Boagrius
Well-Known Member
RAAF looks at missile purchase from US
Kopp that!
2:lol2OK I'll leave now...
EDIT: That seems like an extraordinary number of SDBs... seriously??
Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF] News, Discussions and Updates
Kopp that!
2:lol2OK I'll leave now...
EDIT: That seems like an extraordinary number of SDBs... seriously??
Building up an initial warstock... Plus SDBI is close to going out of production too, so that may have something to do with it...RAAF looks at missile purchase from US
Kopp that!
OK I'll leave now...
EDIT: That seems like an extraordinary number of SDBs... seriously??
Boagrius
Well-Known Member
I see. Glad to see us getting the newest slammers in short order. Even a legacy Hornet equipped with ASRAAM and AIM120D would make for a pretty potent jet... interesting stuff.
EDIT: Some more on this:
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/a...ks-dods-newest-air-to-air-missile-the-424574/
I found the bolded parts particularly intriguing. Over the shoulder shots with AMRAAM perhaps? Is it even nimble enough off the rail to do that? Would certainly make the recent F35 BFM bru-hahah all the more irrelevant.
Yep, USAF have stopped ordering SDB I and are transitioning to SDB II as it moves towards full rate production, so I expect the larger order is to equip us, while the production line still exists and production of SDB II ramps up.
I expect we'll see a large request for SDB II in years to come as well.
AIM-120D is an interesting choice. It is obviously 'safe' and a very lethal weapon, but it will be interesting to see (if anything) what sort of evaluation the RAAF has made of possible options including Meteor...
Boagrius
Well-Known Member
Well realistically Meteor is probably the only ARH/BVR missile we'd consider as an alternative (?). That said perhaps the RAAF are happy to wait for what comes after AMRAAM in US service - at least for the time being? Despite what look to be exceptional kinematics, Meteor still has a rather nasty looking smoke plume on launch last time I checked, and I don't know how the guidance/ECCM package stacks up against the Delta model AMRAAM. Just speculating here.
I'm particularly interested by the cited HOBS improvements to the 120D though. I've never thought of the AMRAAM as being particularly nimble for WVR purposes and therefore would have thought of HOBS capability as being a bit out of place here. Nevertheless an AMRAAM that can be fired over the shoulder might be another step towards this being a viable operational tactic outside of the immediate "phonebooth"... I imagine AIM9X Blk II and ASRAAM et al. can do it already with LOAL, but at what range?
Then again I could be way off - could be as simple as having a larger seeker FOV/greater gimbal range of motion/whatever to help it pull more lead in terminal phase, for example... no clue
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King Wally
Active Member
Here's an early look at Australia’s first P-8A Poseidon, which recently came off the production line at Boeing. The aircraft will be delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force in November this year according to an update on LinkedIn. Looking very nice!
40 deg south
Well-Known Member
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/a...ters-works-to-mature-australias-mrh90-425188/
For what it's worth, the local Airbus Helicopters head is putting a positive spin on progress with the MRH90.
One thing that puzzles me is that NZ seems to have no problem with fast-roping from both doors (plenty of on-line pics available) - did RNZAF get a different winch set-up to Australia?
For what it's worth, the local Airbus Helicopters head is putting a positive spin on progress with the MRH90.
One thing that puzzles me is that NZ seems to have no problem with fast-roping from both doors (plenty of on-line pics available) - did RNZAF get a different winch set-up to Australia?
Yes we did get a different winch. IIRC I think we got the Bendix (?) winch rather than the stock standard one that came with the aircraft. It was the only thing where we went and spent extra money acquiring top of the line equipment for the aircraft. From what I understand fast roping per se doesn't involve the winch. The ropes are attached to the aircraft fuselage floor and the soldiers shimmy down real quick.
Nick underscore
Member
Not an update for the RAAF, but has been mentioned in the past by posters here.
USMC has made the decision to equip their entire C-130J & MV-22 fleets, with the Harvest Hawk kit, including the new modifications (MX-20 sensor ball & the Intrepid Tiger EW pod). Marines to add Harvest Hawk to entire fleets
Maybe through FMS, we request an additional '12' sets to the USMC production order? Would be a great force multiplier IMV.
Separately, but thematically similar. The USAF is requesting to shift its 'Compass Call' E/A hardware on to the G550 platform. USAF repurposes G-550 for E/A
I'm not conversant with respect to the differences of E/W vs. E/A, but was curious as to whether the recent announcement of the x2 G550's (stated as ISREW platforms) may incorporate this E/A capability? Or is this already provided through the Growlers?
