As I recall the OHP’s were eventually bought from the US for less by the Fraser government. Four were built in the US and two were built in Australia.

But much less capable then the DDL’s were projected to be.

For Starters.
5″ –> 3″
2 x Phalanx –> 1 x Phalanx
~5,000t –> ~4,000t
2 shafts –> 1 shaft

C-17. They’re about as comperable as the 767 and A330. 😉

Err, bigger difference between A400M and C17 then there is between 767 and A330, quite a lot more difference, especially in costs….

Reverting to the original name of this thread for a moment – and bypassing the radar geeks for a minute – Sky TV News announced the first flight would be delivered from California via Hawaii and Auckland (in NZ I believe), to then overfly Canberra (for politicians’ benefit) and recover to Amberley, I think 23 March.

Could be 4 or 5 aircraft – the first ones accepted have been A44-202 (Bu 167958) to A44-206 (Bu 167962). I would guess A44-201 is being retained in US in the short term for OT&E.

Five I believe. News on TV was talking about five.

RAAF did not seriously consider an Su-30 purchase for even a second. Reason = politics and you know it, too.

No, the reason is that the Su-30 is not compatible with our current (in inventory) and future weapons and systems. Eg. Wedgetail, ASRAAM, AMRAAM etc.

Its not about the individual platform, but about the system as a whole.

Edit: oh, and Russian airframes tend to have higher maintenance costs and lower airframe fatigue hours allowable.

You answered them all in a much more polite way than I would have.
It seems as if the Aussie Administration is running through the same identity crisis that blindfolded the Canadian Cretin Administration with the Sikorsky ASW dazzle.:diablo:

Except I think the OP stated it was a German Army report, not Australian Army. :diablo:

I doubt they are lacking:p. The 2 commando “companies” are actually slightly larger then an SAS sabre squadron in manpower the same with the Navy and Marine’s SOF and the A-A-R is large too. That and Australia’s SOF are set up to compensate somewhat for the lack of elite light infantry units (no Marines, Rangers ect) they have even gotten rid of their para Battalion :mad::confused:

2 Comdo took over the theatre entry role, and apparrently there are still para-qual’d troops in 3 RAR, just not the whole battalion.

While the Argentines still have paras and marines…

RAN has its Clearance Divers…. Actually not sure how Regular Infantry Training in Australia would compare to that of Argentina, Australian Army has more money to spend on training….

Anyway the Argies could always just do like the Brits had planned in 82, crash land a herkybird or 2 onto the airbase in the Falklands and try to take out the place:diablo::D

It has to get there without being shot down first.

The one area the Argentine military is not lacking, 2 commando companies (601st/602nd similar in role to the SAS)

APBT, about company sized combat swimmers, SEAL like ect

APCA, the marines special operation coampany

the 601st air assault regiment, Ranger types. Only formed in 2003.

Plus the usual regular marines and para’s and a few other SOF’s that probably wouldn’t be used in a Falklands assault type deal (AF, paramilitary ect.

Yeah, they are lacking. :p

Even Australia has three battalions worth taking into account SAS, 1 Cmdo & 2 Cmdo.

Not that it matters, you can get maybe a squad ashore, at the risk of being detected by whichever trafalgar or swiftsure and whichever frigate is on station.