On the APG-68 and Zhuk-ME, I may have had my wires crossed with regards to the exact mode. Clearer now.

I probably give the RDY-2 the edge in multiple targeting over these two however. I believe that radar may target 6 simultaneously while tracking 24.

Could this have something to do with the fact that the Mirage 2000-5 Mk.2 uses the far more powerful MDPU from Rafale?

Is there any confirmation to the story of early F-111 retirement? Scramble reported that it is now planned to get rid of the Pigs in 2010

Arthur, I believe the current air force support contract (with Boeing I think) for the F-111s expires in 2010. So I guess it is still an option for early retirement. I don’t think there has been anything official yet.

Condolences to the families of the killed crew….

And car bombs have just killed more than 60 in Southern Iraq, it is all a terrible mess…………:(

Reason why I ask is because it does not make sense for heavily water surrounded nations like Indonesia to order military aircraft without any meaningful antiship capability.

Why not. They have not had a serious airborne anti-ship capability for years. Probably not since they once operated Tu-16s! In recent years, if not decades, this capability does not seem to have been either affordable, obtainable, or even important to the TNI-AU.

They’re certainly not buying an SU-30 like this just for air superiority. One of the distinguishing characteristics of the MK2 is support for the Kh-31A.

Initially, why not? Their air defence force of a single unit of F-16s is languishing due to a lack of spare parts, and they could sorely use a decent interceptor with a BVR capability. Something else that has been lacking for sometime. The MKK supports the Kh-59M with the right data link pod does it not? This missile could easily fill the anti-ship role. I guess all will be revealed in time. But it has to remembered that the Indonesians don’t have a Chinese budget.

I could see numbers getting cut back but not as low as 40, or worse, less. IIRC, the budget set aside/forecast for F-35 acquistion is in the order of A$10 billion currently. Even at the current ex. rate we can still get 70 odd F-35s if they do end up costing USD$100 million each. Lets hope they don’t.

Originally posted by Hyperwarp
Ummm……..people F-2 cockpit thread 😀

Indeed it is. But having lived in Japan for sometime, I have to say something. They are still the world’s 2nd biggest economy, don’t need to borrow from the IMF to service their debt, and still have a good trade account surplus which has been improving again for a few months straight now.

The biggest time bomb they are sitting on is not economic, but social, with a very rapidly aging population. Some interesting challenges for Japan coming over the next 20 years.

Re: Future Australian Aircraft Acquisitions

Originally posted by Srbin
I have a question, since there is sopposidely a growing threat of Indonesian and Malaysian Flankers, which outclasses the F-18 of RAAF.

1)Will Australia wait for F-35 which wouldn’t be be sopposidely available till 2015 or later to Australia or will they purchase something else like Typhoon or Rafale?

2)Are they planning to replace both of their F-18s and F-111s with a single multirole type?

Srbin,

1. There has been much debate about an interim fighter but in all likelyhood it is not going to happen. The air force is proceeding with the full Hornet upgrade. Australia has commited serious money to the JSF program now and is obviously trying to get an early foot in when it does become available.

2. At this stage it seems likely they will. Between 75-100 F-35s are planned. However, UCAV capabilities are growing, and with some maturity the RAAF might even consider something unmanned to replace the F-111s. Or, it may go the UK route with the future offensive air system (FOAS), which may involve UCAVs anyway.

As for the growing ‘threat’ from our northern neighbours, this is pure FLANKER-induced alarmism that is often unjustifiably overstated and beefed up by narrow minded air power zealots like Dr.Carlo Kopp. It gets even worse, when the media and popular magazines buy into it!!

:rolleyes: