Poor Air Power Planning Exposed But Super Hornet To Stay
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Poor Air Power Planning Exposed But Super Hornet To Stay
The Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP,
Minister for Defence
Media Release
17 Mar 2008 MIN18/08
POOR AIR POWER PLANNING EXPOSED BUT SUPER HORNET TO STAY
The Government today announced the outcomes of Part A of its Air Combat Capability review.
Based on the advice of the Review, the Government has concluded:
There has been a lack of sound, long-term air combat capability planning decisions by the former Government over the course of the last decade.
The retirement of the F-111 was made in haste but is now irreversible. The cost of turning the F-111 back on would be enormous and crews and skills have already moved on.
The former Government’s decision to leave Australia’s air defences 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 the F-111 early, allowed an air combat capability gap to emerge.
The subsequent timetable the former Government put on the acquisition of an interim fighter left Defence planners with no choice but to recommend the Super Hornet. No other suitable aircraft could be produced to meet the 2010 deadline the former Government had set. One year on, that is now even more so the case.
Cancelling the Super Hornet would bring significant financial penalties and create understandable tensions between the contract partners.
The Super Hornet is an excellent aircraft capable of meeting any known threat in the region and is the only aircraft which can meet the small delivery window created by the former Government’s poor planning processes and politically- driven responses.
One benefit the Government’s Review has already produced, through the detailed analysis undertaken, is the opportunity to reduce the cost of the Super Hornets.
As a consequence of the Review process, the Department of Defence has indicated that it expects that significant savings of up to $300 million can be made in the internal Defence and industry costs of supporting the Super Hornet aircraft.
The analysis also highlighted additional capabilities such as specialist electronic warfare variants (the F/A-18G) that will be considered as part of the Super Hornet acquisition. These additional capabilities will be more fully considered under the second stage of the Air Combat Capability Review.
Part B of the Review will continue and further announcements will be made after it reports in late April. It will consider Australia’s air combat capability needs out to 2045, including the status of plans to acquire the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
Air superiority is Australia’s single most important Defence capability.
The Government thanks the Review team for their hard and conscientious work and looks forward to the team’s further recommendations in ensuring Australia maintains its regional superiority in air combat capability.
Media contact:
Christian Taubenschlag (Joel Fitzgibbon): 02 6277 7800 or 0438 595 567
Minister for Defence
Media Release
17 Mar 2008 MIN18/08
POOR AIR POWER PLANNING EXPOSED BUT SUPER HORNET TO STAY
The Government today announced the outcomes of Part A of its Air Combat Capability review.
Based on the advice of the Review, the Government has concluded:
There has been a lack of sound, long-term air combat capability planning decisions by the former Government over the course of the last decade.
The retirement of the F-111 was made in haste but is now irreversible. The cost of turning the F-111 back on would be enormous and crews and skills have already moved on.
The former Government’s decision to leave Australia’s air defences 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 the F-111 early, allowed an air combat capability gap to emerge.
The subsequent timetable the former Government put on the acquisition of an interim fighter left Defence planners with no choice but to recommend the Super Hornet. No other suitable aircraft could be produced to meet the 2010 deadline the former Government had set. One year on, that is now even more so the case.
Cancelling the Super Hornet would bring significant financial penalties and create understandable tensions between the contract partners.
The Super Hornet is an excellent aircraft capable of meeting any known threat in the region and is the only aircraft which can meet the small delivery window created by the former Government’s poor planning processes and politically- driven responses.
One benefit the Government’s Review has already produced, through the detailed analysis undertaken, is the opportunity to reduce the cost of the Super Hornets.
As a consequence of the Review process, the Department of Defence has indicated that it expects that significant savings of up to $300 million can be made in the internal Defence and industry costs of supporting the Super Hornet aircraft.
The analysis also highlighted additional capabilities such as specialist electronic warfare variants (the F/A-18G) that will be considered as part of the Super Hornet acquisition. These additional capabilities will be more fully considered under the second stage of the Air Combat Capability Review.
