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

t68

Well-Known Member
The article is from the Daily Mail. They're not exactly the most reliable source, and they have a well established reputation for throwing facts out the window and ranting incoherently in order to stir up the psychopathic reactionary demographic...
That also made front page of yesterday’s daily telegraph with a more comprehensive story inside if they are using the same sources for information I have no idea, Ths social ideology about gender and LGTI has been creeping into every aspect of defence and the article is showing it to the extreme contrary to aims of the core duties of the military in a time of war is all about.
 

Redlands18

Well-Known Member
Is there an operational possibility for the S/H to provide air to air refueling of the F35A feasible for long range missions ,I can understand that there are designated aircraft for this but not with a level of stealth ?
Isn’t the F-35A using the Boom re-fuelling System while the SH uses the Probe and Drogue System for Buddy re-fuelling tasks?
 

swerve

Super Moderator
Yes. You can't use a boom for buddy refuelling. Booms don't fit on fighters. The F-35A would have to be fitted with a probe to refuel from an F-18F.
 

t68

Well-Known Member
Yes. You can't use a boom for buddy refuelling. Booms don't fit on fighters. The F-35A would have to be fitted with a probe to refuel from an F-18F.
space is available for the probe on a F35A if one so desires, I would like to see studies if by using the boom is quicker to refuel a flight of A's in single's or two or more aircraft via the probe, flow rate on the boom will have to be slowed down for the A

O’Bryan: “We anticipated a number of the operators would want probe-and-drogue refueling in the F-35A and we kept that space empty on the F-35A to accommodate probe and drogue refueling. We‘ve done a number of studies – funded studies, not projects – funded studies to evaluate that, paid for by the countries who want that to happen. It’s a relatively easy … doable change.”
Lockheed's comprehensive Q&A on the F-35
 

seaspear

Well-Known Member

hauritz

Well-Known Member
In regards to the "Growler" the attached article suggests increased altitude with conformal tanks increasing the effectiveness of its electronic warfare capability
Could 'Stealth' Fuel Tanks Give Navy Super Hornets the Range to Destroy Chinese Air Defenses?
The Australian government has contributed some 250 million dollars to the development of the next generation jammer
Growler set for next generation jamming - Australian Aviation
which suggests the plans for the S/H are long term
Well the Growler is certainly here long term. Still not so sure about the Super Hornets future. Perhaps at least some of them might be converted to Growlers down the track.
 

Tasman

Ship Watcher
Verified Defense Pro
That also made front page of yesterday’s daily telegraph with a more comprehensive story inside if they are using the same sources for information I have no idea, Ths social ideology about gender and LGTI has been creeping into every aspect of defence and the article is showing it to the extreme contrary to aims of the core duties of the military in a time of war is all about.
The news media have drawn on an Australian government document but IMO have misinterpreted some parts to make a controversial story.

http://airpower.airforce.gov.au/APDC/media/PDF-Files/Doctrine/AFDN-1-18-Gender-in-Air-Operations.pdf

The way I read the document, the suggestions made re considering collateral damage and possible adverse consequences for women and children, are aimed at the planning stages for missions and the rules of engagement outlined to pilots before those missions begin. Pilots would be well briefed before taking off regarding the rules of engagement for any particular mission. This is not something that is new but it is something where it is probably fair to say that, thanks to 24/7 news reporting and the impact of social media, there is much more attention paid to collateral damage than might have been the case before the internet.

Tas
 

seaspear

Well-Known Member
I made the suggestion of onselling surplus S/H as a means of reducing costs of flying surplus aircraft and perhaps allowing the N.Z government to consider having again this capacity
 

vonnoobie

Well-Known Member
I made the suggestion of onselling surplus S/H as a means of reducing costs of flying surplus aircraft and perhaps allowing the N.Z government to consider having again this capacity
There are many different options for us. They key point is that we dont rush into any of them as said decision will have repercussions good or bad for decades following such a decision. In the mean time I say we keep them, leave open possibility to upgrade them to Block III and keep our options open. Could be a 6th gen, Could be a 4th squadron of F-35A's, Could be an F-35D or could very well be the 4th squadron is scrapped the the personnel and funds from it go to increasing to drone fleet (ie: Loyal Wing man).

That all said there will have to be a major change in the regional security situation along with a change in government and civilian views within NZ for them to acquire fixed wing air assets even if they are just given away to them. When we first acquired the Super Hercs we also acquired a purchase option to 27 other birds (transports, EW and refueling variants) including a few set aside for NZ should they want them and they didnt even jump then and that is a nothing purchase in the grand scheme of things between costs.

When the time does come to dispose of them it will likely come down to one of two options, We keep them as spares aircraft to support the Growlers or simply sell them back to the USN.
 

Stampede

Well-Known Member
8th P8A for the RAAF. Interestingly, this aircraft will be designated to monitor fatigue on the type.