USMC has made the decision to equip their entire C-130J & MV-22 fleets, with the Harvest Hawk kit, including the new modifications (MX-20 sensor ball & the Intrepid Tiger EW pod). Marines to add Harvest Hawk to entire fleets
Maybe through FMS, we request an additional '12' sets to the USMC production order? Would be a great force multiplier IMV.
Separately, but thematically similar. The USAF is requesting to shift its 'Compass Call' E/A hardware on to the G550 platform. USAF repurposes G-550 for E/A
I'm not conversant with respect to the differences of E/W vs. E/A, but was curious as to whether the recent announcement of the x2 G550's (stated as ISREW platforms) may incorporate this E/A capability? Or is this already provided through the Growlers?
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fixed....
they're providing different but partial overlapping of the Growler. They're offering a far more powerful node into the location operating picture
winnyfield
New Member
FYI, MRH90 setup:
http://images.defence.gov.au/S20141401
Biggest problem is that a door gun (current set up) will get in the way.
Yep, there is a modification in due course to enlarge the 'rear' window and allow the gun to be establised there...
But, that is in the future of course...
Quick note, we've ordered the first two airframes, up to three more are coming, apparently...
these are part of the ewarfare team. they're not intended to be taxis
edit:
http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-gulfstream-g550-and-the-adf-plugging-the-isr-gap/
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Nick underscore
Member
Thanks for the linky there gf.
Saves me asking you further basic questions..That link covers potentially further avenues for the ADF to pursue.
"Although ELINT and SIGINT roles are likely to be a high priority for the ADF acquisition, the adaptability of the G550 platform across a wide variety of specialised roles suggests an argument could be made to acquire a higher number of platforms to add greater flexibility and readiness to the ADF in terms of both intelligence gathering capabilities, as well as other types of specialised combat support or service support tasks."
A future lead coalition partner, should have no hesitation in wanting & utilising any part(s) of an RAAF ewarfare package. With E-7A's, P-8A's (plus AAS), MQ-4C, various ISREW G-550's (including potentially nodes for E/A and or JSTARs battle mgmt) and of course the Growlers (E/A), what is not covered?
Good times, as it would seem Australia will sit side-by-side with certain partners, on a unique capability table.
add in the rest of the JOINT capability that can interface with Link 11, Link16 and Link22
the list just got a whole lot bigger and the realisation of what we will be able to do at the overall operating picture level should see a lot of people absolutely wide eyed and breathless
edit:
and then add in coalition partners and allies with similar connectivity on their own platforms ....
it adds a whole new appreciation of joint operation potential....
Nick underscore
Member
This is the current stage I'm at!..should see a lot of people absolutely wide eyed and breathless
Agreed. The wider roll-out of LinkXX connectivity across all platforms - can't be understated.
I feel reassured of the the fact that we 'could' roll on our own, should we need too. 'Plug & play' with others, is of course the primary.
and Link-nn connectivity is not just about things with wings or rotors - its also about armour, comms trucks, phatships, AWD etc.....This is the current stage I'm at!
Agreed. The wider roll-out of LinkXX connectivity across all platforms - can't be understated.
I feel reassured of the the fact that we 'could' roll on our own, should we need too. 'Plug & play' with others, is of course the primary.
its a comms ball, let alone a comms bubble, let alone tricky duplexing from sensor to receiver.
RAAF C-27 Spartan damaged
A RAAF C-27 Spartan has been damaged in a training incident in Waco Texas.
No reports of casualties.
The aircraft was left with a definite lean to one side after a reported tyre blowout on landing. Hard to say if the landing gear on one side subsequently failed or the lean is attributable to just blown out tyres.
RAAF C-27J Spartan damaged in Texas landing incident
Would this sort of thing leave the plane with a jinxed for life reputation for the superstitious?
rb
A RAAF C-27 Spartan has been damaged in a training incident in Waco Texas.
No reports of casualties.
The aircraft was left with a definite lean to one side after a reported tyre blowout on landing. Hard to say if the landing gear on one side subsequently failed or the lean is attributable to just blown out tyres.
RAAF C-27J Spartan damaged in Texas landing incident
Would this sort of thing leave the plane with a jinxed for life reputation for the superstitious?
rb