Carlo Kopp would not write an article on the thread of FC-1s but he would no Flankers…he’s not that much of a joke yet…for the time being…

Carlo’s next article will be on the RAAF’s need to acquire a USS Enterpirse type starship because Indonesia acquired some second-hand Toyota’s. :p

Nimrods are assigned to the RAF. Several also serve as R.1 ELINT birds.

A couple of types that are also due to enter servie are the ASTOR J-STARS type recon platform and the A400M airlifter (if it ever flies).

But I don’t think it’s just technical knowledge that matters. It’s application and the “synergies” of an aircraft operating as a whole, and not just the specs of certain parts.

The US got to test fly MiG-21’s, 23’s and 29’s as well as Su-2/22’s. They have now exercised with Indian Flankers.

I don’t think that the Russians ever got to fly an F-15 or F-16 during the Cold War. This means that, even though they knew the techincal specifications of the aircraft, they didn’t know how it performed under combat missions or how it operated as an element of an integrated air defence system. Computer simulations work more as a hypothesis than actual facts.

The Yanks got to fly Sukhois and MiG’s so arguably they better knew not only the ins and outs of an aircraft, but also its actual application.

(Am I babbling here?)

Originally posted by Srbin
Maybe RAAF might not want it but your MoD and PM will stick it to them.

SH might not be exactly cutting edge but cannot you afford to wait till 2015 for the F-35, and the F-111s are due to be retired in 2010 if you are hoping to relace them with F-35s.

Don’t forget F-35 cannot really replace the F-111, it’s range kinda sucks too and it cannot carry as much as F-111, it only has 4 internal hardpoints. F-35 just cannot do deep strike

F-18E/F cannot really do deep strike like F-111 can, but replacing F-111 with F-35 or F-18E/F is the same thing, both wouldn’t be able to do that job of deep strike.

Besides can Australia really wait for F-35 till 2015?

But does Australia need a long range strike platform when it’s stated goal is to be better integrated into the US war machine in support of “coalition” interventions?

As I mentioned, Indonesia and Malaysia are NOT threats to Australia. Despite Mahatir’s occassional rants, Australia has pretty good ties with Malaysia and the RAAF often holds exercises with the TUDM at Butterworth AB in Malaysia.

Indonesia is also a friend, despite some differences over East Timor. There is also a large pro=Jakarta lobby in the Australian Department of Defence – this has always been known, but it has come to the fore following allegations that Australia’s defence intelligence community has been writing reports to suit government political needs.

Furthermore both Indonesia and Malaysia are militarily incapable of conducting large scale military operations against other countries. Most of Indonesia’s military is in essence a beefed up police force dedicated to COIN ops against rebels in places like Aceh. Indonesia is not an aggressive country like it was in the 1960’s under Sukarno. It is dedicated to maintaing territorial integrity as it is in essence an empire consisting of many different cultures and religious groups.

The F-111 is really maintained as some bizarre form of deterrent and serves no real operational purpose. It is useless in coalition actions because it is not interoperable with US forces, while the Hornet is. The Hornet can be maintained by US forces and parts can be supplied from the US. The F-111 is not used by US forces and requires its own maintenance and logistics cahin.

Furthermore, as the 2003 Iraq war showed, it is difficult to deploy an F-111 in a coalition action because of its purely offensive nature which can offend certain sections of the Australian public. The Hornet (or JSF) can be used as a defensive tool, so is less likely to stir up an political trouble.

So from a purely defence perspective Australia needs an aircraft capable of air defence and maritime operations. But in reality the JSF is the best buy for Australia because it will allow for further interoperability with U.S. forces.

Originally posted by Arthur
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, a time in which i don’t think the F-35 will be completely available.

Still, it gives Copp six years to start stretching. That should be enough time 😀

Well by then we won’t need F-111’s as the RAAF will have reequipped with Deathstars and Super Star Destroyers to deter those pesky Indonesians.

Then John Howard will stretch his hand out to Carlo Kopp and in a deep and threatening voice say:

“Carlo, I am your father….”

The little foreign policy dweebs in Canberra must be pi$$ing their pants in fear. The big bad Indonesians can strike Darwin!!!!!!!

This’ll keep those rust bucket F-111’s flying for another century or so! 😛

Originally posted by flex297
Congratulations to EADS! Australia is moving towards European equipment, somehow it seems to me. Not speaking only about the MRTT, Eurocopter Tigre, NH90 helo and AIM-132 ASRAAM might be some more of their recent purchases on my mind.

NH90?

Could you provide any details on this.

As far as I know the transport component of the AIR9000 helicopter rationalisation program has not been chosen.

These are Phase 2 (12 additional transport helos) and Phase 4 – replacement of S70A Blackhawks.