Hi 500N,
These figures from the Year 2013-14 Federal Budget:
ADF cost per flying hour 2013-2014
Aircraft / Cost per aircraft / Cost per flight hour
Classic Hornet / $2.22M / $13,620
Super Hornet / $5.12M / $26,739
C-17 / $9.66M / $11,153
C-130J / $7.9M / $12,925
E-7A / $27.16M / $54,333
MRH-90 / ? / $30250 (1)
ARH Tiger / ? / $33548 (2)
The 'Cost per aircraft' figure is for operation of one aircraft per annum.
According to Page 61 of the ANAO Audit Report, unit cost of one MRH90 is a scandalous $65million!
The full picture re helicopter operating costs, including the now forfeited Iroquois at about $5K per flying hour, would reinforce what I have been trying to convey that the ADF Helicopter Strategic Master Plan is an absolute disaster.
The costs of optimizing Kiowa, Iroquois, Blackhawk, Sea King, Seahawk and keeping Seasprite, but fully refurbished and restored to original manufacture configuration (the Kiwis are laughing), would have been very cost-effective compared with acquisition and operating costs for Tiger, MRH90, MH-60R and who knows what next?
Multiple proven and essential capabilities for near region operations have been shed without rigorous objective analysis before embarking on the absurd HSMP, which in my guesstimate has hitherto needlessly squandered around $10billion.
Last edited by Bushranger 71; 30th Jun 2014 at 03:40.