We didn't. That should tell you something of the level of reporting in the article.
Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] News, Discussions and Updates
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
"Order cancelled" has appeared as a headline from several sources which I previously thought were more responsible.
Defence Industry Daily was running this a week ago.
The comments section is just depressing, 2 pages and only 2 or 3 made the point that they had never actually been ordered in the first place.
It's this sort of reality check that makes it more obvious why Defence struggles so much in Australia. "This is why we can't have nice things" seems appropriate.
The comments section is just depressing, 2 pages and only 2 or 3 made the point that they had never actually been ordered in the first place.
It's this sort of reality check that makes it more obvious why Defence struggles so much in Australia. "This is why we can't have nice things" seems appropriate.
At least we haven't cancelled the F-22 order.
SpazSinbad
Active Member
Thanks 'hauritz' I needed that giggle this morning.
Muar River
Member
Article in AFR yesterday - PM's defence plan to blow out surplus
Proposed purchases for RAAF include 15 x P8As, 9th and 10th C17s.
Proposed purchases for RAAF include 15 x P8As, 9th and 10th C17s.
John Newman
The Bunker Group
Couple of bits of news for the RAAF.
C-17A No 7 was delivered yesterday:
Seventh RAAF C-17 delivered | Australian Aviation
No 8 is due later this year, I wonder when the DWP is announced if there is still the possibility to acquire the last remaining white tail and make the total fleet size nine? Still having eight is a long way further down the track than only having the original four!
And the first Growler was officially rolled out in the US:
First RAAF Growler rolls out | Australian Aviation
Interesting to note that the RAAF's Growlers will have some extra kit that the USN's Growlers don't currently have, and that is they are equipped with both AIM-9X Sidewinder and the ATFLIR targeting pod.
EDIT:
And a link with a bit of video from the Boeing site:
http://www.boeing.com/features/2015/07/bds-raaf-growler-07-15.page
C-17A No 7 was delivered yesterday:
Seventh RAAF C-17 delivered | Australian Aviation
No 8 is due later this year, I wonder when the DWP is announced if there is still the possibility to acquire the last remaining white tail and make the total fleet size nine? Still having eight is a long way further down the track than only having the original four!
And the first Growler was officially rolled out in the US:
First RAAF Growler rolls out | Australian Aviation
Interesting to note that the RAAF's Growlers will have some extra kit that the USN's Growlers don't currently have, and that is they are equipped with both AIM-9X Sidewinder and the ATFLIR targeting pod.
EDIT:
And a link with a bit of video from the Boeing site:
http://www.boeing.com/features/2015/07/bds-raaf-growler-07-15.page
HATS 135 factory acceptance No.1. (Airbus Helicopters)
Airbus Helicopters has achieved factory acceptance of HATS01, the first of 15 EC135 T2+ helicopters destined for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) that will be based at HMAS Albatross.
Prime contractor Boeing Defence Australia joined representatives of the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army for the factory acceptance ceremony at Donauwörth in Germany.
Can someone explain why it is that buying European we do so through Boing?
Airbus Helicopters has achieved factory acceptance of HATS01, the first of 15 EC135 T2+ helicopters destined for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) that will be based at HMAS Albatross.
Prime contractor Boeing Defence Australia joined representatives of the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Army for the factory acceptance ceremony at Donauwörth in Germany.
Can someone explain why it is that buying European we do so through Boing?
The Training system is one that Boeing Defence Australia has put together and successfully bid for. It contains among other things Airbus helicopters. here is a quote from the official announcement made in October 2014:
The Helicopter Aircrew Training System (HATS) will be based at HMAS Albatross in Nowra, NSW. The preferred partner for HATS, Boeing Defence Australia, has proposed a training system that will include purpose designed syllabi based on 15 Airbus Helicopter EC-135 twin-engine ‘glass cockpit’ training helicopters; three full-motion Thales EC 135 Flight Simulators and addition of a flight deck to Navy’s new sea-going training vessel. Final contract negotiations with Boeing will conclude directly
Here is the link:
Defence Ministers » Minister for Defence – New training system for ADF helicopter crews
John Newman
The Bunker Group
An article on the news.com.au website about the Growler:
RAAF’s new EA-18G ‘Growler’ attack jets a massive capability upgrade
Nothing particularly new or overly interesting about that, but News Ltd Defence writer, Ian McPhedran, has this little paragraph in the story when we was also talking about the 8 P-8A's on order:
"The government will almost certainly pick up the option for another four and possibly even another eight of the anti-submarine and surveillance planes to replace the retiring fleet of Adelaide based P3 Orion maritime patrol planes. This is on top of probably an extra four of the European-built KC-30A multi role tanker transport planes built by Airbus."
