Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] News, Discussions and Updates
A
Aussie Digger
Guest
I expect if RAAF were to expand the Super Hornet capability, than a formal increase in training assets would be required. I expect that 2 OCU would need to be equipped with some Super Hornets as well as the operational squadrons and as with the other squadrons, airframes would be supplied for the squadrons from an overall pool of aircraft.
RAAF's squadrons have 18x aircraft at full strength, but depending on availability (due to scheduled and unplanned maintenance activities), upgrades etc, they don't always have the same actual airframes, with airframes being assigned to the squadrons depending on demand and the actual availability of the aircraft themselves.
I suspect that if additional Super Hornets were to be acquired for RAAF, then another 24x at least would be acquired, because a more permanent training system would also need to be established.
Furthermore, as the aircraft (through lack of funding) would most likely become a more permanent part of RAAF's future force structure, RAAF may not wish to remain at the exact same standard as the USN and it's Supers, ie: RAAF might want AGM-158 JASSM or other weapons and other systems to be integrated on the aircraft that USN aren't interested in, necessitating available aircraft for use by AOSG (Aerospace Operational Support Group - including ARDU) for development activities.
Cheers,
AD
Todjaeger
Potstirrer
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #2,123
Correct me if I am mistaken, but I had thought at least one of the RAAF SHornets was already planned to remain within the US for developmental activities. Is still the case? If so, would that aircraft likely to be transferred to Australia proper for any Australianization of RAAF Shornets, if there are additional orders. I mean in terms of additional weapons/kit being fitted, like AD's example of the AGM-158 JASSM, not things like being fitted with metric gauges, etc.
-Cheers
one of type is normally attached to what used to be ARDU (I never remember its new name!) so one of type will either be reserved here or stateside.
I'd question keeping one stateside as the integration and development tests need to happen in Oz anyway.
Todjaeger
Potstirrer
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #2,125
Part of the reason I asked was that it did not make much sense to me for one to remain stateside. I could understand keeping one in the US for part of the intial intake, if additional weapons capabilities were still being developed and fitted. But if the RAAF only plans on utilizing the SHornet for a decade, then leaving one permanently detached in the US did not make much sense to me, either. Hence my curiousity.
I would imagine that if there are new/interesting weapons developments, then the RAAF could ferry one back to the US for some fitting/testing work if needed. Once that was completed, it could be sent back to Australia for work at the follow-on to ARDU. This is of course assuming that all the trials and testing work could not be done in Australia in the first place.
Incidentally, I believe a poster had recently asked how many of the RAAF Hug Bugs had undergone the CBR. I could be mistaken, and RAAFies and/or Oz DefPros could likely confirm or provide better information, but here is what I recall. From memory, the program was planned to cover ~24 or so of the older Hug Bugs, but after only a couple were done (somewhere between 2-5 IIRC) then that was dropped. Apparently it was found that the work required to replace the CBR was more difficult, expensive and time consuming than originally expected. In the end IIRC only 1 RAAF Hug Bug had the entire process completed. The reason I believe had the pllaned CBR and upgrade initiated, with the CBR portion stopped and cancelled once it was determined that in many cases the level of fatigue expected appearred to be less and that the Hug Bugs were determined to still be "safe" for operations.
Incidentally, from what I recall, a Canadian firm was to conduct the CBR, in part because the Canadian air force had already initiated a CBR programm. In the end, the program for the Canadian Hornets was also cancelled because the aircraft "wear" was less than initially expected and the costs of the upgrade program were "naturally" more than initially estimated.
-Cheers
A
Aussie Digger
Guest
AOSG - Aerospace Operational Support Group.
Australian Government, Department of Defence
I understand that one Super is staying Stateside for "development activities" at the present time, but I don't think that is a long term situation. All the initial live fire activities for the Super's weapon suites are being done in the States, before they are done here and I guess that airframe will be heavily involved in that. I've not seen or heard that one will be staying in the US permanently.
Co-incidentally, RAAF has a legacy Hornet in the States as well that is about to undertake the first Australian live firing of JASSM (due in early July I believe).
