"DSTO has won a $11.7 million contract with BAE Systems UK, manufacturers of the aircraft, to do the fatigue testing in Australia rather than overseas. This is not only a tribute to DSTO’s expertise but is expected to generate more than $10 million worth of contracted work for Australian industry.

"The aeronautical technology and expertise at DSTO is world class. It has been developed over years of test programs on aircraft including the F/A-18 and F-111. This expertise will position Australia well to bid for similar work on the Joint Strike Fighter."

The official opening of the H.A.Wills Structures and Materials Test Centre marks the first milestone in a $56 million project to redevelop DSTO’s Melbourne-based research facilities at one site in Fishermans Bend.

The centre is named after the former Australian Defence scientist Arthur Wills who pioneered the theory and practice of aircraft structural testing that is now followed by aircraft manufacturers worldwide.

It houses two laboratories which will undertake fatigue and fracture tests in addition to structural tests on large articles, such as aircraft wings and airframes, as well as large maritime components. It will also assist in accident investigations resulting from structural failures.

Also obtained from www.defence.gov.au

 

[Magoo]

Just watched the video footage of Wedgetail. Does anybody know the thingy is that the aircraft is dragging behind it from the top of the vertical stabilizer? Also, what's the little gizmo mounted at the rear of the hull belog the tail?

The thingy is an instrumented drogue parachute which measures the turbulence in the air coming off the radar antenna and other external mods.

The gizmo at the rear of the hul could either be the additional small stabilators they added to enhance directional stability, or the sensor for the AN/AAQ-24 directional infrared countermeasure (DIRCM) system.

Magoo

 

[Magoo]

AD

I was wondering where you got that latest RAAF air-to-air Hornet pic you posted. Is there a High res version around which I could 'acquire' for a book project I'm working on?

Cheers

Magoo

 

[webmaster]

Here you go:

http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/displayimage.php?album=207&pos=38

 

[Magoo]

Here you go:

http://www.defencetalk.com/pictures/displayimage.php?album=207&pos=38

Thanks, but I was hoping to get access to an original high res pic (i.e. 300dpi, 400kb+) and information on where and when it was taken and by whom.

Thanks

P.S. BTW - I notice the SLAM-ER and JASSM pics have been mislabeled the wrong way round - just need to swap them.

Cheers

 

[Aussie Digger]

Sorry Magoo, that's the highest rez pic of that particular photo I could find. It was from a website called www.scramble.nl I think...

 

[Aussie Digger]

$9.1 MILLION DEFENCE CONTRACT FOR BAE SYSTEMS

BAE Systems in South Australia has won a $9.1 million contract to provide radar warning receivers for the Australia’s F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft, Defence Minister Robert Hill announced today.

Senator Hill said that the $9.1 million contract covered an initial production run of four ALR-2002B Radar Warning Receivers, including establishing the means of production.

“Electronic Warfare systems such as these radar warning receivers are an
increasingly important capability for all land, sea and air platforms,†Senator Hill said. “The ALR-2002 is a very capable and affordable system with the potential for further domestic and export sales.

“A radar warning receiver detects transmissions from ground and air radar systems, then identifies exactly what it is – such as a particular type of aircraft, a radar homing missile, a ground gunnery system, a ship or a surveillance radar system – and displays this information to the pilot.

“The pilot can then use this situational awareness information to take evasive action, avoid a threat, or attack and destroy an enemy asset. “The Coalition Government has recognised the importance of this equipment and is taking steps to fit it to a range of Defence assets.â€

The proposed initial production program for the ALR-2002 will see the
establishment of 20 jobs within the BAE SYSTEMS facility at Edinburgh Parks in South Australia.

Once in full production, 65 engineer/technician jobs would be created within BAE SYSTEMS over a three year span and around 15 positions created within Micreo Ltd., an advanced technology company located in Brisbane that has also been successful in gaining several Joint Strike Fighter contracts for electronic warfare.

Additional ALR-2002 orders, locally or internationally, could sustain this
employment for up to a decade. The contract follows the selection of BAE SYSTEMS as the preferred supplier for Project Echidna Phase 2A. Echidna Phase 2A is to provide advanced electronic warfare self-protection equipment including the ALR-2002 for the Army’s fleet of
Black Hawk and Chinook aircraft.

This has recently included the first phase of a $20 million project to acquire electronic warfare equipment for the RAAF’s C-130J aircraft, which have deployed to the Middle East.

The ALR-2002 has also been identified as the preferred radar warning receiver for the F/A-18 Hornet under the Hornet Upgrade program which is a significant enhancement of the current electronic warfare self-protection suite. The ALR-2002 Radar Warning Receiver was originally conceived by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and was further developed to a near production standard by BAE SYSTEMS under an earlier phase of Project Echidna.

This step towards a full acquisition of the ALR-2002 proves once again Australia’s excellence in electronic warfare design, development production and through life support. The fact that the ALR-2002 has now entered initial production demonstrates that it is cost-effective to design, develop and produce Electronic Warfare systems here in Australia.

-ends-.

Obtained from http://www.liberal.org.au/ministers_press_releases/

 

[Nulla]

I was hoping that the US Navy will lend us some off there late model F18 untill we get the F35. Some of the airframes we have are getting a bit past it. I think this is similar to the idea of the US lending the F4's while we were waiting for the F111

 

[Aussie Digger]

The Government and the RAAF looked at the idea, but decided it would be more "cost effective" to continue the Hornet Upgrade program and introduce new bombs and standoff missiles (which should have been part of the inventory anyway, not "additional purchases")...

