I'm a bit slow here; better questions to benefit opposition to a Japanese design/offshore build or better questions to benefit the current selection process?
I'm assuming it to be the former
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I'm assuming it to be the former
eg
who did the initial assessment for selecting the current identified successful companies for the future sub
who defined the initial selection criteria to assist in that determination
what agencies and/or departments were involved in the selection process
who defined the criteria for australian industry involvement
was there any weighting applied to companies that were able to partner with australian companies
have any unsolicited bids been received
were any unsolicited bids discussed with competitors amongst the bidders (this is a delicate question that comes up in tender evaluations as it gets to the issue of unfair advantage. eg if company A asks a question, then that question and answer are shared with companies B and C)
there's a few others but I'm not going to flag them in the open as they're CLM's
Now I'm really depressed, thanks.
Warren Kings resigned? God help us, he was one of the good guys, did he ask too many questions or just get sick of the entire process his organisation exists to support getting circumvented?
The thing that makes me laugh (cry / swear / etc.) is the government of the day circumvents the agreed procurement process, things go pear shaped, the government responds by inserting another layer of compliance, gateway or pass, only to circumvent it down the track because it has become too cumbersome.
Although when they do follow the process we can end up with the prefered evolved and prefered existing options (required by the two pass evaluation) both being inferior to other in between option that were often ruled out by the selection methodology. i.e. a number of designs are too developmental to fit the "existing" criteria, while also missing "evolved" selection for not being developmental enough, i.e. the superb Type45 with AEGIS, SPY3 (or even DBR), CEC and US weapons.
The thing that makes me laugh (cry / swear / etc.) is the government of the day circumvents the agreed procurement process, things go pear shaped, the government responds by inserting another layer of compliance, gateway or pass, only to circumvent it down the track because it has become too cumbersome.
Although when they do follow the process we can end up with the prefered evolved and prefered existing options (required by the two pass evaluation) both being inferior to other in between option that were often ruled out by the selection methodology. i.e. a number of designs are too developmental to fit the "existing" criteria, while also missing "evolved" selection for not being developmental enough, i.e. the superb Type45 with AEGIS, SPY3 (or even DBR), CEC and US weapons.
The only non-US submarine design that TTWCS is integrated on at all are the British Trafalgar and Astute classes.
Trafalgers have fired them in anger as well... IIRC HMS Turbulent had a crack at some targets with Tomahawks
They ran a series on Turb's patrol and there was one brilliant moment when the TV crew asked if the idea of firing TLAM bothered them and one bloke just shot the camera a look and said "The business of the Royal Navy is to do violence to the enemies of Her Majesties Government".
Killer reply
Killer reply
https://au.news.yahoo.com/nsw/a/26613162/exclusive-inside-hmas-canberras-first-mission/
HMAS Canberra's first mission. Nice little piece, showing everything is working on its shake down. Helicopters, landing craft, fire fighting etc.
Wonder if they might get a call up following the end of the tropical storm season. Vanautu is getting hit with quite a whopper at the moment.
HMAS Canberra's first mission. Nice little piece, showing everything is working on its shake down. Helicopters, landing craft, fire fighting etc.
Wonder if they might get a call up following the end of the tropical storm season. Vanautu is getting hit with quite a whopper at the moment.
meatshield
Active Member
Not sure it would be ready for that......
Most likely not. Seemed to be very early in the piece if they have only had 1 flight of the MRH-90 from the deck.
However if a large scale disaster was to happen right now, I do wonder what they would press into service. I would think its likely its first major mission would be disaster relief in the region.
Nick underscore
Member
Just mentioned TC Pam in the other thread. Looks quite nasty, but no reports yet
If Canberra isn't ready, Choules I know is. She has been 'playing around' the NT and QLD coasts for the last few months prior to Christmas.
RAAF maybe busy soon too
Apparently much of the devastation from TC Pam is in scattered around the archipelago particularly in the North. this is just the HADR situation which lends itself to the capability of the de-commissioned (and sold) LCH's now lost with no replacement. Choules and the LHD's can support the relief in Port Vila but aid to remote communities will be v. difficult.
