I don’t see why we are discussing Typhoons. The fact that the new Government has opted to confirm the Super Hornet buy means we are committed to the JSF in the long term. If that was not the case then there would be no need to purchase an interim aircraft as all the JSF alternatives are available right now.

1) Improved legacy aircraft ie F-16 Block 80 etc, F-15XX etc. Available right now.

2) Eurocanards. Available now.

3) F-22. Well not actually “available” but if you don’t get em now then you won’t be getting them at all.

The new Government has accepted we are committed to the JSF, its just a matter of how they spin it to avoid admitting the previous government did anything right 🙂

Dan

MConrads: Mate any chance of you providing us with one of your spectacular drawings of an Anzac with the CEAFAR and CEAMount systems and the Mk-8 Quad pack Harpoons, don’t forget the Nulka decoy system and Seahawk aft. Thanks in advance mate.

Secondly for everyone: That pic I provided of the Sea Zenith system, has anyone else noted the Missile kills on the side of it? Is anyone able to shed any light on this and why there are two types of kill markings, I mean with a CIWS it’s either a kill or the ship is sunk right? No assists in this threat zone is there.

Well that might be the case in a war situation but since these markings will only be from exercise shots a partial kill is possible. BTW Harpoons quad packs are Mk-141. Only Mk.8 I can think of is the UK 4.5″ gun mount. BTW2 just as the AK 7.62mm round does not equal the NATO 7.62 (7.62×39 v 7.62×54) nieht do the Sea Zenith and Bushmaster employ the same round (25×184 v 25×137).

Daniel

While many say the F-100’s are the equal of typical Aegis Destroyers like the Burke and Kongo Classes except for fewer missiles. Doesn’t the F-100 use the SPY-1F in place of the larger and supposedly more capable SPY-1D. Further, while the current releases from Australia claim the SPY-1F can be upgraded to fire SM-3’s. I have read several sources that state otherwise????:confused: :confused: :confused:

F-100 uses SPY-1D but IIRC it may incorporate some of the lightenend components of the SPY-1F. The -1F is on the Norweigen Nansen’s which are also built by Navantia

My apologies if anyone objects to this thread being brought back

http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/NelsonMintpl.cfm?CurrentId=6705

SEASPRITE HELICOPTERS

In April 2006, I initiated a full examination of the Seasprite project following grounding of the aircraft due to concerns over the reliability of the Seasprite’s Automated Flight Control System.

The review paid particular attention to the reliability of the Flight Control System and its associated safety implications; the ramifications to Naval aviation of the project being 6 years late; and the performance of the integrated sensor system.

The review examined how to resolve these issues so that the best possible capability can be provided to the Royal Australian Navy.

After detailed consideration of the issues involved, the Government has decided to continue the Seasprite project, subject to satisfactory contract arrangements.

The return to flying will involve a series of controlled steps to assess the contractor’s performance, and to ensure the safety, performance and reliability of the Seasprite.

The Government will take steps to ensure that the contractor’s progress is measured against milestones during the course of the additional work.

How effective are Maritime Patrol Aircraft in the hunt for Submarines?

If you find someone who’ll actually tell you let us all know.

Daniel

To explain you how the Kolchuga works is very easy, imaging the Kolchuga is an eye and the APG-77 a lamp, the lamp (APG-77) changes the color of the light it emmits every five seconds, it goes from red to white, white to blue and so on all the colors of the rainbow even moving the lamp you will be able to see the lamp

Now imaging the F-22 is a mirror, if you face it in a 90 degrees angle you can see your face, if you incline it to 40 degrees or 150 degrees you wont be able to see your image well some parts of the image will be areased or difficult to see however while you have several persons at different angles with respect the mirror you can have a better image of the object and you can compare what every body saw. that is the way the Kolchuga works the difference it does not work with light but other frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum;)

The light and eye analogy is often used to explain active and passive systems and it is quite effective. However its just a simple illustration. To paint a picture of the task the Kolchuga would in countering a wartime strike by F-22 type aircraft the F-22 is actually a single star against the background of an entire galaxy of stars and the problem you face in trying to localise it is that it is moving and as you say it is constantly changing colour. Against the confused background therefore it becomes much harder to localise with any certainty.

Good point about the SDB’s.

Another ‘lack of’ that I have just though of is the lack of any penetrator munitions for hitting hardened targets such as missile silos.

I’m pretty certain this is the big sticking point for the RAAF on the F-22. Sure it can carry 8 SDBs but if you are carrying out a bug swatting strike then there is a good chance that the target will be in a bunker, bad guys all seem to learn to dig really quick. F-35 can carry standard 2000lb penetrators F-22 cannot.

Dan: mate the MH-47 fits on the LHD’s no problem (especially the spanish version). I saw a model of the Thales proposal (Mistral) at the show and they quoted the MH-47 as being operational from the aft lift, which was specified in the original requirment for these ships. I’ve previously seen the other ship on offer, the model form anyway, and it had a model of a CH-47 on the back of it as well.

Interesting. Still it can’t be ideal given the lack of folding blades a Chook displace at least a couple of other craft from the hangar.

As for flying out of Butterworth, mate we handed that base back to the Malaysians when we retired the Mirage III’s, sure we still fly up there every now and then but it’s not our base any more. Info on Butterworth.

Huh! I was actually in Malaysia 81-83 as my father was posted to Butterworth. Obviously I wasn’t aware the base had been formally handed back to the Malaysians. Just assumed since we still aircraft and personnel there on a permanent basis. I almost went back myself in 1999 (IIRC) as part of the Rifle Company. 6RAR at Enogerra was tagged to provide the next rotation and they need to fill out the company so other units were invited to provide volunteers. I was a reservist with 2CER at the time but missed out on the trip. I ended up getting married later that year so it was probably a good thing 🙂

Daniel

ps Ja if you don’t still watch the Einstein Factor you find like to tune in this Sunday.