Dark Knight
8th Jan 2008, 03:30
Super Hornets crash at sea - `The Age’ Tuesday Jan 08
Staff reporter - January 8, 2008 - 8:41AM
Two F/A-18 fighter aircraft from the US navy's fifth fleet have crashed in the Persian Gulf, further clouding the future of the Super Hornet's role in Australia's air strike force.
The crashes come as the Federal Government reviews all aspects of the program to update Australia's air force - including the contract to buy 24 Super Hornets as part of a $30 billion program to deliver air superiority in the region.
The US navy said that the fighters crashed "during operations" and three air crew were "in good physical condition" after ejecting from the fighters and being rescued by teams from the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman.
"The cause of the accident is under investigation," the navy said.
It said the aircraft were providing close air support from Iraq when they crashed.
The aircraft were part of the USS Harry S Truman strike group. The aircraft carrier is in the region as part of the US presence in the Gulf, it said.
The crashes will not bolster flagging Australian confidence in the Super Hornet.
Defence Department planners are believed to have been asked to present a detailed analysis on all the fighter jet options to the new Federal Government and how they stack up against likely adversaries - the first time such a study has been done for at least five years.
The Rudd Government is reviewing Australia's agreement to buy 24 Super Hornets from the US as a stop-gap measure while it awaits delivery of up to 100 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters.
Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon has questioned the Super Hornets purchase - hastily pushed through by his predecessor, Brendan Nelson, now the Opposition Leader - without "proper due process or capability justification".
RAAF planners told the previous government an interim jet was not required and defence analysts say argued the Super Hornet lacks stealth and power.
with REUTERS
US Navy Times (and they should know!)
2 Hornets crash in Persian Gulf, crews safe
Staff report from the Navy Times - Posted : Monday Jan 7, 2008 15:44:08 EST
Two F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets from the carrier Harry S. Truman collided in midair over the northern Persian Gulf on Monday afternoon. Rescue teams saved the three aviators involved in the crash and safely returned all three to the ship.
The two planes — a single-pilot F/A-18E and a two-seat F/A-18F from the Truman’s embarked Carrier Air Wing 3 — were flying over the Gulf en route to a close air support mission in Iraq when the two Super Hornets crashed into each other, according to an official Navy statement.
The Super Hornets’ mission to Iraq makes it unlikely their collision was related to an incident Monday at the south end of the Persian Gulf when five Iranian attack boats harassed three U.S. warships emerging from the Strait of Hormuz, said 5th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Kevin Cosgriff, speaking to reporters at the Pentagon via a satellite video link
.
The naval aviators returned to the Truman by helicopter for medical treatment and are reportedly in “good condition,” Cosgriff said.
Letter to Editor of `The Age’
Editor, The Age
The report reference the crash of two US Navy Super Hornets is a totally irresponsible, inaccurate, speculative, lazy, inept and biased piece of journalism.
Not only should you have required a level of some accuracy and truthfulness within the report but should have severely admonished the `staff reporter’ for allowing `its’ obvious prejudiced opinion to influence and distort what is supposed a news report.
Reference to any respected military aviator or aviation expert prior to finalising the report would have counselled a competent reporter to seek further clarification prior to making the report and the possibility of an in-flight collision was extremely high given the known facts.
Considering `The Age’ supposedly prides itself as one of Australia’s leading newspapers one can only trust a strenuous effort will be made to ensure The Age’s integrity and truthfulness of reporting will be re-established.
DK
Staff reporter - January 8, 2008 - 8:41AM
Two F/A-18 fighter aircraft from the US navy's fifth fleet have crashed in the Persian Gulf, further clouding the future of the Super Hornet's role in Australia's air strike force.
The crashes come as the Federal Government reviews all aspects of the program to update Australia's air force - including the contract to buy 24 Super Hornets as part of a $30 billion program to deliver air superiority in the region.
The US navy said that the fighters crashed "during operations" and three air crew were "in good physical condition" after ejecting from the fighters and being rescued by teams from the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman.
"The cause of the accident is under investigation," the navy said.
It said the aircraft were providing close air support from Iraq when they crashed.
The aircraft were part of the USS Harry S Truman strike group. The aircraft carrier is in the region as part of the US presence in the Gulf, it said.
The crashes will not bolster flagging Australian confidence in the Super Hornet.
Defence Department planners are believed to have been asked to present a detailed analysis on all the fighter jet options to the new Federal Government and how they stack up against likely adversaries - the first time such a study has been done for at least five years.
The Rudd Government is reviewing Australia's agreement to buy 24 Super Hornets from the US as a stop-gap measure while it awaits delivery of up to 100 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters.
Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon has questioned the Super Hornets purchase - hastily pushed through by his predecessor, Brendan Nelson, now the Opposition Leader - without "proper due process or capability justification".
RAAF planners told the previous government an interim jet was not required and defence analysts say argued the Super Hornet lacks stealth and power.
with REUTERS
US Navy Times (and they should know!)
2 Hornets crash in Persian Gulf, crews safe
Staff report from the Navy Times - Posted : Monday Jan 7, 2008 15:44:08 EST
Two F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets from the carrier Harry S. Truman collided in midair over the northern Persian Gulf on Monday afternoon. Rescue teams saved the three aviators involved in the crash and safely returned all three to the ship.
The two planes — a single-pilot F/A-18E and a two-seat F/A-18F from the Truman’s embarked Carrier Air Wing 3 — were flying over the Gulf en route to a close air support mission in Iraq when the two Super Hornets crashed into each other, according to an official Navy statement.
The Super Hornets’ mission to Iraq makes it unlikely their collision was related to an incident Monday at the south end of the Persian Gulf when five Iranian attack boats harassed three U.S. warships emerging from the Strait of Hormuz, said 5th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Kevin Cosgriff, speaking to reporters at the Pentagon via a satellite video link
.
The naval aviators returned to the Truman by helicopter for medical treatment and are reportedly in “good condition,” Cosgriff said.
Letter to Editor of `The Age’
Editor, The Age
The report reference the crash of two US Navy Super Hornets is a totally irresponsible, inaccurate, speculative, lazy, inept and biased piece of journalism.
Not only should you have required a level of some accuracy and truthfulness within the report but should have severely admonished the `staff reporter’ for allowing `its’ obvious prejudiced opinion to influence and distort what is supposed a news report.
Reference to any respected military aviator or aviation expert prior to finalising the report would have counselled a competent reporter to seek further clarification prior to making the report and the possibility of an in-flight collision was extremely high given the known facts.
Considering `The Age’ supposedly prides itself as one of Australia’s leading newspapers one can only trust a strenuous effort will be made to ensure The Age’s integrity and truthfulness of reporting will be re-established.
DK