The Typhoon bashing is a little boring and now happening on several threads - could we maybe keep it to just 1 thread so maybe this one could talk about, say "RAAF Future Air Combat Capability Review"? Radical and hopelessly optimistic I know, but its close to Xmas maybe a miracle could happen? Please?
Anyway, the CAS comment are interesting - as I see it you could go 4 different routes:
1. Conventional fixed wing CAS specialist - A-10 style. Upgraded A-10s have a great capability and definitely combat proven.
2. Conventional fixed wing all rounder - F/A-18 style. Generalists dont tend to be as good as specialists, but with the right kit onboard (don't know what aussie hornets have in the CAS dept) very effective.
3. UCAV - rapidly becoming combat proven. Cheap and great time on station as well as providing lots of Int/recce etc. But atm not great payload.
4. B-52 style. Can carry huge payload and choice, great time on station but a little vulnerable for show of force (but very impressive!!) or non afghan/iraq ops where the oppostion has an A/A or SAM capability. Dale Brown was maybe on to something!
However, I got the impression the big issue was with a defend Australia type aircraft, rather than relevant to current ops type aircraft - or maybe thats the point, you want an aircraft that can do both. For the "capability gap" until JSF, as someone already said the biggest issue is who can deliver this year. 3-5 years from now is way too late.
The Russian A-10 equivalent is the Su-25 frogfoot, btw.
And for Jindabyne - I'm pretty up to date (although not specifically with Oz). Was that ok on the articulate front or should I desist?