Acquiring Super Hornets for a 10 year period or so, would have cost an estimated $3 Billion. They preferred to spend the money on other more useful projects that will enhance our overall capability, not one specific part of it...

 

[Supe]

The idiotic thing about this project is that Australia designed some of the critical elements of the system and agreed that Boeing could sell future models without paying us a royalty for development.

Bloody morons in govt strike again. The aust'n taxpayer pays for R&D and Boeing gets the rewards...

A bit of a thread revival... and thanks to the Wedgetail

Could you elaborate on which critical elements were designed locally?

I see the Turks are buying the 'Peace Eagle' which appears in large part to be similar to the Wedgetail.

http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/737aewc/

 

[Aussie Digger]

Another thread revival this time courtesy of EADS:

MADRID --- The first Royal Australian Air Force’s A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport has been put back on wheels. This is a significant milestone for the A330 MRTT programme, which represents the finalisation of the major structural modification in the A330 platform. The conversion into multi role tanker transport of these aircraft is being carried out by EADS CASA at its facilities in Getafe, Madrid.

The aircraft is being prepared for the Ground Vibration Testing that will initiate the ground test campaign. It will be preceding the start of the flight test campaign.

This aircraft is the first of the five A330 MRTT to be delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force as part of the contract signed on December 20, 2004, between EADS CASA and the Commonwealth of Australia.

The A330 MRTT is the most advanced Mission System Tanker aircraft in the world. The Royal Australian Air Force A330 MRTT will be outfitted with a state-of-the-art centerline ARBS (Air Refueling Boom System) with fly-by-wire controls, plus two under-wing hose and drogue pods. In addition, the aircraft will carry an electronic warfare suite that protects against sur-face-to-air missile threats, along with a Link 16 network system that provi-des real-time airborne connectivity.


EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2005, EADS generated revenues of EUR 34.2 billion and employed a work-force of about 113,000. The Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Air-bus, the world's largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and EADS Astrium, the European leader in space programmes from Ariane to Galileo. EADS is the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium, develops the A400M military transport aircraft, and holds a stake in the joint venture MBDA, the international leader in missile systems.


(Source: EADS; issued Feb. 19, 2007)

I guess Dr Kopp will be somewhat impressed to see RAAF persuing his beloved "Smart Tanker" idea. I wonder if he'll try and charge royalties? Now all it will take is a follow-on order for another 11x "747 sized" tankers and RAAF might be able to defend Australia...

Unless we're attacked by H-6M's of course... nfloorl:

 

[alexsa]

I guess Dr Kopp will be somewhat impressed to see RAAF persuing his beloved "Smart Tanker" idea. I wonder if he'll try and charge royalties? Now all it will take is a follow-on order for another 11x "747 sized" tankers and RAAF might be able to defend Australia...

Unless we're attacked by H-6M's of course... nfloorl:

If we follow his strategy we will need them as there will be no money for an Army or Navy and we will simply have to rely on F-22 and super F-111 covering the SLOCs (opps he seems to forget we are an island and rely on trade and have to go places a bit far away for force projection) ...... until they run out of airframe hours.

 

[abramsteve]

Poor Dr Kopp...
His hearts in the right place though I suppose

 

[Magoo]

Poor Dr Kopp...
His hearts in the right place though I suppose

Come on guys, that's a bit patronising isn't it??? Don't belittle or dismiss the man's credibility in such a flippant way.

Carlo Kopp knows more about advanced aircraft systems than all of us on this forum combined, and whether or not you agree with his thoughts, he deserves a great deal of respect.

Magoo

 

[Aussie Digger]

Come on guys, that's a bit patronising isn't it??? Don't belittle or dismiss the man's credibility in such a flippant way.

Carlo Kopp knows more about advanced aircraft systems than all of us on this forum combined, and whether or not you agree with his thoughts, he deserves a great deal of respect.

Magoo

It wouldn't HURT him to learn a bit of humility though. I've seen him personally attack the credentials of those who differ from his opinion on any number of occasions.

Public statements about his "sleeping problems" in front of Senate Committees make one wonder about how much respect he truly deserves...

Regards

AD.

 

[abramsteve]

You are correct Magoo. I do genuinley believe he has Australia's best interest at heart, hence the reason for my last coment. No disrespect intended

 

[rjmaz1]

Come on guys, that's a bit patronising isn't it??? Don't belittle or dismiss the man's credibility in such a flippant way.

Carlo Kopp knows more about advanced aircraft systems than all of us on this forum combined, and whether or not you agree with his thoughts, he deserves a great deal of respect.

Magoo

People do respect his idea's and most agree that they would provide exceptional firepower.

However, Carlo Kopp completely forgot the big picture in terms of cost effectiveness. Some of his idea's are very good but he took it too far in my opinion.

You could easily say lets buy 200 F-22's it would provide more firepower than 100 F-22's. Of course that is correct but where will the money come from??

Australia has a very limited budget and always tries to fight above its weight, buying the systems with the most 'bang for your buck' is the only way we can sustain this.

 

[Magoo]

People do respect his idea's and most agree that they would provide exceptional firepower.

However, Carlo Kopp completely forgot the big picture in terms of cost effectiveness. Some of his idea's are very good but he took it too far in my opinion.

You could easily say lets buy 200 F-22's it would provide more firepower than 100 F-22's. Of course that is correct but where will the money come from??

Australia has a very limited budget and always tries to fight above its weight, buying the systems with the most 'bang for your buck' is the only way we can sustain this.

Is it just me, or do others find the fact that rjmaz1 is questionning the voracity of other people's claims and comments rather ironic???:unknown

*Geesh*

Magoo