Australian Army Discussions and Updates

[t68]

What we budget and what the DSCA budgets are two entirely different thinks. Our budget can include a multitude of different things from infrastructure to operation & maintenance while the DSCA listed figure is for the most part just hardware.

All other FMS regarding the CH-47F are in the range of $80-$125m USD per a bird with standard spares and support for new builds, at $65m or less ours are definitely second hand, the US likes us but they won't be giving us brand new birds below cost not to mention everything states they are coming from US stocks, not US order slots but US stocks.

These maybe the air frames that are being re-manufactured from D into F's. Apparently the US was doing that to about 300 units

CH-47D Chinook | Military.com

All the DSCA media release regarding the ADF and Chinook prices are just divided by the estimated cost to aircraft

April 23, 2009 Defense Security Cooperation Agency (dsca.mil) 80m per copy

Dec. 21, 2015 Defense Security Cooperation Agency (dsca.mil) 60m per copy

April 29, 2021 press_release-australia_21-41_cn.pdf (dsca.mil) 64.75m per copy

 

[Redlands18]

Army’s Hawkei PMV-L achieves IOC | ADBR

The Australian Army’s fleet of Thales Hawkei protected mobility vehicles-light (PMV-L) has achieved an initial operational capability (IOC). Procured under Project LAND 121 Phase 4, the Australian-designed and produced Hawkei…

adbr.com.au

The Hawkei program is now going strong with IOC announced. 1100 Vehicles and 1058 Trailers are to be built at a rate of 50 Vehicles a month. 200 had been built by Dec 2020.

 

[rand0m]

Army’s Hawkei PMV-L achieves IOC | ADBR

The Australian Army’s fleet of Thales Hawkei protected mobility vehicles-light (PMV-L) has achieved an initial operational capability (IOC). Procured under Project LAND 121 Phase 4, the Australian-designed and produced Hawkei…

adbr.com.au

The Hawkei program is now going strong with IOC announced. 1100 Vehicles and 1058 Trailers are to be built at a rate of 50 Vehicles a month. 200 had been built by Dec 2020.

I haven't been following the Hawkei vehicle that closely, can anyone confirm the reasoning behind the trailers? I recall reading something about an issue with the spare tyres but can't find anything.

 

[ngatimozart]

I haven't been following the Hawkei vehicle that closely, can anyone confirm the reasoning behind the trailers? I recall reading something about an issue with the spare tyres but can't find anything.

Barbie cobber, gotta have a barbie

 

[Redlands18]

Barbie cobber, gotta have a barbie

And yes there will be Barbies thrown in the Trailers and Eskies and occasionally a Carton of Beer, certainly done it plenty of times with the Land Rovers back in the day.

I haven't been following the Hawkei vehicle that closely, can anyone confirm the reasoning behind the trailers? I recall reading something about an issue with the spare tyres but can't find anything.

Not quite sure of the gist of your question about the Trailers, are you asking why they have Trailers?

 

[t68]

I haven't been following the Hawkei vehicle that closely, can anyone confirm the reasoning behind the trailers? I recall reading something about an issue with the spare tyres but can't find anything.

I believe there was an issue with the brakes , cannot remember the exact problem with it

Australia's Hawkei lightweight protected vehicle achieves initial operational capability (janes.com)

 

[rand0m]

And yes there will be Barbies thrown in the Trailers and Eskies and occasionally a Carton of Beer, certainly done it plenty of times with the Land Rovers back in the day.

Not quite sure of the gist of your question about the Trailers, are you asking why they have Trailers?

And yes there will be Barbies thrown in the Trailers and Eskies and occasionally a Carton of Beer, certainly done it plenty of times with the Land Rovers back in the day.

Not quite sure of the gist of your question about the Trailers, are you asking why they have Trailers?

Were the trailers part of the original plan/order or were they a solution to an issue that arose with the Hawkei's development? I recall reading something about the trailers being brought in as a solution to the Hawkei not being able to carry a spare wheel, I could be wrong....

 

[Stampede]

Were the trailers part of the original plan/order or were they a solution to an issue that arose with the Hawkei's development? I recall reading something about the trailers being brought in as a solution to the Hawkei not being able to carry a spare wheel, I could be wrong....

Not sure of the answer, but the Army ran with landrovers for many decades and it was common for then to pull a trailer.
Nothing more complicated than some extra space to carry stuff.

Appreciate the Hawke is a different vehicle to the old landrover ,but still its performing many of the roles conducted a generation ago by light vehicles.

Regards S

 

[Redlands18]

Not sure of the answer, but the Army ran with landrovers for many decades and it was common for then to pull a trailer.
Nothing more complicated than some extra space to carry stuff.

Appreciate the Hawke is a different vehicle to the old landrover ,but still its performing many of the roles conducted a generation ago by light vehicles.

