The main source was the Department of Defence, and their press release:
Minister for Defence Media Mail List
————————————————————————
Thursday, 26 August 2004 173/2004
LONG RANGE MISSILES FOR AIR FORCE
Australia’s F/A-18 Hornet fighter and AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft will be equipped with long range missiles capable of destroying land and sea targets, Defence Minister Robert Hill announced today.
Senator Hill said Defence would choose from the following three long-range air-to-surface weapons:
* Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missile (JASSM) manufactured by American company Lockheed Martin which is a stealthy long range missile that can reach targets from about 400 kilometres away;
* A variant of the precision-attack cruise missile KEPD 350 manufactured by the European company Taurus Systems GmbH that has a range of about 350 kilometres; and
* The Stand-off Land Attack Missile – Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) manufactured by American-based Boeing that is modelled on the Harpoon anti-shipping missile, currently used by the Australian Defence Force and has a range of more than 250 kilometres.
“The new weapon will significantly enhance the ADF’s air strike capability, providing a long-range, accurate and lethal attack against a range of targets including fixed and re-locatable targets on land and sea,” Senator Hill said.
“Combined with the new air-to-air missiles and upgraded precision-guided bombs, Australia’s fighter jets will be the region’s most lethal capacity for air combat and strike operations.
“The long range of these new missiles will reduce the risk to both aircraft and crew by decreasing their exposure in a high threat environment.”
Defence will advise the Government of its preferred weapon next year after a process of information solicitation and evaluation. The project is worth $350-$450 million.
Senator Hill said the new weapons would be introduced into service between 2007 and 2009.
-ends-
This is by far one of the more sensible decisions they have made recently, and more or less is another nail in the coffin for the F-111. ๐
Sign In
