F-35 Cancelled, then what ?
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Hi Lonewolf 50. Aye, I omitted mention of UAVs which also get reference in some of the literature that has originated from within Australian DoD circles.
The RAN shed 2 aircraft carriers years back, although one of them was extensively used for logistic support throughout the Vietnam War. With aircraft embarked, they were of course very costly to operate for a pretty small Navy, now manned by around 16,000 personnel.
But having since acquired LPDs with a ski-jump ramp, they do have some flexibility if the below deck layout is configured more for aircraft support than ground forces transportation. Embarking sizeable land force components/assets on a single platform is not a great idea in my view - as demonstrated in the Falklands War - and Australia could have done with lesser capacity amphibious support vessels. But the 2 x Canberra class carriers are an expensive reality now and best use must be made of them.
By the way, my background is Air Force not Navy, but I find carrier ops a very interesting topic.
The RAN shed 2 aircraft carriers years back, although one of them was extensively used for logistic support throughout the Vietnam War. With aircraft embarked, they were of course very costly to operate for a pretty small Navy, now manned by around 16,000 personnel.
But having since acquired LPDs with a ski-jump ramp, they do have some flexibility if the below deck layout is configured more for aircraft support than ground forces transportation. Embarking sizeable land force components/assets on a single platform is not a great idea in my view - as demonstrated in the Falklands War - and Australia could have done with lesser capacity amphibious support vessels. But the 2 x Canberra class carriers are an expensive reality now and best use must be made of them.
By the way, my background is Air Force not Navy, but I find carrier ops a very interesting topic.
By the way, my background is Air Force not Navy, but I find carrier ops a very
interesting topic.
interesting topic.
I hope you had a chance while serving to go out there and see it for yourself. Nothing quite like it.
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4.4GB PDF about RAN Fixed Wing + Helo Ops
'Bushranger 71' said: "...By the way, my background is Air Force not Navy, but I find carrier ops a very interesting topic."
We probably have a mutual friend LEUT 'Bomber' Brown (+ others) No.9 Sqdn South Vietnam (however I was back at NAS Nowra with the A4G). You will see not only a bunch of stuff about the RAN Fixed Wing in those years but also a fair bit about RAN Helo Ops including EMU and No.9 (but only a small amount compared to the overall size of the PDF). Otherwise individual smaller PDFs may be found on these same web pages. There is some info about the LHDs and whydontwegetsomeF-35Bsonem...
Some 1,000 odd pages mostly at beginning of this PDF are about 'Carrier Ops and How to Deck Land' in general including old RN ops and current USN ops, with reference to the beginning and future F-35 ops; and of course including a bunch of A4G stuff aboard HMAS Melbourne scattered throughout the PDF.
On this SpazSinbad SkyDrive page is a segmented (.RAR/.EXE) version of the latest 4.4GB PDF dated 06 March 2013 in this folder:
https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=cbcd6...6&sa=822839791
FOLDER: '_Final_06mar13_A4G_4-4GB-PDF'
_______________
Otherwise entire same PDF on GoogleDrive (sign in for free):
https://drive.google.com/?authuser=0...DhIQ0szeVJFY0U
FOLDER: 4.4GB PDF A4G Skyhawks RAN FAA
FILE NAME: A4G-FAA_Scrapbook_06mar2013_9,631ppFINALv11.pdf (4.4GB)
This 4.4GB may be archived on a DVD but best viewed when file on computer hard drive.
We probably have a mutual friend LEUT 'Bomber' Brown (+ others) No.9 Sqdn South Vietnam (however I was back at NAS Nowra with the A4G). You will see not only a bunch of stuff about the RAN Fixed Wing in those years but also a fair bit about RAN Helo Ops including EMU and No.9 (but only a small amount compared to the overall size of the PDF). Otherwise individual smaller PDFs may be found on these same web pages. There is some info about the LHDs and whydontwegetsomeF-35Bsonem...
Some 1,000 odd pages mostly at beginning of this PDF are about 'Carrier Ops and How to Deck Land' in general including old RN ops and current USN ops, with reference to the beginning and future F-35 ops; and of course including a bunch of A4G stuff aboard HMAS Melbourne scattered throughout the PDF.
On this SpazSinbad SkyDrive page is a segmented (.RAR/.EXE) version of the latest 4.4GB PDF dated 06 March 2013 in this folder:
https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=cbcd6...6&sa=822839791
FOLDER: '_Final_06mar13_A4G_4-4GB-PDF'
_______________
Otherwise entire same PDF on GoogleDrive (sign in for free):
https://drive.google.com/?authuser=0...DhIQ0szeVJFY0U
FOLDER: 4.4GB PDF A4G Skyhawks RAN FAA
FILE NAME: A4G-FAA_Scrapbook_06mar2013_9,631ppFINALv11.pdf (4.4GB)
This 4.4GB may be archived on a DVD but best viewed when file on computer hard drive.
Last edited by SpazSinbad; 7th Mar 2013 at 20:58. Reason: missing URL + added info
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Bushranger, I'd be thinking more about under water stuff
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Apologies if I digressed a bit from the primary thread theme.