As I'm sure you are familiar, there are an enormous amount of tests that have to be undertaken before a new weapon can be fired and I remember seeing the Hornet in a publicly released photo, of it in a full size RCS testing chamber more than a year ago...
yeah, found it at work
i'd completely forgotten about the legacy bug in CONUS
from RAAF Squadron to Expand Base Role - Air Force Technology
RAAF Squadron to Expand Base Role
01 July 2010
The Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) Number 21 Squadron (21 SQN) will be given the additional responsibility of operating RAAF Base Williams from July 2010.
21 SQN, which currently is the provider of air force reserve training and administration in Victoria, will be integrated with Combat Support Unit (CSU) Williams as part of the expansion.
Under its new role, the squadron will manage the airfield, support air base operations, and maintain its reserve training activities, following which, Combat Support Unit Williams will be disbanded.
Air Marshal Binskin said RAAF reservists would now have an increased opportunity to contribute to operational capability in the modern and future air force.
The integrated 21 SQN and Combat Support Unit Williams, will be reassigned to the combat support group from air force training group, as part of a review.
RAAF Squadron to Expand Base Role
01 July 2010
The Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) Number 21 Squadron (21 SQN) will be given the additional responsibility of operating RAAF Base Williams from July 2010.
21 SQN, which currently is the provider of air force reserve training and administration in Victoria, will be integrated with Combat Support Unit (CSU) Williams as part of the expansion.
Under its new role, the squadron will manage the airfield, support air base operations, and maintain its reserve training activities, following which, Combat Support Unit Williams will be disbanded.
Air Marshal Binskin said RAAF reservists would now have an increased opportunity to contribute to operational capability in the modern and future air force.
The integrated 21 SQN and Combat Support Unit Williams, will be reassigned to the combat support group from air force training group, as part of a review.
Wedgetail_2
New Member
I think some of you guys need to be aware of the open forum you are on. If you think the wrong sort of people aren't monitoring such discussions, think again!!!
thats been published and public for some years now, it was in the early testing
i guess there's more than enough secret stuff to compensate for that little gem being public
what may surprise some if because of the economic crisis, we offered to our neighbors that they outsource their harbour master and air traffic control to us
i guess there's more than enough secret stuff to compensate for that little gem being public
what may surprise some if because of the economic crisis, we offered to our neighbors that they outsource their harbour master and air traffic control to us
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Thats in the public domain, I'm not stating anything on here that hasn't appeared and been published uncontrolled....
I'm not that silly....
A
Aussie Digger
Guest
Many people read our site. Most are aware of Opsec concerns as are the contributors in here.
Anything that is considered likely to breach same will not be posted on the site, or not for very long anyway...
This may or may not be off topic but I'll ask anyway. I want to be a pilot in the air force, specifically fast jets. Im in year 11 now. The set requirements are passes in English, Physics and Maths B for QLD (the names for maths vary state to state). However I went above and beyond those minimum requirement and choose Maths C (hardest), chemistry and aerospace. I pass all of them, and suprisingly I prefer Maths C more than B. Would these subjects be of any advantage to me in any way? Meaning that if they were to compare myself with another person who did maths B only, would the fact that I completed and passed maths C be of any advantage to me? Or have I wasted 2 years of hard work?
Hornets fly into Australia
Another six Super Hornets arrive at Amberley
That's the first batch of 12 accounted for.
The Super Hornets seem to be on schedule, so I guess that's a little positive news for the RAAF. I just wish replacing the Caribou was as easy.
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I am not sure what is happening with the caribou replacement, does someone have an update where it is at? I believe (I could be wrong) some king airs purchased or leased as an interim arrangement?Hornets fly into Australia
Another six Super Hornets arrive at Amberley
That's the first batch of 12 accounted for.
The Super Hornets seem to be on schedule, so I guess that's a little positive news for the RAAF. I just wish replacing the Caribou was as easy.
Just checked with the last DCP
Air 8000 Phase 2 Battlefield Airlift - Caribou Replacement
Phase 2 is intended to replace the RAAF DHC-4 Caribou transport aircraft to provide a light tactical fixed wing airlift capability.
Phase 2 is intended to enhance the ADF’s intra-theatre and regional airlift capability. This capability will focus on the provision of an intra-theatre airlift solution with some inter-theatre application. This capability will be able to operate from a wide range of rudimentary airstrips with useful paylo ad, range and in-theatre survivability. Phase 2 may also provide appropriate training support, which could include the provision of a Full Flight Simulator. Notably, the capability will require careful consideration of the interaction between rotary-wing assets and light / medium fixed wing platforms in the tactical environment and the total airlift fleet mix.
