Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] News, Discussions and Updates

MARKMILES77 said:

Sounds very clever.
With the Patriot missile being integrated with the AEGIS system for use aboard naval vessels, potentially would allow a common pool of
Patriot and SM series missiles to be used by both Navy and Army for Air defence.
Would also allow Army to get a medium/long range air defence system into service utilising already purchased SM-2 missiles while they wait in
line for Patriot missiles to be available.

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When has the ADF shown the slightest interest in Patriot?

They have literally gone out and built their own “candidate system” that deliberately doesn’t use Patriot…

If ADF wanted to use Patriot, it would seem far more likely to me, they’d just buy Patriot or LTAMDS and PAC-3 or something.

But they haven’t…

ADMk2 said:

When has the ADF shown the slightest interest in Patriot?

They have literally gone out and built their own “candidate system” that deliberately doesn’t use Patriot…

If ADF wanted to use Patriot, it would seem far more likely to me, they’d just buy Patriot or LTAMDS and PAC-3 or something.

But they haven’t…

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No they haven't. They haven't had anything since bloodhound. The ability to use different missiles is a good, flexible idea, regardless if they have the munitions in stock or not. My concern is, if they get this candidate, will it be in meaningful numbers?

old faithful said:

No they haven't. They haven't had anything since bloodhound. The ability to use different missiles is a good, flexible idea, regardless if they have the munitions in stock or not. My concern is, if they get this candidate, will it be in meaningful numbers?

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That is the same question for any solution. This system hasn’t been chosen “yet” (though it will be a surprise to nobody if it is after all this…) and the basis of provisioning envisaged for this capability also has not yet been released.

Given the funding envelope for this program and the ADF’s “way” of doing things, I imagine the BoP will be similar to NASAMs. 2x operational batteries (Squadrons) and a training element structured into a Regimental sized formation (even if it is called a Wing or whatever in RAAF nomenclature…)