According to the current plan only 1% of testing will be done before they start building production JSF’s.. now that’s confidence or idiocy …:eek:

Cheers

Only a handful of LRIP aircraft, not FULL production aircraft and flight testing has already passed the 2% mark, with only 2 actual aircraft (not including CATBIRD) to have actually done any testing as yet.

By the end of 2009 there will be 17x aircraft, plus CATBIRD undertaking the flight test program and the testing will be much more advanced.

So far only Holland and the UK, besides the USA have committed to purchasing test examples and they haven’t ordered them yet.

Hmm, maybe they, too, have read the thread about Growler having creamed a Raptor. 😉

Except this plan was mooted 6 months ago, when Australia formally sought export release for the platform… 🙂

75x F-35’s is all RAAF will get then, short of a massive budget increase…

A budget increase?? hmmm I’m not holding me breath!
😀

There is a slim hope. Army and Navy are apparently to be expanded, RAAF is long overdue, but several things will have to happen.

1. Our strategic situation actually worsens, as opposed to Dr Kopp and Goon’s idea of “worsening”.

2. The economic situation WILL have to improve, with Government running surpluses again, as opposed to deficits.

3. ADF recruitment and retention practices will need significant improvement.

Then perhaps we might see more F-35’s, presuming of course it IS acquired…

Sounds like good news indeed. Now if only this means we keep them for an extended period of time instead of the planned early retirement in 2015?

The Super Hornets are already funded for service until 2023, hence the seemingly enormous initial price tag of $6.6 Billion.

If the Growler option is taken up, Shornets will be with RAAF for many years to come…

There is NO way, Growlers will be ordered in 2012, introduced into service in 2015/2016 and then retired in 2023…

If that happens, wave goodbye to Phase 2C AIR-6000, the “additional” 25x NACC aircraft.

75x F-35’s is all RAAF will get then, short of a massive budget increase…

APA are in the process of defining why EVERY Western military need the F-22 and nothing else, or the world is going to end.

It is a load of hot air and not even worth the time it takes to read it.

They’ve completely entered into utter irrelevance in the Australian Defence debate with their myopic world view (Flankers are invincible and everything else bar F-22 is therefore uncompetitive) and absolute belief that they and they alone are the only competent aviation authorities in the world.

Let them blowhard. It’s what they and their ilk are best at.

Meanwhile RAF, RAAF, USN, USMC will continue to develop realistic force structures and provide the combat capabilities their political masters require of them.

I thought Growler only carries sidewinders for self defense ?
Does AMRAAM have LOAL ?

Sidewinder has not yet been integrated onto Growler AFAIK. Only AMRAAM and HARM at present, I believe.

However all active guidance missiles have LOAL…

Do you think the tiny radars on ATA missiles are powerful enough to go active BEFORE launch at most ranges?

AMRAAM’s are guided by the (or at least SOME 😉 ) fighter’s radar and given mid-course updates via data-link. It is only in the terminal phase of the missiles flight does their on-board radar activate, at which point an enemy fighter is in serious trouble…

then why have to separate super hornets, why not combine both features into one version?

because as can be seen here:

The Growler has to carry enormous great ALQ-99 jamming pods in order to do it’s job. It usually carries 3x, which on top of normal external and internal fuel loads, which doesn’t leave the Super Hornet airframe, much load carrying capability and all that weight seriously affects the airframes physical performance…

The Growler will have the capability to carry AIM-9X and AMRAAM missiles for self-defence and HARM/AARGM missiles for anti-radiation duties. It is a specialised aircraft however and is not intended to be used for normal fighter roles.

Dont the Malaysian Su30MKM use a South African RWR?

I thought they bought SAAB systems?

AFAIK they spoke about a south african MAWS or so. Feel free to correct me on that.

All 3 are correct.

This is the RWR system they use:

http://www.avitronics.co.za/Airborne/radar.htm

It’s an RWR designed by SAAB Avitronics of Capetown South Africa…