Reasons for not deploying F-22s

– threat not high enough
– lack of data link
– insufficient air-to-ground eg. only 2 x 1000lb JDAMs, SDBs not ready
– unable to develop synthetic aperture radar maps

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2011/03/defense-f22-raptor-absent-from-libya-ops-032211/

…
Under the Air Force’s global strike task force doctrine, the Raptor would normally escort B-2 Spirit stealth bombers in “kicking down the door” of an enemy’s air defenses.
…

Can’t establish a NFZ without a prolonged engagement with ground targets. Most of the Iraqi SAM network was wiped out during the Gulf War. Libya has a similar population to Serbia but physically is many times larger (600nm end-to-end).

“My military opinion is that it would be challenging,” General James Mattis, commander of U.S. Central Command, told a Senate hearing. “You would have to remove air defense capabilty in order to establish a no-fly zone, so no illusions here. It would be a military operations — it wouldn’t be just telling people not to fly airplanes.”

How many aircraft do you suppose the RAF has to spare?

Just to give some idea of the distances involved (because I had to look them up too); distances to Tripoli from:

Akrotiri – 1835km

Gibraltar – 1738km (overflying Tunisian and Algerian airspace)

Decimomannu – 817km

I’ll let you guys do the conversion to nautical miles. 🙂

Google Maps Distance Calculator: km, miles and nm
http://www.daftlogic.com/projects-google-maps-distance-calculator.htm

8-12 / RAAF – they might buy the P-8 but they might be interested in the A319 – they bought airbus refuelers, so lets see.

The RAAF already operates 737s for VIP transport and AEW. They also want interoperability with the USN in the Pacific. P-8 (+UAVs) is more likely.

My pick for UK MPA – the MQ-9 ‘Mariner’. Maritime patrol version of the Reaper (already in UK service),. Operate it with C-130s, it’d be perfect as an interim measure. It’ll get things done till a P-8 FMS buy becomes possible.

49 hour endrance

Training for crews for the Canberra class can be done better on someone elses ships. What about putting a detachment aboard Juan Carlos 1? They can learn about the machinery & dock while they’re at it. Or aboard a US LHD.

The ADF trains with USN LHDs quite regularly.

The USMC are introducing gunship kits for their KC-130s.

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?t=89633

Some pricing from down under. FMS purchase: $60m fly away, $140m with accessories. Cheaper than recent Super Hornets.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/stealth-fighters-cheap-at-140m/story-e6frf7l6-1225909569574

AUSTRALIA will pay a “fly away” price of less than $60 million each for up to 100 of the world’s most advanced stealth fighter jets.

But the total will be more than double that for a package that includes weapons, sensors, training and lifetime support for the F35 Joint Strike Fighter.

At $140 million, the single-seat jets will be cheaper than the 24 two-seat Super Hornets bought by the Howard government for $6.6 billion or more than $220 million each.

….

Australia is buying up to 100 jets from the US Air Force under a so-called foreign military sales deal.

For the first time the aircraft maker, Lockheed Martin, has provided a “firm” price to Australian taxpayers in 2010 dollars.

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“Your average cost of buying your fleet of aeroplanes will be at that number ($60m) or maybe slightly below it,” Mr Burbage said.

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Mr Burbage also revealed that the hourly flying cost of the JSF would be about 20 per cent below the RAAF’s fleet of F/A-18 Hornet fighters.