Some of the contributors to this forum seem to give up too easily. If Army Aviation does not retain the Iroquois and Kiowa, then there will foreseeably be less flying available as the inevitable pressure comes on regarding soaring ADF operating costs. Defence spending over the past 2 years has increased from 7.6 percent of federal government revenue to nearer 10 percent which will not be sustainable as the world slides toward economic stagnation.
Politicians seldom take notice of occasional letters from people like me; but multiple communications on the same topic can make them squirm a bit, particularly with an election imminent. Herewith my submission and feel free to copy/massage as suits; but if you are a serving member, then of course use another name. Recommend despatch by both electronic and postal means.
The Hon. Greg Combet, AM, MP
Minister for Defence Material & Science
Parliament House
Canberra, ACT, 2600
Dear Minister, IROQUOIS HELICOPTER DISPOSAL
You recently announced shedding of the invaluable Iroquois, primarily for historical purposes, but this is a monumentally bad decision compromising the national interest.
Successive Australian governments have generally failed to maintain adequate military capacities through continuous optimisation of in-service hardware (where cost-effective) leading to widening capability deficiencies. Inability to provide integral ADF helicopter support in Afghanistan beyond a token commitment of just 2 Chinooks is testimony.
Blackhawk, Iroquois, Kiowa versions are being widely operated in theatres of conflict around the world and moderate cost upgrading of these proven Australian military assets would have made waste of around $4billion on unproven and technically deficient Tiger and MRH90 unjustifiable. Hot and high performance capability is essential in many geographic environs like Iraq, Afghanistan and in the regional tropical archipelago with only later model Chinook having adequate performance. Both Tiger and MRH90 were not thoroughly evaluated in this regard and are proving very inferior.
ADF helicopter operating costs per flying hour for 2006/07 provided by Defence were: Seahawk - $45,317; Sea King - $23,616; Blackhawk - $20,659; Iroquois - $7,738; Squirrel - $5,208; Kiowa - $2,865. Operating costs for Tiger, MRH90 and MH-60S (if acquired) are not yet determined but will likely exceed those of Blackhawk and Seahawk.
Bell Helicopter conducts an ongoing Hotel model Iroquois rebuild program in the US enhancing the aircraft to much improved Huey II performance standard. UH-1H from military reserves storage are converted to virtually as new condition for around US$2million including multiple improvement features. The comparative hot and high performance of the Huey II surpasses all fore-mentioned helicopter types with long-term supportability and reduced operating cost approximating $5,000 per hour. The USAF ordered 24 with a glass cockpit option and Iraq will eventually possess 32 Huey II.
The Iroquois is the only utility helicopter in the ADF inventory that can be speedily prepared for deployment by C-130 for regional support needs and discarding this very versatile asset will leave the ADF without the most valuable of battlefield support helos, a light inexpensive utility aircraft capable of widely varied roles that can be operated very cost-effectively with some affordable losses in combat.
ADF helicopter fleet rationalisation planning is proving to be hugely flawed and diminishing military capacity, ultimately causing national embarrassment. All 20 or so Iroquois could be upgraded to Huey II for less than the cost of 1 Tiger or MRH90, so they should be converted through the Bell Helicopter factory program at modest overall cost of about $40million or just remain stored until the deficient capabilities and forbidding operating costs of outrageously expensive replacement aircraft become glaringly obvious.
I respectfully urge you Minister to rescind the Iroquois disposal decision, in the national interest.
Last edited by Bushranger 71; 17th Jul 2010 at 05:32.