Warfare in or from the air has changed dramatically in the last 100 years. The images of World War One devil-may-care pilots in helmet and goggles, scarves waving in the slipstream, taking pot shots at one another from open biplane cockpits or optimistically dropping small bombs on targets below, rapidly evolved into bitter machine gun dogfights of World War Two and dropping massive tonnages of bombs in saturation raids. The two atomic bombs detonated on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the ultimate climax in killing innocent civilians.
Korea and Vietnam were not greatly different in that bombing continued on hoped for legitimate targets, without much regard for the civilian population. Iraq and Afghanistan have brought a change in that the Coalition have enjoyed complete air superiority and been able to conduct intelligence-led raids on targets with great concern to avoid killing or seriously injuring civilians. New generations of missiles have created the opportunity to deliver guided munitions much more precisely. The advent of drones, able to take out pin-point targets accurately with minimal collateral (= civilian) damage, has also changed the equation by creating deniable attacks.
Now, the challenge for air superiority among nations and the ability to deliver munitions in the face of markedly improved anti-air defences, has meant that air forces are increasingly relying on stand-off missiles which can be fired from an aircraft below the target’s defensive radar horizon, then head flat out from harm’s way before counter-fire reaches them.
The RAAF has introduced force multipliers with their E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft and KC-30A tankers which greatly increase the operational range of F/A-18A/B Hornet and F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter bombers. When the F-35A Joint Strike Fighters come into service the E-7A and KC-30A will give the same multiplier effect.
What progress have the RAAF made in introducing stand-off missiles into service with their classic Hornets and Super Hornets?
CLASSIC HORNET AND SUPER HORNET WEAPON LOADS
Both types of aircraft have an M61 20mm nose-mounted cannon for strafing surface targets.
Each can carry AIM-9 Sidewinder infra-red homing short range missiles for air-to-air combat. Boeing won a contract in 2010 to support Sidewinder operations until at least 2055, by which time it will have been in service for over 100 years! AIM-132 ASRAAM missiles released for RAAF service in 2004 do have advantages over the AIM-9.
AIM-7 Sparrow radar guided missiles have been the principal beyond-visual-range missile for the RAAF Hornets, but they are being supplemented by the more advanced AIM-120 AMRAAM.
Harpoon precision-guided missiles have been the primary anti-shipping weapon for the classic Hornet, Super Hornet and AP-3C. Sea-skimming and with radar guided homing, they remain very potent ordnance.
Will they be replaced by more recent stand-off missiles like the JASSM, JDAM-ER and JSOW which can be launched from the Hornets? The RAAF now has all these types introduced into service, although there has been controversy and ministerial concern in getting to this stage.
The Hornets also have conventional bombs which can be tossed and laser guided onto targets.
Will these missiles still be useful when the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter comes into the RAAF fleet later this decade?
The F-35A is seen as a fifth generation fighter bomber which will be used as a ground attack platform, required to despatch bombs and stand-off missiles. The aircraft has two centre bays and six external pylons, three under each wing. Each centre bay can hold three AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, while the external pylons can take JASSM, JDAM, AIM-120 and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, as well as conventional bombs.
AIM-9 SIDEWINDER / AIM-132 ASRAAM
With a short range of up to 35 km, the Sidewinder infra-red homing missile travels at Mach 2.5 and is deadly in aerial combat. Relatively old and inexpensive, it is claimed to have an estimated 270 aircraft kills which would make it the most successful air-to-air missile ever.
Sidewinder is the most widely used missile in Western air forces and is likely to remain in RAAF service in the future.
However, Project AIR 5400 acquired AIM-132 Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air (ASRAAM) missiles for within visual range (WVR) combat. This missile achieved service release in 2004 and is considered superior is some respects to the AIM-9 Sidewinder.
AIM-120 AMRAAM
The Australian Government purchased from Rockwell Missile Systems AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) including AMRAAM air vehicles and AMRAAM air vehicles-instrumented, AMRAAM captive air training missiles, related spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, maintenance and pilot training, logistics program and software support, documentation, technical assistance and other related elements of support.
These missiles, introduced into service in 2002, enhance the air-to-air self-defence capability of the F/A-18 aircraft and increase interoperability with U.S. forces.
They have been successfully fired by the Super Hornets.
AGM-84 HARPOON
The RAAF can fire Harpoon missiles in an anti-shipping role from their F/A-18A/B Hornets, F/A-18F Super Hornets, and AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft.
With a range in excess of 124 km, the all weather radar guided turbojet powered sea-skimming Harpoon is a formidable weapon. It delivers over 500 kg of high explosives in a single strike.
Although other precision guided munitions are used against land-based targets, there will continue to be a role for the Harpoon.
RAAF WELL-POSITIONED FOR THE FUTURE
By acquiring and introducing into service a range of stand-off missiles for their classic F/A-18A/B Hornets and F/A-18F Super Hornets, the RAAF have assembled a formidable arsenal of weapons although it is to be hoped that they never have to be used in anger.
There is considerable future proofing in that these missiles will also be integrated into the weapons load of the RAAF’s F-35A JSFs when they come into service around 2020. Unfortunately the problem with carrying missiles on wing pylons, rather than in the body of the aircraft, is that a proportion of JSF stealth capability is lost.
