Super Hornets For RAAF
Confirmed by The Australian
Government approves fighter order
THE Australian Defence Force will proceed with plans to acquire Boeing Super Hornet aircraft ordered by the previous government.
Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said the Super Hornet was an excellent aircraft capable of meeting any known threat in the region.
"It is the only aircraft which can meet the small delivery window created by the former government's poor planning processes and politically driven responses," he said in a statement.
Mr Fitzgibbon, releasing the first section of Labor's air combat review, accused the coalition of a lack of sound long-term air combat capability planning during the past decade.
The retirement of the RAAF's F-111 strike bomber fleet had been made in haste but was now irreversible.
"The cost of turning the F-111 back on would be enormous and crews and skills have already moved on," he said.
"The former government's decision to leave Australia's air defence in the hands of the Joint Strike Fighter project was a flawed leap of faith in scheduling terms, and combined with the quick decision to retire F-111 early, allowed an air combat capability gap to emerge."
Typical political spin - why couldn't he just say that thorough analysis confirmed that the decision to purchase the Super Hornets was correct.
THE Australian Defence Force will proceed with plans to acquire Boeing Super Hornet aircraft ordered by the previous government.
Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said the Super Hornet was an excellent aircraft capable of meeting any known threat in the region.
"It is the only aircraft which can meet the small delivery window created by the former government's poor planning processes and politically driven responses," he said in a statement.
Mr Fitzgibbon, releasing the first section of Labor's air combat review, accused the coalition of a lack of sound long-term air combat capability planning during the past decade.
The retirement of the RAAF's F-111 strike bomber fleet had been made in haste but was now irreversible.
"The cost of turning the F-111 back on would be enormous and crews and skills have already moved on," he said.
"The former government's decision to leave Australia's air defence in the hands of the Joint Strike Fighter project was a flawed leap of faith in scheduling terms, and combined with the quick decision to retire F-111 early, allowed an air combat capability gap to emerge."
Typical political spin - why couldn't he just say that thorough analysis confirmed that the decision to purchase the Super Hornets was correct.
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Watched the Minister tonight on the 7.30 report and his performance was less than stellar or convincing.
Methinks a quiet word was had to just buy the bloody things or else.
I think labor were of course just after Nelson, may have worked if it were Block I version RAAF were going to receive.
However Block II seems to be a very different beast and one that seems to best suit RAAF in the time frame available.
Amazing what a 'confidential brief' can do to alter a Ministers opinion!
Methinks a quiet word was had to just buy the bloody things or else.
I think labor were of course just after Nelson, may have worked if it were Block I version RAAF were going to receive.
However Block II seems to be a very different beast and one that seems to best suit RAAF in the time frame available.
Amazing what a 'confidential brief' can do to alter a Ministers opinion!
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Minister
The minister was obviously'spinning it' up Labour style.
Good luck to him and all the F111 worshippers. In a few years they will all be gone and a distant memory.
Don't bend down when there's piggies around.......
Good luck to him and all the F111 worshippers. In a few years they will all be gone and a distant memory.
Don't bend down when there's piggies around.......
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Now what?
So, do all the piggies that end up flying the SH become knucks now?
Under the new flying pay review does a SH pilot get paid the same as a classic guy? I mean the SH pilot's job is way easier now with all the technological SA he has and the backseater keeping him honest. A single seat guy has to do it all alone.
One article in the Courier Mail suggested the RAAF was in the market for the Growler? Having our own jamming/sead platform is a great idea, but where do we get all these additional backseaters from?
Under the new flying pay review does a SH pilot get paid the same as a classic guy? I mean the SH pilot's job is way easier now with all the technological SA he has and the backseater keeping him honest. A single seat guy has to do it all alone.
One article in the Courier Mail suggested the RAAF was in the market for the Growler? Having our own jamming/sead platform is a great idea, but where do we get all these additional backseaters from?
Nunc est bibendum
Having our own jamming/sead platform is a great idea, but where do we get all these additional backseaters from?
So, do all the piggies that end up flying the SH become knucks now?
The fleeting uncaged AIM9 as the blind bograt flies across the windscreen
Kangaroo Court
How many are on order? Has that been published?
How many are on order? Has that been published?
mmciau
May I ask? Are the F-111s operational at the moment?
May I ask? Are the F-111s operational at the moment?
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Operational?
Are they operational?
Do you mean...are they flying? Yes.
Do you mean...could they go and do the business they train for eveyday? Yes.
Do you mean...are our aircrew and maintenance working much harder than their US (and allied) counterparts to have the tools to employ the right weapons on the right targets if required? Absolutely.
Are our maintenance personnel forced to work much harder to keep the old girl airworthy? More than most would ever know.
The quality of personnel at Amberley in both maintenance and aircrew are worldclass. The SH will bring an exponential increase in overall capability to the RAAF. Everyone knows it. Except Carlo and Criss. That's why Labor couldn't fault the decision in the end.
I'll get off my soapbox now.
Do you mean...are they flying? Yes.
Do you mean...could they go and do the business they train for eveyday? Yes.
Do you mean...are our aircrew and maintenance working much harder than their US (and allied) counterparts to have the tools to employ the right weapons on the right targets if required? Absolutely.
Are our maintenance personnel forced to work much harder to keep the old girl airworthy? More than most would ever know.
The quality of personnel at Amberley in both maintenance and aircrew are worldclass. The SH will bring an exponential increase in overall capability to the RAAF. Everyone knows it. Except Carlo and Criss. That's why Labor couldn't fault the decision in the end.
I'll get off my soapbox now.
Do you mean...could they go and do the business they train for eveyday? Yes.
They can bomb SE QLD better than any one else!
Last edited by Slezy9; 19th Mar 2008 at 08:30.