Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] News, Discussions and Updates
Interesting that Elon Musk is saying that F35s are obsolete And unmanned alternatives should be brought forward. Elon Musk Calls F-35 Builders ‘Idiots’, Favors Drone SwarmsThe final nine F-35As are being delivered as Block 4 Tech Refresh 3 specs according to RAAF Air Vice Marshal at Senate estimates.
x.com
x.com
OldTex
Well-Known Member
Just because Elon Musk says something does not automatically make it true. Of course he would say manned aircraft are obsolete and drones should be used, especially AI enabled drones. This is just Musk setting the preconditions to make it easier for him to promote his own brand of AI. A whole lot of areas and departments will be subjected to his self-interested interference.
downunderblue
Member
Maybe the HASC should ask for the Secretary designate to appear before their commitee, so they can hear more from the esteemed scholar, only to have operators rebuff him and show him up.
I like him for what he's achieved, but he can't be an expert on everything he's asked (only hig ego says he has to be).
I like him for what he's achieved, but he can't be an expert on everything he's asked (only hig ego says he has to be).
Just because he says it certainly doesn’t make it true but the bloke has probably the best record ofrunning business with futuristic technology and getting things done than anyone on the planet. I’m not a fan at all but who would have dreamed of sending a rocket to space and then landing it back down on the launch pad when it returned. And at half the price of anything NASA does. Prior to Space X getting a small stttelitte into orbit was in the millions. Now it’s in the hundreds of thousands $. He basically started the EV industry. Delivers internet at a fraction of the costs to remote locations. Pay Pal from essentially start up to $1.5 billion sale 3 years later. And gets things done relatively quickly.
vs a Military Industrial complex that has sucked the American tax payer dry and continually fails to deliver capability on time and budget ( think about how many cancelled a failed programs in the past 20 years alone) and takes years… right now the F35 is a 30 year old program. LM won in 2001. First F35 entered service 2015.
the argument about delivering cutting edge technology taking years to develop and being billions over budget seems to have fallen by the wayside at Space X ..admittedly their first few years were rocky but in the 20 odd years its deployed a dozen new launch vehicles, deployed starlink and star shield….done close to 450 launches of unmanned and manned missions. Look at starlink. Previous sat internet was hideously expensive and offering incredibly low speeds typically maxing out at about 5mbps. Now the price is a quarter of what it was and speeds in excess of 200mbps in the right circumstances.
I’m not anti F35 or Pro Elon but if this bloke is brilliantly pragmatic …if there is such a thing and no one anywhere is getting things done like him. he has a better crystal ball than anyone else. I fully expect him to shake up procurement at the pentagon and in the RAAF context the F35 supply chain might be part of that.
And he'll sell the access codes to Russia in exchange for being appointed military governor of the US.
MARKMILES77
Active Member
First flight of Strix.
Just to prove it could get off the ground!
Just to prove it could get off the ground!
This paper discusses uav,s pros and cons particularly defence of microwave and laser are mentioned
would hope D.S.T.O are on top of this for the A.D.F
Breaking the Shield: Countering Drone Defenses
would hope D.S.T.O are on top of this for the A.D.F
Breaking the Shield: Countering Drone Defenses
This just popped up on Facebook, looks like a full fleet now
G.E.G Aviation Photography is at RAAF Base Williamtown. ·
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1d · Williamtown ·
https://www.facebook.com/#
It’s offical now we have 72 F-35A in Australia, with the first arrival A35-009 10/12/2018 today the last to be delivered A35-071 18/12/2024 6 years to capture them all!
All reactions:
846846
G.E.G Aviation Photography is at RAAF Base Williamtown. ·
Follow
1d · Williamtown ·
https://www.facebook.com/#
It’s offical now we have 72 F-35A in Australia, with the first arrival A35-009 10/12/2018 today the last to be delivered A35-071 18/12/2024 6 years to capture them all!
All reactions:
846846
I was only recently searching for ADF counter UAS capabilities and came across mention of Project Land 156.
Defence outlines C-UAS plans - Australian Defence Magazine
Almost three years into the Ukraine war, where drones have proliferated, the Australian Defence Force is seeking a counter-drone system that will deliver a minimum capability by the end of 2030 | Max ...
www.australiandefence.com.au
Also here
Aiming at countering small drones, ADF faces challenges | The Strategist
The Australian Defence Force is working on countering small, cheap drones, but the challenges are daunting, with drone technology constantly evolving to sidestep anti-drone measures. Domestic legal obstacles don’t help. A specific acquisition project, LAND ...
www.aspistrategist.org.au
Some nascent capability
Regards
rb
Todjaeger
Potstirrer
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #9,712
Of curiosity, has there been any suggestion on whether or not the RAAF might be interested in getting some AIM-174B missiles for launch from F/A-18F SHornets and/or Growlers? It does appear that the missile has entered USN service from SHornets and Growlers and if Australia also established the capability and a warstock, that could complicate things for potential hostiles.
It would be ideal for us ( …or …any airforce that could launch it) but I haven’t seen or heard anything about it. Wouldn’t be cheap though….probably looking at around $6 a pop. And we would need to get into the air first….imagine what damage a semi loaded with drones parking anywhere within 20km of Darwin, Tindal, Edinburgh, Williamstown and Curtain could do….
Going Boeing
Well-Known Member
The new Mid Band jammer for the Growler has been given USN IOC, any idea of the timeframe for 6 Sqn’s Growlers getting the upgrade? As the RAAF & Defence boffins have been involved with the development of this, I assume that this upgrade is planned for the RAAF fleet.
US Navy declares initial operational capability for the Next
US Navy declares initial operational capability for the Next
The production contract for the first four ship-sets for Mid-Band NGJ for RAAF was placed in late November 2024. All deliveries to be completed by January 2028. So prior to then I am guessing...
Contracts for November 26, 2024
Production contracts for Low-Band NGJ (elements) for RAAF were also placed in late November 2024... To be delivered by 2027...
Contracts for November 26, 2024
Mark_Evans
Member
Missing the article?
I would be more interested in knowing if drone defences are in place.
Same answer as HAS.
Also no.
The closest we have is a 3 year trial to “test” counter-drone defences for RAAF Darwin only. Tindal, Amberley, Williamtown will just have to fare for themselves or something…
Mark_Evans
Member
Is this the article? Found on The War Zone.
Lack Of Hardened Aircraft Shelters Leaves U.S. Airbases Vulnerable To China New Report Warns
China is already massively outpacing the U.S. military in new hardened aircraft shelter construction and Russia is following suit.
www.twz.com