ROCAF Fighters

Here is a link to a BBC video with RoCAF F-16’s and Mirages:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13048131

This can be read in a few different ways:

(1) Australia wants to buy these ex-USAF C-27Js
(2) Australia is re-evaluating C-27J in light of what could be perceived as loss-of-confidence in the program by USAF.
(3) Australia is re-evaluating C-27J in light of loss of interoperability bonuses with USAF.

(2) is sensible enough in the sense of dotting-the-is-and-crossing-the-ts, even if we already know the real story behind USAF’s decision. The prospect of (3) makes me retch.

Incidentally, although the C-130J and C-17A acquisitions made sense at the times they were made and were even laudable in the sense that nothing went wrong — a rarity for Australian defence acquisitions — ultimately I think a C-27J/A400M/A330 combination would be better than the C-27J/C-130J/C-17A/A330 combination it looks like we’ll end up with. Alas the clean slate only exists in the imagination…

Hope you are right about (1). I read (2) as typical current government excuse to happily drop the purchase. As for (3) The prospect of intreoperability bonuses with the US makes you wretch? It worked well enough with the C-17 and Super Hornet purchases. Why do you think the RAAF were going with an FMS buy? The A400M? Given the “success” of the Tiger and MRH-90 programs i’ll stick with the C-130/ C-17 option thanks.

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=4144686&c=AME&s=AIR

So the F22 isn’t dying at 187 planes?

Thoughts/comments?

Buying time to see if a Japanese F-22 purchase can be achieved?

EC725 anyone? Price/delivery in its favour, although i acknowledge its a better Puma replacement than a Sea King replacement. Although the money saved over, say, a NH90 purchase would allow for a small Merlin top up buy.

Awesome! Bring back A2G rocket firing and napalm drops to airshows i say!

The holding area for the inevitable protesters would be a good aimimng point….

levity/humour moment…

i’ve tackled a few MILF in my time… 😉 😀

…as you were.

Aha! The real reason for the F-35 purchase, to guard against the oversexed Canadian hordes!
ps Does Dubya have a problem with the RAAF getting new jets to guard against that or are we now being too Canadaphobic? :p

Although at the moment the -111’s are grounded pending the safety investigation you have to wonder if it wont become permanent when none other than the Chief of the RAAF has been making comments such as “we need to get out of the F-111 business” earlier this year…..

24 aircraft would replace it one for one.. plus a few spares… but it wont happen… they are hell bent on replacing the whole fleet with just one type.

Sam is correct, it has been said here again & again NO interim buys. However, i would advocate (to REALLY upset people on this forum) a lease of FA-18F’s (say 24). Not quite an F-111 replacement i know, but at least they have longer legs than the current Hornet, delivery wouldnt be an issue (the USN have enough now, so we could get some from the earlier, non AESA, blocks), there would be (some) fleet commonality with the existing Hornet fleet, and it would take pressure of the older Hornet airframes (another looming problem) which would be the main reason for any such lease until timing for the F-35 firms up.

Not answering your question Ja, but applicable to this thread, according to the June AFM (the latest one here in the antipodes…) 6SQ has been reformed to operate the SH-2’s. Making room in 3SQ for NH-90’s ?