The option for another four P-8A's (yes know that), but he is also suggesting that another eight are a possibility too, a fleet of 20 P-8A's??
The other bit is the suggestion that another four KC-30A's are a possibility too (would that add to the current 5 + 2 on order??)
Just have to see how close to 'reality' that is when the DWP is delivered!!!
RAAF’s new EA-18G ‘Growler’ attack jets a massive capability upgrade
Nothing particularly new or overly interesting about that, but News Ltd Defence writer, Ian McPhedran, has this little paragraph in the story when we was also talking about the 8 P-8A's on order:
"The government will almost certainly pick up the option for another four and possibly even another eight of the anti-submarine and surveillance planes to replace the retiring fleet of Adelaide based P3 Orion maritime patrol planes. This is on top of probably an extra four of the European-built KC-30A multi role tanker transport planes built by Airbus."
The option for another four P-8A's (yes know that), but he is also suggesting that another eight are a possibility too, a fleet of 20 P-8A's??
The other bit is the suggestion that another four KC-30A's are a possibility too (would that add to the current 5 + 2 on order??)
Just have to see how close to 'reality' that is when the DWP is delivered!!!
t68
Well-Known Member
I think it's a distinct possabilty if we order in batches like C17, can't see them order another 8 P8's in one hit but in 3's or 4's
John Newman
The Bunker Group
Thinking about it further, the 'possible' extra eight P-8A's could be an insurance policy that gets written into the DWP if the seven Triton are not proceeded with, that would make sense to me, but 20 P-8A's and 7 Triton? Wouldn't say no, but sounds like a pretty big investment.
The four extra KC-30A's he mentioned, could actually be the two extra currently on order and possibly two VIP versions to replace the BBJ's.
Anyway, just have to wait and see!!!
Depends how you read it.
"The government will almost certainly pick up the option for another four and possibly even another eight of the anti-submarine and surveillance planes to replace the retiring fleet of Adelaide based P3 Orion maritime patrol planes."
Possibly another four or even eight is most likely =8 and not =12.
It could have been better written.
I think he means possibly four or even eight extra P-8's
MB
Geez, i read it different again!
We have ordered 8.
an extra 4 means 12.
An extra 8 instead of 4 means 16 P8,s in total.
16 P8s and 7 tritons would be nice.
We have ordered 8.
an extra 4 means 12.
An extra 8 instead of 4 means 16 P8,s in total.
16 P8s and 7 tritons would be nice.
John Newman
The Bunker Group
I started something there didn't I!! Actually I read it different, the relevant line was:
"The government will almost certainly pick up the option for another four and possibly even another eight"
Original 8 + 4 (current option) = 12, the possibly 'another 8 line' doesn't say 'instead' of the original 4 options, it say 'AND' possibly even another eight.
8 + 4 + 8 = 20!!
Not that I'm going to hold my breath, I remember just before the Gillard 2013 DWP was released and there was constant speculation and reporting that the 4th AWD was to be ordered, but of course it didn't get ordered!!
Yeah, that's the way I read it too.
John
your right to have all the question marks.
We really don't know, but of course it does lead to speculation of a bigger fleet.
So is it this month for the DWP?
Can't wait
S
I don't quite read it the way you have, When he mentions the options I get the impression that it could be up to an extra 8 P-8A's and up to 4 KC-30A's ontop of the current fleet's of 8 and 5 respectively making a total of 16 and 9 which is actually quite realistic and doable.
the road runner
Active Member
I read an article that stated the P-8 would work best with a Triton on a 2 for 1 ratio.
7 Tritons would imply 14 P-8s in that regard.
With us being an Island nation im all for more MPA Aircraft
A number of Def Pros have stated the P-8 has better capability in some instances than our Wedgetail fleet.