Lonewolf_50; I was fortunate to get some experience aboard RAN warships, but only a little on carriers. Regrettably though, never managed to get aboard the big US platforms which have always awed me.
Hi SpazSinbad; thank you for the beaut info. I guess I am breaching 'security' now, but JB (Bomber) and I have had lots of dialogue over the past couple of years re the OV-10 Bronco study.
Deviating a bit more. During the Vietnam show, we often had to deliver high volume ball ammunition as close as 10 metres from own troops when they were in dire situations. That cannot be done with acceptable risk from platforms only equipped with explosive ordnance, such as Apache/Tiger AAH. While Predator and the like can probably hang around in murky weather conditions, such UAVs presently only deliver very costly guided HE weaponry (like Hellfire), so their usability in very close quarters combat situations is doubtful. That may of course change with advancing technology, but I do not see them replacing helo gunships or even something like a Super Tucano in the nearer term.
Having said that, there are lots of potential benefits in operating UAVs from carrier platforms.
Lonewolf_50; I was fortunate to get some experience aboard RAN warships, but only a little on carriers. Regrettably though, never managed to get aboard the big US platforms which have always awed me.
Hi SpazSinbad; thank you for the beaut info. I guess I am breaching 'security' now, but JB (Bomber) and I have had lots of dialogue over the past couple of years re the OV-10 Bronco study.
Deviating a bit more. During the Vietnam show, we often had to deliver high volume ball ammunition as close as 10 metres from own troops when they were in dire situations. That cannot be done with acceptable risk from platforms only equipped with explosive ordnance, such as Apache/Tiger AAH. While Predator and the like can probably hang around in murky weather conditions, such UAVs presently only deliver very costly guided HE weaponry (like Hellfire), so their usability in very close quarters combat situations is doubtful. That may of course change with advancing technology, but I do not see them replacing helo gunships or even something like a Super Tucano in the nearer term.
Having said that, there are lots of potential benefits in operating UAVs from carrier platforms.
Last edited by Bushranger 71; 8th Mar 2013 at 00:15. Reason: Grammar
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'B71' said: "Hi SpazSinbad; thank you for the beaut info. I guess I am breaching 'security' now, but JB (Bomber) and I have had lots of dialogue over the past couple of years re the OV-10 Bronco study."
'B71' yeah 'Bomba' put me on to that Bronco / Super Bronco train a while back - pages from the Navy League story about 'Broncos on LHDs' used to be in the BIG PDF - I took 'em out when that idea seemed to get no traction.
Another Navy League story by ex-A4G pilot then RN SHAR pilot Mark Boast is in the large PDF in the beginning pages in 'How Deck Land' section around page 1487 is his 'How to Land a SHAR' from 'The NAVY Jul-Sept 2008 Vol.70 No.3 - The Magazine of the Navy League of Australia':
http://navyleague.org.au/wp-content/...3-Jul-2008.pdf
________________
A few pages also from another Navy League Magazine about 'how to beg for F-35Bs on our LHDs' in the LHD section around page 4754. The original PDF is here:
THE CHALLENGES OF AN ORGANIC FIXED WING CAPABILITY FOR AUSTRALIA’S LHDS
Oct 2010 By Mark Boast in THE NAVY VOL. 72 NO. 4
http://navyleague.org.au/wp-content/...4-Oct-2010.pdf
“The best way to overcome a challenge is to understand it. With this in mind former Sea Harrier squadron commanding officer Mark Boast takes a look at the challenges that could confront the ADF adopting organic CAS for the new Canberra class LHDs."..."
'B71' yeah 'Bomba' put me on to that Bronco / Super Bronco train a while back - pages from the Navy League story about 'Broncos on LHDs' used to be in the BIG PDF - I took 'em out when that idea seemed to get no traction.
Another Navy League story by ex-A4G pilot then RN SHAR pilot Mark Boast is in the large PDF in the beginning pages in 'How Deck Land' section around page 1487 is his 'How to Land a SHAR' from 'The NAVY Jul-Sept 2008 Vol.70 No.3 - The Magazine of the Navy League of Australia':
http://navyleague.org.au/wp-content/...3-Jul-2008.pdf
________________
A few pages also from another Navy League Magazine about 'how to beg for F-35Bs on our LHDs' in the LHD section around page 4754. The original PDF is here:
THE CHALLENGES OF AN ORGANIC FIXED WING CAPABILITY FOR AUSTRALIA’S LHDS
Oct 2010 By Mark Boast in THE NAVY VOL. 72 NO. 4
http://navyleague.org.au/wp-content/...4-Oct-2010.pdf
“The best way to overcome a challenge is to understand it. With this in mind former Sea Harrier squadron commanding officer Mark Boast takes a look at the challenges that could confront the ADF adopting organic CAS for the new Canberra class LHDs."..."
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SpazSinbad, Bushranger,
Not sure if it made the press in Oz but your SecDef had a very good look around F-35B at NAS Pax River last year. Hopefully someone in the RAN has at least thought about the possibilities of embarking a USMC or UK F-35B det on board, even if the economics mean that Oz can't afford it's own.