Having missiles that can be released at considerable distances from their targets, yet strike those same targets with precision in all weather conditions, by day or night, the RAAF will continue to make good its mission to “provide air and space power for Australia’s security.”
Korea and Vietnam were not greatly different in that bombing continued on hoped for legitimate targets, without much regard for the civilian population. Iraq and Afghanistan have brought a change in that the Coalition have enjoyed complete air superiority and been able to conduct intelligence-led raids on targets with great concern to avoid killing or seriously injuring civilians. New generations of missiles have created the opportunity to deliver guided munitions much more precisely. The advent of drones, able to take out pin-point targets accurately with minimal collateral (= civilian) damage, has also changed the equation by creating deniable attacks.
Now, the challenge for air superiority among nations and the ability to deliver munitions in the face of markedly improved anti-air defences, has meant that air forces are increasingly relying on stand-off missiles which can be fired from an aircraft below the target’s defensive radar horizon, then head flat out from harm’s way before counter-fire reaches them.
The RAAF has introduced force multipliers with their E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft and KC-30A tankers which greatly increase the operational range of F/A-18A/B Hornet and F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter bombers. When the F-35A Joint Strike Fighters come into service the E-7A and KC-30A will give the same multiplier effect.
What progress have the RAAF made in introducing stand-off missiles into service with their classic Hornets and Super Hornets?
CLASSIC HORNET AND SUPER HORNET WEAPON LOADS
Both types of aircraft have an M61 20mm nose-mounted cannon for strafing surface targets.
Each can carry AIM-9 Sidewinder infra-red homing short range missiles for air-to-air combat. Boeing won a contract in 2010 to support Sidewinder operations until at least 2055, by which time it will have been in service for over 100 years! AIM-132 ASRAAM missiles released for RAAF service in 2004 do have advantages over the AIM-9.
AIM-7 Sparrow radar guided missiles have been the principal beyond-visual-range missile for the RAAF Hornets, but they are being supplemented by the more advanced AIM-120 AMRAAM.
Harpoon precision-guided missiles have been the primary anti-shipping weapon for the classic Hornet, Super Hornet and AP-3C. Sea-skimming and with radar guided homing, they remain very potent ordnance.
Will they be replaced by more recent stand-off missiles like the JASSM, JDAM-ER and JSOW which can be launched from the Hornets? The RAAF now has all these types introduced into service, although there has been controversy and ministerial concern in getting to this stage.
The Hornets also have conventional bombs which can be tossed and laser guided onto targets.
Will these missiles still be useful when the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter comes into the RAAF fleet later this decade?
The F-35A is seen as a fifth generation fighter bomber which will be used as a ground attack platform, required to despatch bombs and stand-off missiles. The aircraft has two centre bays and six external pylons, three under each wing. Each centre bay can hold three AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, while the external pylons can take JASSM, JDAM, AIM-120 and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, as well as conventional bombs.
AIM-9 SIDEWINDER / AIM-132 ASRAAM
With a short range of up to 35 km, the Sidewinder infra-red homing missile travels at Mach 2.5 and is deadly in aerial combat. Relatively old and inexpensive, it is claimed to have an estimated 270 aircraft kills which would make it the most successful air-to-air missile ever.
Sidewinder is the most widely used missile in Western air forces and is likely to remain in RAAF service in the future.
However, Project AIR 5400 acquired AIM-132 Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air (ASRAAM) missiles for within visual range (WVR) combat. This missile achieved service release in 2004 and is considered superior is some respects to the AIM-9 Sidewinder.
AIM-120 AMRAAM
The Australian Government purchased from Rockwell Missile Systems AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) including AMRAAM air vehicles and AMRAAM air vehicles-instrumented, AMRAAM captive air training missiles, related spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, maintenance and pilot training, logistics program and software support, documentation, technical assistance and other related elements of support.
These missiles, introduced into service in 2002, enhance the air-to-air self-defence capability of the F/A-18 aircraft and increase interoperability with U.S. forces.
They have been successfully fired by the Super Hornets.
AGM-84 HARPOON
The RAAF can fire Harpoon missiles in an anti-shipping role from their F/A-18A/B Hornets, F/A-18F Super Hornets, and AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft.
With a range in excess of 124 km, the all weather radar guided turbojet powered sea-skimming Harpoon is a formidable weapon. It delivers over 500 kg of high explosives in a single strike.
Although other precision guided munitions are used against land-based targets, there will continue to be a role for the Harpoon.
RAAF WELL-POSITIONED FOR THE FUTURE
By acquiring and introducing into service a range of stand-off missiles for their classic F/A-18A/B Hornets and F/A-18F Super Hornets, the RAAF have assembled a formidable arsenal of weapons although it is to be hoped that they never have to be used in anger.
There is considerable future proofing in that these missiles will also be integrated into the weapons load of the RAAF’s F-35A JSFs when they come into service around 2020. Unfortunately the problem with carrying missiles on wing pylons, rather than in the body of the aircraft, is that a proportion of JSF stealth capability is lost.
Having missiles that can be released at considerable distances from their targets, yet strike those same targets with precision in all weather conditions, by day or night, the RAAF will continue to make good its mission to “provide air and space power for Australia’s security.”