One can only hope that it gives some focus to the DWP in order to restore that capability.
Agreed but not sexy so not a priority with the political creatures on either side of the house. A shame really as the amount of work involved would keep the shipbuilding work forces busy for a couple of years until other projects came on line as well. A win for the ADF, industry and for the people the capability would be helping.
Actually, looking at industry work load what's happening with the AOR project now? It was super priority, so urgent that Australian shipbuilders were not allowed to to bid due to time constraints, yet nothing seems to be happening now that Johnstons been demoted. I was under the impression that two designs had been short listed and, due to the urgency of the requirement, a decision was imminent twelve months ago but there's been nothing on it for ages. IMO it is starting to stink of political rhetoric, completely lacking in substance, with capability again becoming a political football.
John Newman
The Bunker Group
Agree.
At the top end the Navy's amphibious capability is looking pretty good now, the first LHD in service, Choules and Tobruk (for the moment at least), at the bottom end is the new LCM's and the various Army watercraft too, but there certainly does seem to be a big gap in the middle, the now retired LCH and their replacements.
And that appears to be a problem (to me at least), I'm sure the LCM's and watercraft would come in handy, but I can't imagine them going anywhere without their various 'mother ships' to transport them, hopefully the new DWP will have something about the LCH replacements and I can't help but think that the LCH replacements (as well as the Pacific Patrol Boats) would be a good gap filler for industry too between the AWD's and the Future Frigates, etc.
Talking of the LCH, as I understand it, of the 6 retired ships, one has been given to PNG, two to the Philippines and I've also read that the Philippines is also interested in purchasing the remaining three as well.
Knowing how long the Philippines keeps its naval vessels in service, I wouldn't mind betting that the LCH will still be around in 10, 20, 30 or more years from now too!
John Newman
The Bunker Group
V, as I understand it, it wasn't until June last year (nine months ago), that the Government and Ex Def Min actually announced the tenders for the two replacement AOR's and that they would be build O/S.
So I don't think it's quiet accurate to say that a decision was imminent twelve months ago. Realistically (even with the change of Def Min), I wouldn't mind betting that an announcement on who the winner is probably won't be announced until around the time of the May 2015 Budget or the new DWP, whichever comes first.
And realistically too, I think the only chance we would have ever seen the AOR's being built here (and delivered on time), would have been if during the Rudd Government's first term, when they were splashing around all those Billions of GFC dollars, if they had actually invested a few lousy Billion (small change in the overall scheme of things during the GFC) in expanding Techport, hardstands, enlarge the ship lift, etc, etc.
If that had actually happened (upgrade/expand the construction facilities), then it could have been followed up by an order for two ships at the end of the Rudd years, or during the early Gillard years, or even made it easier for the current Government to make a decision about local construction, but I think it's all too late now.
The last think I'd like to see is a replication of what is happening in Canada where their two AOR's are out of service and it will probably at least 5 years (or more), before local construction can provide the replacements. As much as I want to see local industry get a bite of the cherry, I certainly don't want to see the RAN be the looser.
Nick underscore
Member
I have a close friend in Vila I managed to skype with yesterday and he believes erromungo and tanna (in the south) were hit the hardest, but information is limited, with much of the communications down in most places.
The lack of LCH capabilty hopefully generates a rethink by the AusGovt (doubtful). Even 2 larger SLV's (previously discussed - Sea Transport Naval Architecture) would fill the gap in my opinion.
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
Yes, it is likely going to be 5 years for the AORs. If our only true heavy ice breaker, Louis St. Laurent, fails then we have no means to even begin a replacement as SeaSpan is to build the 2 AORs first.
You have to wonder at the timing of this storey Landing craft get new home | Navy Daily
on the RAN website.
I'm sure we're not the only ones to see a certain irony given the events with TC Pam.
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