This is a discussion on Australian Army Discussions and Updates within the Army & Security Forces forum, part of the Global Defense & Military category; Has there been any news from the LAND 400 PMO?...
I was wondering about economic stimulas packages we are seeing in the present economic enviroment and what the ADF's share was.
All i have found is that 793 million dollars will be spent on
new facilities and support infrastructure at ADF bases around the country.Construction from mid 2009 and finishing late 2011.
In the rest of the world the US has a 5.9 billion dollar constructin and repair budget from their economic stimulas package.The us military gets 7.4 billion dollars from the 787 billion dollar american recovery and reinvestment act. The french are using some of their stimulas spending to accelerate key military equipment modernization projects.
I do like what the french are doing in particular and am hoping that the aus government will take a leaf from their book if possible.
Last edited by splat; March 27th, 2009 at 01:50 AM.
If 3RAR are still set to loose their status as airborne I was wondering whether this also affects the units that supported the airborne group artillery, medics etc. Or will they continue in their current role, keeping their wings for any possible mission supporting 4RAR?
The following appeared on the UK MOD website, explaining how Anglo-Oz Gunners are working in unison to support of 3-Commando in A-Stan. The photo's show the Aus Gun teams in action.
I understand this is the second rotation for Australian Gunners working with the UK Battle Group. According to Rudd (London talks), we are likely to see increased cooperation above and beyond SF units in the field.
It's a shame you don't read move about such activity in the Aussie press.
On a less positive note I read the following report in the Australian (link below), which if true makes for pretty depressing reading.
I can't understand why the Aus Government doesn't operate a UOR system, buying urgently needed equipment or upgrades for use in war, which is paid for outside the Defence budget, thus reducing the impact upon long term defence procurement. Both the US & UK have used this process to buy much need equipment for the Afghan theatre, particularly MARP vehicles, UAV's and increased fire-support.
Why aren't the M113's being upgraded along the lines of the UK Bulldog programme for example as a matter of urgency?
The following appeared on the UK MOD website, explaining how Anglo-Oz Gunners are working in unison to support of 3-Commando in A-Stan. The photo's show the Aus Gun teams in action.
I understand this is the second rotation for Australian Gunners working with the UK Battle Group. According to Rudd (London talks), we are likely to see increased cooperation above and beyond SF units in the field.
It's a shame you don't read move about such activity in the Aussie press.
On a less positive note I read the following report in the Australian (link below), which if true makes for pretty depressing reading.
I can't understand why the Aus Government doesn't operate a UOR system, buying urgently needed equipment or upgrades for use in war, which is paid for outside the Defence budget, thus reducing the impact upon long term defence procurement. Both the US & UK have used this process to buy much need equipment for the Afghan theatre, particularly MARP vehicles, UAV's and increased fire-support.
Why aren't the M113's being upgraded along the lines of the UK Bulldog programme for example as a matter of urgency?
Australia does have a Urgent operational Requirement acquisition capability. The Javelin ATGW and Mk 19 auto-grenade launchers for SASR/4RAR (Cmdo) and the Bar armour and Konsberg Remote Weapon stations for ASLAV's are some examples of urgent acquisitions we have made in recent years.
M113's are being upgraded (slowly admittedly) under a formed program that has existed for a LONG time. Poor management, scope creep and poor contractor performance (pretty much the same time old theme in defence Acquisition) has led to the delays in the overall program.
A rapid upgrade of already upgraded vehicles, including additional belly armour, anti-rpg bar armour, air conditioning and other modifications are being considered for the M113AS4 in Australian service and would definitely be integrated if a deployment to Afghanistan were on the cards.
M113AS4 will only deploy to the Ghan if a serious combat deployment of conventional land forces were being considered.
The ASLAV and Bushmaster already there, are more than sufficient for the current tasks.
If it were known that the M113AS4s were to deploy, I'll bet they'd get their sh*t together pretty quickly. Before you know it they'd additional armor, RWS etc.
If it were known that the M113AS4s were to deploy, I'll bet they'd get their sh*t together pretty quickly. Before you know it they'd additional armor, RWS etc.
I am curious as to why the DEFMIN is so upset. The situationis far better than the state we were in when the ALP left power a decade and half ago......., you know .. ten years to prepare for a threat.
I am curious as to why the DEFMIN is so upset. The situationis far better than the state we were in when the ALP left power a decade and half ago......., you know .. ten years to prepare for a threat.
He is upset, because he hasn't got a clue and can't come to grips with the complexity of his own portfolio.
Hence him lashing out in offence at any perceived "ills"... He is trying to redirect blame...
The M113AS4's won't be deployed quickly. Only 42 have been delivered and most of them are still with the trade training schools. Not enough capability has been put in service to support and operate them as yet, as the battalions are flat out on current ops...
I actually used that rifle at the infantry centre , Singleton in 1985. It was 1 of 3 contenders to replace the SLR (L1A1). The other 2 contenders were the M16A2 and the Styer Aug. .....The Styer won, the Tas Devil, was known to us as the Leader. It was a very good rifle, and seen as marginaly better than the M16 family. It took all M16 CES,ie magazines, cleaning kit, M203, BFA bayonet etc.
However, it was also considered not much of an improvment over the M16, and the Styer was percieved to offer more advantages....I like the F88, however, it has proved a lot more difficult to train with than a conventional rifle. I know many will disagree with that coment, but as a section commander, prior to and after the intro of the F88, the number of UD,s absolutley blew out! It was embaressing!
The Leader achieved resonable sales in the US as a sporting rifle, and prior to our new gun laws, even a few sold in Tas and SA. I like this rifle.
To make up for the retiring caribous? Or are some of the existing chooks airframes getting on or something?
Quite possibly, though it could also be an availability issue as well.
Army apparently intends to rebuild it's CH-47D's into "F" models at some point and I imagine that will result in a significant downtime for the fleet. A Hornet centre barrel replacement takes 9 months from start to finish, so I can't see an entire rebuilt Chinook airframe, being much quicker than that!
Any production line capacity increase is likely to be offset by the extra demand for F model rebuilds, I would expect, so I would reckon that the F model rebuild would be a fairly lengthy process, followed by a test and evaluation period.
Perhaps the extra airframe is designed to manage that, keeping Army's capability at 12x helo's whilst the "F" model upgrade is occurring, with the benefit of an extra airframe at the end?
There were significant rumours of a "12 strong" Chinook fleet a while back. Perhaps the extra airframe is to allow this "downtime" to be managed, something ADF no doubt learnt with the F/A-18 HUG.
Whilst it has produced an excellent combat capability, the extensive nature of the HUG has led to significant availability issues with the Hornets for the operational Squadrons.
The $10 billion long-term expansion and "hardening and networking" of the army will continue with the regular army growing to about 30,000, including eight infantry battalions.
The army's Chinook helicopter fleet is expected to expand from six to 10 aircraft and the land force is expected to be re-equipped with self-propelled and towed artillery in the next decade.
The army will also acquire a new generation of armoured fighting vehicles from 2020.
The new white paper says Australia's defence force should be capable of taking the lead security role in Australia's neighbourhood, particularly the South Pacific, as well as having the ability to deploy military forces further afield.
Anyone knows whether in the 8 Infantry Bn Figure 4th RAR is included or excluded?Because for me it sounds like they may raise an add. Infantry Bn (I might be wrong tough)