For Phase 2 it is anticipated that a Military-off-the-Shelf (MOTS) light tactical fixed wing airlift capability will be sourced from an original equipment manufacturer or through government-to-government (Foreign Military Sales) arrangements with few Australian industry opportunities.
Deeper maintenance and other through-life support activities are likely to be provided under contracts within Australia.
Aquisition cost: Level 1 Very High >$1500m (Towards the lower end of the band)
First Pass Approval - FY 2010-11 to FY 2011-12
Year of Decision - FY 2012-13 to FY 2014-15
Initial Operating Capability - 2014 to 2016
Phase 2 is intended to replace the RAAF DHC-4 Caribou transport aircraft to provide a light tactical fixed wing airlift capability.
Phase 2 is intended to enhance the ADF’s intra-theatre and regional airlift capability. This capability will focus on the provision of an intra-theatre airlift solution with some inter-theatre application. This capability will be able to operate from a wide range of rudimentary airstrips with useful paylo ad, range and in-theatre survivability. Phase 2 may also provide appropriate training support, which could include the provision of a Full Flight Simulator. Notably, the capability will require careful consideration of the interaction between rotary-wing assets and light / medium fixed wing platforms in the tactical environment and the total airlift fleet mix.
For Phase 2 it is anticipated that a Military-off-the-Shelf (MOTS) light tactical fixed wing airlift capability will be sourced from an original equipment manufacturer or through government-to-government (Foreign Military Sales) arrangements with few Australian industry opportunities.
Deeper maintenance and other through-life support activities are likely to be provided under contracts within Australia.
Aquisition cost: Level 1 Very High >$1500m (Towards the lower end of the band)
First Pass Approval - FY 2010-11 to FY 2011-12
Year of Decision - FY 2012-13 to FY 2014-15
Initial Operating Capability - 2014 to 2016
It looks to me like we should be hearing more about this project in the not too distant future.
Presumably the leading candidates are the C-27J Spartan and the C-295M (and the smaller C-235-300)
Personally I think the C-27J is probably the better option. Reportedly it uses the same propulsion system and avionics as the C-130J Hercules. Has the same logistical and maintenance characteristics and shares commonality of the cargo capacity. The maximum payload is 11,500kg.
The C-295M is noted for its short take-off and landing capability on semi-prepared runways. It has a maximum payload of 9,250kg (C-235-300 has a maximum payload of 6,000kg).
But really either aircraft would be a quality replacement for the Caribou (which had a payload of slightly under 4t).
How many aircraft are we likely to order?
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Last years white paper said up to 10.
The C-27J certainly looks like the better option. It does share engines and systems with the
C-130J, so from a logistical and maint point of view it does look like the winner. That combined with our C-17, C-130J and in future the JSF gives us pretty good allignment with the US, which seems to be the general direction we are heading in. Considering they are our closest partner's I would assume commonality in systems and operating platforms would be a very handy thing for everything from maint and logistics to training/exercises and operational deployments
C-130J, so from a logistical and maint point of view it does look like the winner. That combined with our C-17, C-130J and in future the JSF gives us pretty good allignment with the US, which seems to be the general direction we are heading in. Considering they are our closest partner's I would assume commonality in systems and operating platforms would be a very handy thing for everything from maint and logistics to training/exercises and operational deployments
5 x leased, 3 x owned (I think).
Orion replacement
Hi guys,
I'm an ex-grunt looking to re-enlist defence and was looking at the position of airborne electronics analyst, but have been hearing rumours and have been told by possibly questionable sources that the Orion is being replaced in ~2014-5 or the near future by the P8 Poseidon, which due to its crew limitations will lead to a downsizing of the AEA units. The job sounds great but I'd hate to go through 18months of training just to do my job for a year or two and get forced to re-muster into another position. Anyone who has any insight into this I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks in advance.
Hi guys,
I'm an ex-grunt looking to re-enlist defence and was looking at the position of airborne electronics analyst, but have been hearing rumours and have been told by possibly questionable sources that the Orion is being replaced in ~2014-5 or the near future by the P8 Poseidon, which due to its crew limitations will lead to a downsizing of the AEA units. The job sounds great but I'd hate to go through 18months of training just to do my job for a year or two and get forced to re-muster into another position. Anyone who has any insight into this I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks in advance.