Australia designates eighth P-8A maritime patrol aircraft
Looks like a project that is progressing well.
I think the Maritime patrol fleet is now about a 50/50 mix of the older AP-3C Orion and the newer P-8.
Should we take the option for another three aircraft to take the fleet to a total of 15, I wonder when that would be announced.
This should not be related to who forms the next government.
I hope!


Regards S
 

FoxtrotRomeo999

Active Member
RAAF Air Combat capability is increasing.
  • From Jack Wyatt's post above "I read just a few minutes ago that if the SH are to be kept, they will need to undergo a major upgrade. That was Leo Davies' view. He also mentioned in the same article that if the decision is made for further F35s, the total purchase could be 102." Glad to see RAAF have expressed a desire for a fifth squadron of F-35s. Given the current strategic uncertainty, I would favour additionally retaining the Rhinos and the Growlers and allow the RAAF to grow just a little.
  • NoCookies | The Australian The Japanese F-35A crash involved a local (Japanese) build. Too early to speculate, but a local production line can be added to the mix of possible causes.
 

MrConservative

Super Moderator
Staff member
That all said there will have to be a major change in the regional security situation along with a change in government and civilian views within NZ for them to acquire fixed wing air assets even if they are just given away to them. When we first acquired the Super Hercs we also acquired a purchase option to 27 other birds (transports, EW and refueling variants) including a few set aside for NZ should they want them and they didnt even jump then and that is a nothing purchase in the grand scheme of things between costs.
There is already a major strategic security change underway and yet the idiots in charge of New Zealand still are not with the program.

About time you guys tried the tough love approach. Frankly Australia you have been too polite. John Howard was too much of a gentleman in the late 1990's - early 2000's when NZ killed off a four Anzac fleet, cancelled the 2 Squadrons of F-16's, killed off the A-4's, tore up the Nowra agreement, culled the Sirius P-3K upgrades, and passed up the C-130J options. I am sure that a real bastard like Keating would have dealt with Helen Clark differently.

Cancelling something important like an All Blacks tour to Australia to play the Wallabies would do it. That would at least get the NZ publics attention. Renegotiating the CER free trade agreement and the CDR (Closer Defence Relationship) which you are entitled to do so it extends to increasing mutual defence spending with pre-determined minimums and capability sets would certainly get Wellingtons attention and threaten to withdraw from both arrangements if they still don't budge (rhymes with bludge) - kind of like a Brexit, an Ausexit you could called it.

A defence "disinterested" New Zealand is an Australian national security risk and therefore an economic sovereignty risk for it as a nation. The mantra of the NZ-OZ defence relationship used to be self reliance in partnership - New Zealand has played lip service to that in recent years.

I don't pay my neighbours house insurance premiums leaving him to only pay for his contents. But that is exactly how things over the last generation have been with respect to Australia - New Zealand in defence capability have become. The total BS about affordability does not wash either.
 

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
The Australia- New Zealand defence disconnect is hardly unique. The US-Canada situation isn’t much better and continues to get worse with junior yet the US hasn’t made much effort to force Canada to properly equip our forces. Although the US via Trump has heaped all sorts of well deserved criticism on Germany’s defence efforts, no meaningful actions have been taken. Tough love definitely needs to be applied or the deadbeats will just continue to starve defence.
 

Rob c

The Bunker Group
Verified Defense Pro
A defence "disinterested" New Zealand is an Australian national security risk and therefore an economic sovereignty risk for it as a nation. The mantra of the NZ-OZ defence relationship used to be self reliance in partnership - New Zealand has played lip service to that in recent years.
I remember going with a friend to a nat political meeting about 10 years ago and was told that there was an unwritten agreement with Labour that defence was not to be debated to keep the public's expectations on defence low. So in many respects the reason for the public disinterest could be blamed on a conspirity by the major political parties. The Helen Clark period was in my view was a combination of the worst defence decisions ever made by a NZ government.
 

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
As you probably know, Canadian political parties aren’t much better. As I have often commented, the whining electorate enables pollies here to neglect defence. Only an engaged electorate will get pollies to do right by defence. This will not happen in Canada short of an invasion (maybe not even then). Perhaps NZ will as it can’t suck on a superpower teat like Canada.
 

PeterM

Active Member
I read just a few minutes ago that if the SH are to be kept, they will need to undergo a major upgrade. That was Leo Davies' view. He also mentioned in the same article that if the decision is made for further F35s, the total purchase could be 102.

Talking to the chiefs: Leo Davies (part 2) | The Strategist
I found this part of the article interesting

"The RAAF plans to buy 72 F-35s at this stage and Davies says it will need to decide in about 2022–23 whether to ask the government if it wants to increase that to 102 and, if so, which of the three variants of joint strike fighters should be bought."

The comments about choosing which of the F35 variants should a 5th squadron be needed are intriguing. The F35c isn't likely, it seems the door is slightly ajar for F35b. What is the likelihood of this for the RAAF?
 
Top