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

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Some additional firepower for the P-8’s, it’s good to have as many missile carrying platforms as possible.

LRASM fit tested on USN P-8
4 LRASM on a P-8A is going to ruin somebody's day. The AGM-158C is a great weapon with a large warhead which, IIRC, is 1,000lb. Truckborne and shipborne variants make for a potential weapons system. Wonder if the JSM fits into the P-8A bomb bay? A combination of the LRASM and the JSM makes for a good fit, in the air, on land, and at sea.
 

Going Boeing

Well-Known Member
4 LRASM on a P-8A is going to ruin somebody's day. The AGM-158C is a great weapon with a large warhead which, IIRC, is 1,000lb. Truckborne and shipborne variants make for a potential weapons system. Wonder if the JSM fits into the P-8A bomb bay? A combination of the LRASM and the JSM makes for a good fit, in the air, on land, and at sea.
This video shows that LRASM has a lot more capability to evade defences, not to mention the bigger warhead. Not much information is available about fitting the JSM to the P-8 yet but it make a good complementary fit if it can be fired from the bomb bay.

Long Range Anti Ship Missile
 

ADMk2

Just a bloke
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
This video shows that LRASM has a lot more capability to evade defences, not to mention the bigger warhead. Not much information is available about fitting the JSM to the P-8 yet but it make a good complementary fit if it can be fired from the bomb bay.

Long Range Anti Ship Missile
AGM-158C-3 is the USN’s intended operational missile. This missile features LRASM and JASSM-ER capabilities within the one weapon, which means USN P-8A’s at least, will also possess a stand-off land strike capability in addition to their ASuW role.

Something I am positive RAAF will be monitoring…
 

Going Boeing

Well-Known Member
AGM-158C-3 is the USN’s intended operational missile. This missile features LRASM and JASSM-ER capabilities within the one weapon, which means USN P-8A’s at least, will also possess a stand-off land strike capability in addition to their ASuW role.

Something I am positive RAAF will be monitoring…
The Naval News article that I previously linked did not specify the LRASM variant that is to be used on the P-8 but this article is specific that it is the C-3 variant as you indicated.

US Navy to equip P-8A Poseidon aircraft with four AGM-158C-3 LRASM anti-ship missiles
 
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Shanesworld

Well-Known Member
If the CoA does elect to purchase up to an additional 28 F35s and they were to retain the Super Hornets and Growlers longer than may have otherwise been planned (and in addition to 100 F35s), what are the most logical basing considerations for the additional F35s? Others on this forum have mentioned over recent years that Pearce may be an option. But would there be more limitations in absorbing any additional F35s into existing squadrons or limitations on the bases they are at now?

The increased national importance to shipbuilding in WA has now and into the future, particularly assets like the proposed graving dock at Henderson and Fleet Base West more generally probably requires Air Force basing considerations in WA to be brought back into sharper focus. Especially as there will be nuclear powered assets based (possibly including US) there in the future.
This is putting aside the importance of the resources sector particular in North-Western Australia, not only to us but also some of our key allies in the region.

Pearce is a lot closer to at least one of the bare bases (Learmonth) than Tindal or Darwin which may enable faster deployment of fighters if required.
Ohakea.....?
 

At lakes

Well-Known Member
Sir Robert Muldoon summed it up best way back in the daze when he was prime minister of NZ. His quote went something like "If Australia wants to join with NZ then the cabinet will consider it and we will make them an offer "
 

John Newman

The Bunker Group
NZ joining with Oz? No thanks, keep the dole bludgers on that side of the ditch, plus when they mess up here we can deport them!

Anyway...... back to reality.

Reportedly the USN has ordered the first LRIP batch of NGJ pods for the USN and RAAF Growler fleets.


A total of 15 shipsets (2 x pods per shipset), 11 for the USN and 4 for the RAAF.
 

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Australia would become West New Zealand before that happened :D
Over here Australia is known as the West Island.
Sir Robert Muldoon summed it up best way back in the daze when he was prime minister of NZ. His quote went something like "If Australia wants to join with NZ then the cabinet will consider it and we will make them an offer "
He also said about Kiwis crossing the tch to live and work that "It raises the IQ of both nations".
NZ more like West California ATM!
Nope, smoking dope isn't legal here. Thank God we don't have the California system of govt as well.
 

hauritz

Well-Known Member
For all intent and purposes New Zealand already just consider Australia the mainland. One extimate I read was that 670,000 or 15% of all Kiwi citizens live in Australia. If a Kiwi lives in Australia long emough they can even get a pension from Australia.

One thing I have always wondered is whether or not Kiwis should be allowed to join the ADF. Currently they are restricted, but given the likely manpower requirements over the nexr few decades maybe that should change.
 

DDG38

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
One thing I have always wondered is whether or not Kiwis should be allowed to join the ADF. Currently they are restricted, but given the likely manpower requirements over the nexr few decades maybe that should change.
They face the same enlistment requirements as everyone else, as long as they have Australian citizenship (or are in the process of applying) and can pass the recruitment process there's no other obstructions to them joining.
 

jack412

Active Member
Given as from last month, they haven't been 'integrated' yet on the F-35 or Super hornet. I think the answer would be no. Not until ready for use, before delivery.
"StormBreaker is officially approved for operational use on the F-15E and the US Air Force and Navy have begun integration activities on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. "
 

Anthony_B_78

Active Member
What the DSR means for the RAAF: Summary - More pilots, upgrade to F-35s, no B-21s.

Air domain force structure design priorities

8.40 Australia’s Air Force must be optimised for all aspects of air warfare. The support of maritime, littoral and sustainment operations from Australia’s northern base network will be a high priority.

8.41 Air Force must be able to maintain:
a network of northern air bases with appropriate hardening and dispersal;
crewed and autonomous systems capable of air defence;
strike capability (maritime and land);
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance;
anti-submarine warfare;
command and control for integrated air and missile defence;
air-to-air refuelling; and
heavy and medium air mobility.

8.42 Air Force must increase the numbers of critical positions and implement a scalable aircrew training system to meet aircrew requirements across the force, commensurate with operational requirements.

8.43 Air combat crewing requires a new approach which is consistent with our strategic circumstances. Air Force must develop a plan to increase aircrew numbers to ensure that air combat and P-8 maritime squadrons have the crewing to operate all available aircraft at high tempo. This will substantially increase preparedness in the mid to long-term.

Air domain immediate investment priorities

8.44 F-35A Joint Strike Fighter and F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft must be able to operate the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile. The Joint Strike Missile (JSM) should also be integrated onto the F-35A. To enable the F-35A fleet to operate the JSM, the aircraft will need to be upgraded to Block 4 configuration.

8.45 MQ-28A Ghost Bat is a sovereign autonomous air vehicle designed to operate as part of an integrated system of crewed and uncrewed aircraft and space-based capabilities. MQ-28A is intended to be an attritable platform, which costs less than a crewed platform, and can be replaced rapidly. This program should be a priority for collaborative development with the United States.

8.46 The Review has undertaken detailed discussions in Australia and the United States in relation to the B-21 Raider as a potential capability option for Australia. In light of our strategic circumstances and the approach to Defence strategy and capability development outlined in this Review, we do not consider the B-21 to be a suitable option for consideration for acquisition.
 
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