Seems a shame to have a ski-jump and never use it....
Not sure if it made the press in Oz but your SecDef had a very good look around F-35B at NAS Pax River last year. Hopefully someone in the RAN has at least thought about the possibilities of embarking a USMC or UK F-35B det on board, even if the economics mean that Oz can't afford it's own.
Seems a shame to have a ski-jump and never use it....
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There is a CVF style ski jump at Pax River for F-35B testing. I'll guess that the Spanish LHD will require F-35B trials so expect the USMC at least (I doubt if the CVFs will ever appear near Australia but who knows) to trial their F-35Bs on Oz LHDs with VLs and STOs during exercises to the North of Oz at the end of this decade.
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I think I read somewhere (probably in the same Navy League Magazine) that the Oz LHDs left the ski jump in the design because it was easier than redesigning the bow area. This didn't stop the government insisting that the ships didn't have the extra jet fuel capacity or the magazines to carry the weapons to support the F35B on board in any useful way.
A USMC or RN F35B landing on a RAN LHD in Sydney Harbour would be a good way to grab some public support...
A USMC or RN F35B landing on a RAN LHD in Sydney Harbour would be a good way to grab some public support...
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Originally Posted by WT
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/mar/6/report-super-fighter-will-get-pilots-shot-down/
15 years after the MOCK-UP,
13 years after the first flight of the X35,
7 years after the first flight of the F35A,
and now with some 50+ of them flying around,
"somebody" at the DOT&E finally discovered the "rearward" visibility might not be up to F-16 standards?
Some design flaws are really hidden well below the surface, and takes years of intense research to reveal.
I am deeply impressed by this stellar analytical performance of the DOT&E.
Luckily they found out in time.
Uhm, and just in case, you guys at LM run out of ideas to solve this dilemma, I have one of this cute little rearward looking cameras on my car, you might take a look...
Last edited by ihg; 9th Mar 2013 at 08:54.
The Chinese didn't sabotage the data when they hacked in. They inserted mind control software that made the engineers introduce manufacturing flaws. There's worse to come now, as they work on a computer virus that can infect people. It's true.
Back to the thread, didn't we comment a year or more ago that the visibility from the F35 cockpit looked really poor? All the talk about sensors mitigating that issue brushed concerns aside. Maybe LM designers should have listened to us at PPRuNe.
Back to the thread, didn't we comment a year or more ago that the visibility from the F35 cockpit looked really poor? All the talk about sensors mitigating that issue brushed concerns aside. Maybe LM designers should have listened to us at PPRuNe.
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A recurring observation about the F-35, here and elsewhere, is that it's a densely packed, 'fat' shape. Stealth needs aside, there's none of the coke-bottling of area ruling and nor could there be; the weapons bays see to that.
The canopy has always looked broad by comparison with that of, say, the F-16. Broadness equates to shallow viewing angles from the pilot's eyeline. Does this really come as a surprise, then, or is it something else that was conveniently overlooked/was hoped would be 'alright on the night'?
The canopy has always looked broad by comparison with that of, say, the F-16. Broadness equates to shallow viewing angles from the pilot's eyeline. Does this really come as a surprise, then, or is it something else that was conveniently overlooked/was hoped would be 'alright on the night'?
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I find it funny that people are over looking eodas, this was a questionnaire regarding block 1a after all
Joint Program Office DOT&E OUE Response
(Source: F-35 Joint Program Office; issued March 6, 2013)
The U.S. Air Force conducted the Operational Utility Evaluation for its F-35As and determined its training systems were ready-for-training. F-35 operational and maintenance procedures will continue to mature as the training tempo accelerates.
The DOT&E report is based upon the Joint Strike Fighter Operational Test Team report which found no effectiveness, suitability or safety response that would prohibit continuation of transitioning experienced pilots in the F-35A Block 1A.1 transition and instructor pilot syllabus.
There are no issues identified in the DOT&E report that the Air Force and the F-35 Joint Program Office didn't already know about, and are working to resolve.
There is a deliberate process in place to validate the training system's effectiveness through advancing training blocks as they are made available to the warfighter.
Joint Program Office DOT&E OUE Response
(Source: F-35 Joint Program Office; issued March 6, 2013)
The U.S. Air Force conducted the Operational Utility Evaluation for its F-35As and determined its training systems were ready-for-training. F-35 operational and maintenance procedures will continue to mature as the training tempo accelerates.
The DOT&E report is based upon the Joint Strike Fighter Operational Test Team report which found no effectiveness, suitability or safety response that would prohibit continuation of transitioning experienced pilots in the F-35A Block 1A.1 transition and instructor pilot syllabus.
There are no issues identified in the DOT&E report that the Air Force and the F-35 Joint Program Office didn't already know about, and are working to resolve.
There is a deliberate process in place to validate the training system's effectiveness through advancing training blocks as they are made available to the warfighter.
Last edited by JSFfan; 9th Mar 2013 at 15:43.