Regards S

The Trailers would have always been part of the project and looking at pictures of the Hawkei from the outside it looks like the back is only half the size of the Land Rovers, so not great space for stores.

 

[Stampede]

The Trailers would have always been part of the project and looking at pictures of the Hawkei from the outside it looks like the back is only half the size of the Land Rovers, so not great space for stores.

The Hawkei comes in a number of configurations.
It will be interesting to see how these vehicles evolve within the ADF.

Regards S

 

[Redlands18]

The Hawkei comes in a number of configurations.
It will be interesting to see how these vehicles evolve within the ADF.

Regards S

There are 2 basic body types the 4 Door Dual Cab and the 2 Door Utility, i was of course referring to the Dual Cab. There are Modules being developed for the Utility, including NASAMS.

 

[DDG38]

"An Australian Army Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle fires its main armament during live-fire training as part of a turret conversion course at Wide Bay Training Area, Queensland." Image Source - ADF Image Library

 

[Stampede]

A small article in the Army Newspaper re the future of Force generation.

https://armynews.partica.online/army-news/july-8-2021/flipbook/12/

"Read, Readying and reset are a thing of the past"

Looks like a very significant restructure that throws Plan Beersheba / Keogh out the door, but it's in Army speak so I need and interpreter.

Can anyone assist?

How does this fit with some of the future Army structures mentioned in previous posts.


Welcome any feedback


Regards S

 

[ADMk2]

“With the proximity warhead enabled, the missile exploded within metres of the small target, but failed to destroy the drone, which continued its flight for the next firer.“

Regiment showcases firing skills | Defence News

The 16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, has showcased its anti-air capability at Exercise Talisman Sabre.

news.defence.gov.au

The US must be thanking their lucky stars (and stripes?) that our “capability” is on their side…

 

[ASSAIL]

“With the proximity warhead enabled, the missile exploded within metres of the small target, but failed to destroy the drone, which continued its flight for the next firer.“

Regiment showcases firing skills | Defence News

The 16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, has showcased its anti-air capability at Exercise Talisman Sabre.

news.defence.gov.au

The US must be thanking their lucky stars (and stripes?) that our “capability” is on their side…

The question I have, was the missile a war shot or do they have practice shots which prove the fuse only?
It seems to me that if a fuse is close enough to detonate the charge should be lethal enough to destroy?

 

[t68]

I was just reading an article in Defence News from the above link from ADMKII in relation to the past discussions on the rotary fleet and whom is best to utilise the assets and support it. For Army it’s a system within a system another piece of the puzzle. Where as for Air Force aviation is the core element, but some like the air traffic controllers they would regard that as a system within a system an important function none the less for how the system operates overall.


I think this sums up best where the different philosophy comes from, Captain David Fileman is an Army helicopter pilot on exchange with No. 4 Squadron RAAF

“From my perspective, the biggest difference between working in the two services I would say is that for Air Force, aviation is their primary focus; it’s all devoted to aviation and the organisation is built around that. Where in Army, aviation is a supporting role to their primary focus, which is the solider on the ground. ”

Army pilot speaks Air Force lingo | Defence News

Captain David Fileman is an Army helicopter pilot working in RAAF's No. 4 Squadron, deployed on TS21.

news.defence.gov.au

 

[ADMk2]

The question I have, was the missile a war shot or do they have practice shots which prove the fuse only?
It seems to me that if a fuse is close enough to detonate the charge should be lethal enough to destroy?

I suspect a war shot, the inventory would be running down I would imagine with NASAMS deliveries commencing in 2022… LoT can’t be far off with those BOLIDE missiles purchased in the 2000’s from memory…

 

[oldsig127]

I suspect a war shot, the inventory would be running down I would imagine with NASAMS deliveries commencing in 2022… LoT can’t be far off with those BOLIDE missiles purchased in the 2000’s from memory…

BOLIDE was introduced in 2003, though I'm unsure when we got them. Seems likely that the munition could indeed be a bit geriatric.

oldsig

 

[south]

The question I have, was the missile a war shot or do they have practice shots which prove the fuse only?

Almost certainly an operational missile. To know that an inert warhead fused you need a Telemetry missile (the Telemetry usually replaces the warhead) and Telemetry support (to receive the telemetry). I’d say that is unlikely activity during TS. On the other hand a warshot you can watch it (with RBS-70) and if you see it go off…

 

[south]

“With the proximity warhead enabled, the missile exploded within metres of the small target, but failed to destroy the drone, which continued its flight for the next firer.“

Regiment showcases firing skills | Defence News

The 16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, has showcased its anti-air capability at Exercise Talisman Sabre.

news.defence.gov.au

The US must be thanking their lucky stars (and stripes?) that our “capability” is on their side…

Watching the patriot roar off, and then seeing the RBS-70 must be a little bit disappointing.