We like really big numbers. They are the best. Way better than small numbers.
Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] News, Discussions and Updates
Mark_Evans
Active Member
Is that big numbers to compensate for small hands? Asking for a friend.
Australia – MC-55A Baseline 2 Upgrade
Media/Public Contact: [email protected]
Transmittal No. 25-50
What will become a regular cycle for this particular platform , I suspect…
WASHINGTON, August 6, 2025 - The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia of MC-55A Baseline 2 Upgrade and related equipment for an estimated cost of $404 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress.
The Government of Australia has requested to buy equipment and services to support maintenance of its MC-55A aircraft fleet, to include major and minor modifications; spare parts; consumables and accessories; repair and return support; U.S. government and contractor engineering; technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $404 million.
Media/Public Contact: [email protected]
Transmittal No. 25-50
What will become a regular cycle for this particular platform , I suspect…
WASHINGTON, August 6, 2025 - The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia of MC-55A Baseline 2 Upgrade and related equipment for an estimated cost of $404 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress.
The Government of Australia has requested to buy equipment and services to support maintenance of its MC-55A aircraft fleet, to include major and minor modifications; spare parts; consumables and accessories; repair and return support; U.S. government and contractor engineering; technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $404 million.
Going Boeing
Well-Known Member
It looks like the technology is changing rapidly as they are funding upgrade equipment before the aircraft are delivered to the RAAF. 10 Sqn has been waiting a long time for these aircraft.
ASD News RAAF MC-55A Peregrine Baseline 2
ASD News RAAF MC-55A Peregrine Baseline 2
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It is the times we are in. Technological advancements and our strategic environment are evolving so quickly that a piece of military hardware can almost be rendered obsolete before it even comes off the production line.
Spain & India have never actually ordered the F-35. Spain had showed some interest in the F-35B to replace their Harriers & the F-35 had been offered to India. India currently operates 12 P-8's and had been in talks about purchasing another 6. It is these talks that have been suspended, there wasn't actually an order in place. Cheers.
Any update as to when the RAAF will receive the last two P-8’s to bring the total fleet up to 14
Regards S
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
The other delivery slot that might become available is Canada. Although cancelling our order wouldn't be a good move for the RCAF, the anti-Trump mood here is making this outcome very acceptable to many here. Canada is obligated for the first batch of 16 out of 88. Would the US allow Canada to sell the 16 to Australia or another user?
I get the political sentiment but what would be an alternative aircraft.
The P-8 is still a very good platform.
I wish the RAAF were getting plane 15 and 16
Cheers S
Regards S
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
For the F-35, there is no good alternative for Canada to select IMHO. I don't believe our P-8 order is under review, just the F-35.
John Fedup
The Bunker Group
6th Gen alternatives limited to the F-47 and Tempest and both will be in high demand by the builders. FCAS is far away if ever and F/A XX appears not to be happening.
Perhaps Canada and Australia should consider joining the GCAP program as its not a certainty that the U.S will allow the export of their new fighters
Focus | Australia and Canada consider partnering in GCAP future fighter program as US policy changes weaken longtime alliances
Focus | Australia and Canada consider partnering in GCAP future fighter program as US policy changes weaken longtime alliances
armyrecognition.com
Finding replacement for the Rhinos and Growlers will not be straight forward. I think there are many things that need to be considered.Perhaps Canada and Australia should consider joining the GCAP program as its not a certainty that the U.S will allow the export of their new fighters
Focus | Australia and Canada consider partnering in GCAP future fighter program as US policy changes weaken longtime alliances
Focus | Australia and Canada consider partnering in GCAP future fighter program as US policy changes weaken longtime alliances
First of all there is the MQ-28 Ghost Bat. You could argue that Australia is ahead of the curve with this aircraft. It could be in service next year. It will be able to carry weapons. It will take several years for Australia to assess its capabilities and what we learn could shape the decisions we make going forward. Joining with the F-47 or GCAP programs may be premature until we truly understand the capability the MQ-28 offers. At this stage I wouldn't even assume we need a crewed element.
I think replacing the Rhinos and Growlers, assuming they are going to be replaced with the same platforms, will be the most complex task ever undertaken by the airforce. Replacing the Classic Hornets was pretty straight forward. We knew what was required and the F-35 was clearly the only serious contender. This time round there are so many options. A case could be made for the B-21, F-47, GCAP, additional F-35s or even something completely out of left field like an all drone fleet, perhaps supported by some sort of drone mothership.
The Rhinos and Growlers could last until the 2040s although you could argue they will be functionally obsolete long before then. The need to find a replacement is urgent and really the intial work should have already begun.
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An article describing Adelaide university,s work on non G.P.S navigation for drones using star mapping
unisa.edu.au
GPS alternative for drone navigation using visual data from stars
A surge in GPS jamming attacks in drone warfare has inspired Australian researchers to develop a celestial navigation system that uses visual data from stars.
unisa.edu.au
Of all of the future manned aircraft GCAP purely on range and payload seems the most suitable. Of concern is the UK defence programs seem to suffer the same malaise that our RAN programs suffer. Hopefully the Japanese can keep it on track.
Also the UK economy is a total mess. As much as we are aligned on value etc the trajectory of their fiscal position seriously worries me.
Takao
The Bunker Group
There is also the question of if we can even afford to replace them.
I acknowledge that the PM said funding follows capability need; but when you already have significant $$ going to Defence and you have the rest of the nation to consider, things get tight. And the aircraft aren't getting cheaper. F-35 is more expensive than we were expecting, the ancillaries even more so, and key enabling fleets like E-7 replacement aren't going to be cheap either. That's before we see what happens with GCAP or F-37 - they wouldn't be the first high tech aircraft cancelled (TSR.2 and A-12 both spring to mind as comparable for their time).
Beyond the fact there is no clear answer, it's not a cheap one.