Multi-role support ships
HMAS Melbourne and Sydney both did some good work in their day with less sophisticated fixed wing aircraft embarked. But I think the big question re the Canberra class LPDs is what would be the fixed wing air structure if operated in aircraft carrier mode?
The Harriers certainly did a good job in the Falklands War, but they soon seem destined for scrap metal, including in the USMC. The F-35B version of the JSF looks pretty wobbly at this stage, if this is what Australia's defence planners had in mind when committing to the Canberra class. And the big heavy (and slow) Super Hornet may not be compatible. UCAVs maybe, but pretty futuristic at this stage.
The logical regional need for Australia is more toward several 'multi-role support ships' for logistic style purposes and the Chinese Type 071 LPD seems to be of appropriate size with suitable characteristics. According to some sources, they can produce these ships at about one third the cost of say the larger US San Antonio class. Malaysia may soon order 2 Type 071s.
The US and European arms conglomerates are now being challenged like never before.
(Apologies for the thread drift but one thing leads to another)
Last edited by Bushranger 71; 21st Feb 2011 at 23:33.