In all honesty...if government is serious about utilizing current raaf fast jets to there full potential range wise and 5 tankers isnt enough,is it such a big ask to provide raaf with the funds for additional tankers to allow that...how many hornets can be fuelled and to what range from the aircraft that will be actually available from the 5 aircraft fleet.
It can be, yes. Each dollar spent to purchase and operate additional tankers is going to be a dollar not spent in purchasing and operating other kit, or to pay personnel. At some point, decisions need to be made as to which service gets funding to cover acquisitions, operations and support.
While adding in an extra aircraft or two would likely not 'break the bank' it would not be free. The pricetag for a single new KC-30A would likely be upwards of A$200 mil. Unless Government is willing to provide supplemental funding to cover the purchase(s), it really is not going to happen.
Ok theres no imminent threat on the horizon now,but it would be more prudent to have the tanker/awac fleets at the required level to support fast jets now and not have to aquire them in an emergency or the period leading up to one,
Tankers and awacs are critical to raaf plans so aircraft inventories should reflect that.
Dont know if we need more awacs but suspect we do and extra tankers are a necessity and the capability improvements they bring to fast jets is more than enough to justify there aquisition costs sooner rather than latter.
Agreed, that is would be much better to have the capacity prior to some threat event occurring, or some similar crisis point. What has to be kept in mind though, is that if additional funding is poured into purchasing additional KC-30A's, funding for other capabilities is going to have to be reduced, or cut altogether. Having a fleet of perhaps 10-15 KC-30A's would provide the RAAF with a significant tanking and transport capability, extending the ADF's airlift a great deal and be a serious range/force multiplier for RAAF fastjets.
The downside is that sort of increase to the KC-30 fleet could conceivably cost the RAAF enough to preclude purchasing and operating the P-8 Poseidon. Which then leads to the question of which capability, at what level, is more important to the ADF? Is having a large MRTT fleet of greater value compared to operating long-ranged MPA? How about having the KC-30's in place of new APCs/IFVs for Army, or replenishment and fleet support vessels for the RAN? It still comes down to the fact that the ADF has to stay within the budget Government allocates to it.
-Cheers
