I mentioned this somewhere else as a solution for the RAAF’s F-111 replacement. I would propose new-build F-111s, built at Avalon. I don’t think the licenses to build the aircraft would be hard to procure, and I suggest some improvements:
1) New composite construction, to reduce weight, increase airframe life etc.
2) New engines, in the F110-GE-129 class. They would offer substantial thrust improvements over the existing TF-30-P109 (131.6kN with afterburning vs. 93.4kN with afterburning), as well as offering lower fuel burn and thus greater range, less maintainence intensive, and the TF-30 is known to be quite a difficult engine when it comes to handling (pilots are trained to keep the aircraft within the TF-30’s rather narrow flight envelope).
3) RAM coating (DSTO is currently developing a RAM coating for the F-111’s rather large and radar-reflective vertical stabilizer, why not cover the whole aircraft in it?).
4) A new avionics fit, including new synthetic aperture radar, new designation pod (Pave Tack is getting old, and doesn’t work as well in Australia’s tropical and humid north as it should), new EW suite (an advanced Project Echidna?).
What do you guys think? I would especially appreciate Tom’s opinion after I lambasted his F-31 proposal 🙂
MinMiester
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February 23, 2001 at 5:32 am