RAAF to get another C17 Globemaster III
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RAAF to get another C17 Globemaster III
C-17A Globemaster III Letter of Request
Australia has sent a Letter of Request to the United States regarding the potential purchase of an additional C-17A aircraft through the United States Foreign Military Sales program, formally seeking cost and availability information.
Mr Smith said the Royal Australian Air Force currently had four C-17A Aircraft. They were delivered over the period 2006 to 2008. The first of these became operational in 2007, providing the Australian Defence Force with a global airlift capability.
Recent events in Queensland and Christchurch have underlined the C‑17s as an essential part of Australia's capacity to respond to natural disasters both within Australia and within our region.
While disaster relief has been a recent public focus for C-17 operations, they continue to support Australian and International Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan and the Middle East, meeting their primary purpose in providing military long-range heavy airlift.
The C‑17A aircraft can lift very large and heavy cargoes over long distances providing a significant contribution to Australia's ability to reach and respond to events. One C‑17A can carry up to four C-130 Hercules loads in a single lift and cover twice the distance in three-quarters of the time of a C‑130 Hercules.
Mr Smith said that acquisition of an additional C-17 would almost certainly obviate any need for the acquisition of two additional C-130J-30 aircraft under project AIR 8000 Phase 1.
As outlined in the Public Defence Capability Plan, the additional C-130J acquisition is planned for final decision by Government in the period 2013-14 to FY 2014-15.
Following receipt of cost and availability information from the United States , the Government will make a decision about purchase based on capability, cost and schedule assessments of an additional C-17.
Source : MoD Australia
Why only one more, it should be at least two as the production line is about to close!
I would have thought an additional 6 needed to acquire critical mass on the spares inventory. With the current workload around the world, an additional (4-6) would be easily utilized. More the better, however the Government seems it has given itself a tight budget.
Yes, as was stated in Australian Aviation Magazine recently 2 more, within the strict budgetary constraints, would be best for a variety of reasons instead of just 1.
As for real world practicality and possible future workloads then another 4-8 would be better and of more use than replacing the oldest Hercs due to be retired with a few newer Hercs.
Sadly, even if aircraft are avail off the line before it closes it all comes down to cash in the end.
As for real world practicality and possible future workloads then another 4-8 would be better and of more use than replacing the oldest Hercs due to be retired with a few newer Hercs.
Sadly, even if aircraft are avail off the line before it closes it all comes down to cash in the end.
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As outlined in the Public Defence Capability Plan, the additional C-130J acquisition is planned for final decision by Government in the period 2013-14 to FY 2014-15.
That being the case, i'm certain the government will have to make a decision in the next financial year... not 2013-2014.
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As usual (from personal RAAF transport experience and acquaintance with people in the present-day transport world), this extra C17 will be ordered without any increase in funding for flying hours or logistics support, ie, drivers, blokes with spanners and a spare part in hand to fix it when it breaks, etc.
But like everything else, it will look impressive on the flight line. Even when it's not working. We can say we have FIVE, not four. And the public will be proud, and wonder how often it flies, and marvel at the stupendous cost savings achieved in not buying two aircraft @ about $70-80 million each, but instead buying a single C17 @ about $200 million.
<dutchy's ex-military sarcasm off>
But like everything else, it will look impressive on the flight line. Even when it's not working. We can say we have FIVE, not four. And the public will be proud, and wonder how often it flies, and marvel at the stupendous cost savings achieved in not buying two aircraft @ about $70-80 million each, but instead buying a single C17 @ about $200 million.
<dutchy's ex-military sarcasm off>
Last edited by DutchRoll; 2nd Mar 2011 at 11:46.
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Extra C17
Should get Bob Hawke on the case. I recall his stated intention to sell the first two B707's into RAAF service if he got into office. Did he sell them? No, he got five more.
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That being the case, i'm certain the government will have to make a decision in the next financial year... not 2013-2014.
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The fifth aircraft is already in production and should be delivered by the end of September...THIS YEAR!
There are currently 4 unassigned C-17's sitting out the front of the production facility. I'm almost certain that one of those would go to the RAAF if the decision is made soon.
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I thought the money for the C-17 was coming from approx $400 million surplus from the defence budget.
The decision to purchase hasn't exactly been made, just a letter of inquiry essentially.
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And another ....
From Minister Clare's office earlier today:
Minister for Defence Materiel – Sixth C-17A Globemaster III – Letter of Request
And still no word on AIR 8000 Ph 2. A sixth C-17A will utterly rule out any more J model Hercs as well. I had a sortie cancelled this week due to a lack of airframes. I'm sure ALG and Ronnie are thrilled to be getting another hulking big Globemaster III, but we need more airworthy Hercs and we need Spartans.
Minister for Defence Materiel – Sixth C-17A Globemaster III – Letter of Request
And still no word on AIR 8000 Ph 2. A sixth C-17A will utterly rule out any more J model Hercs as well. I had a sortie cancelled this week due to a lack of airframes. I'm sure ALG and Ronnie are thrilled to be getting another hulking big Globemaster III, but we need more airworthy Hercs and we need Spartans.
Nunc est bibendum
I'm no expert on AF doctrine but I would have thought that we are very well placed now- with the addition of this extra C17- in the strategic transport category but that our tactical transport is now severely 'underdone' with lack of Caribou replacement even on the horizon? Do extra CH-47s cut it in that role or do we need something like a Spartan?
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Probably getting it to ferry boat people from Port Hedland to Tin Can Bay army base , the strip there is being lengthened to take them as we speak. The army base rumoured to become another refugee camp.... Wonderful!!!!!
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Be smart to add another KC-30 while we're at it..
Interesting argument in the above mentioned release justifying another $250million C17. Surely "twice the distance in three quarters of the time" would require a speed of 2.66 x the Herc's 290kt cruise speed rather than the C17's 450kt? Also most of the recent jobs quoted (recent relief efforts to Queensland,Japan & NZ) don't really seem to require the hugely impressive but expensive capabilities of the C17 and could presumably have been done by a standard civilian freighter or pax a/c at a fraction of the capital & operating cost. I guess the very reasonable argument is that if we've got them, we might as well use them, but to justify adding to the fleet on this basis seems open to question.