yeah I remember the Emb-145 being offered and the same argument took place about it’s range. The 190/195 makes sence being the same size roughly as the 737.

Doesn’t EADS have anything planned? perhaps something based on the ABJ or the A310? Surely Russia has something as well.

Chris: Mate you’re not really going off topic but that’s cool! Yeah mate there is a big problem down here getting people to join up in any of the services, especially when faced with service in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Bouganville or Solomon Islands! A friend of mine got a message that a guy he went to school with and his brother were off to Afghanistan, how sad, Brothers going into battle.

Anyway, yeah Canberra is to be paid off this year and next year Adelaide. The money being saved by retiring these two will be turned around and put back into the the other four (HMAS’s Sydney, Darwin, Melbourne and Newcastle) with their upgrades, ESSM’s in Mk-41 VLS just forward of the Mk-13 rail launcher.

There is also talk now that the RAN is going to replace the Phlanax CIWS system with the new giro stabalised 25mm bushwhacker gun now being used on the new patrol boats.

How many crew does the ship accommodate?

21 mate, thought the navy is considering a new plan to have two rotational crews on them, meaning that each ship will have 42 people serving on them. IMHO I don’t think this will happen mainly because the navy is having problems recruiting people, as is the whole ADF. Many young people are realising that there is more money to be made in the private sector.

Sorry Can, it’s not