Tritons for RAAF

[tartare]

Announcement today on fleet (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-13/drone-fleet-to-be-based-in-adelaide-triton-edinburgh/5317262), to be based at Edinburgh, Adelaide.
No detail on numbers yet.
Seems like a strange location - can anyone enlighten me why?
I would have thought that the Northwest, North and Northeast would have been more logical, given that's where most of the `action' happens as far as Australia is concerned.
Although I note all the sneaky beaky stuff happens in SA - and that's where Jindalee HQ is based too... don't know if there is any connection?

[L J R]

You do know the range of these things.....I understand that they can cover most of the continent in a single sortie!

[Captain Sand Dune]

Seems like a strange location - can anyone enlighten me why?
I would have thought that the Northwest, North and Northeast would have been more logical, given that's where most of the `action' happens as far as Australia is concerned.
Although I note all the sneaky beaky stuff happens in SA - and that's where Jindalee HQ is based too... don't know if there is any connection?
Yeah sure! Would you like me to send you all the details of how it's going to be operated, where they're going to fly and when and what they'll carry? Oh while I'm at it I'll throw in all the good gouge about what goes on the 'Jindalee HQ' too, shall I?:hmm:

Anyhoo, there's the bureaucratic nightmare called DMO standing between the Triton and operational use.:mad::yuk:

[tartare]

Don't be a such a pratt Sand dune.
There's plenty of info in the public domain about this platform, and what it carries.
And quite a bit on Jindalee too if you look hard enough.
In fact - you don't even have to look that hard (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jindalee_Operational_Radar_Network).
I simply asked a question or two, that's all.
Oooo - sh1t... there's a Black Holden Commodore outside....!

[layman]

From the RAAF web site.

RAAF Base Edinburgh is primarily home to No 92 Wing's AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft that conduct surveillance operations throughout Australia's airspace, Aerospace Operational Support Group that conducts research and development.

P8s to replace the P3s. Tritons to supplement the P8s.

As for why 92 Wing is there in the 1st place ... don't know

[Like This - Do That]

Retention.

Why did half of 1 Bde move to Edinburgh from Darwin? Wasn't just for proximity to Cultana for year-round range access. When it was announced the ADF was in its mid-2000s tempo reduction, mining boom on, ADF members pulling the pin in droves. Then Minister Robert Hill was quite open about Adelaide being a 'respite posting'.

Now trips to the MEAO are winding down, Defence will have to start re-examining how to keep critical people in the job. 'Suakin' is part of it, but so is paying attention to why people get out altogether.

My theory anyhoo :}

[TBM-Legend]

RAAF Maritime aircraft consolidated to Edinburgh air force base near Adelaide, SA when 11 Sqn moved into P-3B's [replaced by P-3C's] from P-2E's then based at Richmond near Sydney. The other MR sqn, No 10, was based in Townsville. When it re-equipped with P-3C's from SP-2H's it too moved to Edinburgh. The rationale was to consolidate maintanance, training etc near a big city that was roughly equidistance to both coasts [east/west] and the top end. P-3's are regularly deployed to Butterworth, the ME [10 years] as well as other bases on an as required basis. P-8 and Triton will do the same....

The base had a number of large underused hangars as well.

ARDU operate from there and Woomera is just up the road too...

[Party Animal]

Apart from the initial question by Tartare, this is effectively a really good news story for the maritime element of the RAAF. How nice to look forward to such a bright future.

Probably for the first time ever, I would really welcome the Aussie CAS and CNS gloating to our British equivalents about how nice it is to have such a fundamentally basic requirement and capability for the appropriate defence of ones homeland!

Still won't win Fincastle though ;)

[tartare]

Thanks all.
I'd just assumed that RAAF Edinburgh was some sort of centre of excellence for electronic warfare, and that the rationale was to co-locate those operating the Tritons with other similar ELINT, SIGINT type specialists that worked on Jindalee.
Much more mundane and practical reason by the sounds of things.
As a kiwi now resident here, you're much luckier than the poor old RNZAF.
They could do with a Triton or four as well.
Took a ride with the guys on 5 squadron once - they do a great job. I think they're lobbying Wellington for the Triton as well, but its a pricey platform...

[FoxtrotAlpha18]

Triton (and P-8) GCS and mx elements will be located at EDI, but expect to see airframes forward based at DRW, LEA, TSV and other points north on a regular basis.