Part B of the Review will continue and further announcements will be made after it reports in late April. It will consider Australia’s air combat capability needs out to 2045, including the status of plans to acquire the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).
Air superiority is Australia’s single most important Defence capability.
The Government thanks the Review team for their hard and conscientious work and looks forward to the team’s further recommendations in ensuring Australia maintains its regional superiority in air combat capability.
Media contact:
Christian Taubenschlag (Joel Fitzgibbon): 02 6277 7800 or 0438 595 567
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Wessex
Many thanks for this - disappointing in many ways but not rally surprising. Good luck to the RAAF in the acquisition, but I just can't help but feel 24 x Typhoon would have been a more sensible long-term solution.
Anyway, what chance of getting an F-111 at RIAT before it's all over? Dump and burn......
S41
Many thanks for this - disappointing in many ways but not rally surprising. Good luck to the RAAF in the acquisition, but I just can't help but feel 24 x Typhoon would have been a more sensible long-term solution.
Anyway, what chance of getting an F-111 at RIAT before it's all over? Dump and burn......
S41
The former Government’s decision to leave Australia’s air defences 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 the F-111 early, allowed an air combat capability gap to emerge.
The UK Government’s decision to leave air defence of the Fleet 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 the Sea Harrier F/A 2 early, allowed an air combat capability gap to emerge.
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I had a chuckle last week.
Minister Fitzgibbon was commenting on the latest GAO audit of the JSF project, and used the project delays to have a go at the previous government. He said something like "this shows the last government were asleep at the wheel ..."
I didn't realise the The Rodent, Lord Downer of Baghdad, The Mad Monk and Dr 7% were running the JSF project - has someone told Lockheed Martin that they weren't really in charge?
Our dear pollies just can't help themselves, can they?
Minister Fitzgibbon was commenting on the latest GAO audit of the JSF project, and used the project delays to have a go at the previous government. He said something like "this shows the last government were asleep at the wheel ..."
I didn't realise the The Rodent, Lord Downer of Baghdad, The Mad Monk and Dr 7% were running the JSF project - has someone told Lockheed Martin that they weren't really in charge?
Our dear pollies just can't help themselves, can they?
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Squirrel 41... are you aware the Super Hornets are to replace the F-111... a 100% strike aircraft?
Why would you then substitute a primarily A-A fighter... with much less strike capability? If you want to say "tranche 3", then also notice that recent statements indicate it will have less A-G capability than the partners were saying it would a few years ago.
And as for "poor decisions"... what would they call a "good decision", F-22 instead (2/3 the number of aircraft for the same cost... IF you can even buy them), and a full re-manufacture of the F-111s (at the same or greater cost each as a new F-35) to try to get 15-20 more years out of them? (those new F-35s will run for 30+ years)
That's what their favorite pundit (NOT an expert) Karlo Copp wants!
Why would you then substitute a primarily A-A fighter... with much less strike capability? If you want to say "tranche 3", then also notice that recent statements indicate it will have less A-G capability than the partners were saying it would a few years ago.
And as for "poor decisions"... what would they call a "good decision", F-22 instead (2/3 the number of aircraft for the same cost... IF you can even buy them), and a full re-manufacture of the F-111s (at the same or greater cost each as a new F-35) to try to get 15-20 more years out of them? (those new F-35s will run for 30+ years)
That's what their favorite pundit (NOT an expert) Karlo Copp wants!
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First RAAF SuperHornet rolls off the assembly line.
First RAAF SuperHornet rolls off the assembly line.
Boeing: Boeing Debuts 1st Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet
Boeing: Boeing Debuts 1st Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet
ST. LOUIS, July 8, 2009 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today unveiled the first of 24 F/A-18F Block II Super Hornets for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) during a ceremony at Boeing Integrated Defense Systems' production facilities in St. Louis. The aircraft will be delivered later this month, three months ahead of schedule.
"The Super Hornet is on its way to delivering advanced combat capabilities to the Royal Australian Air Force," said Bob Gower, Boeing vice president of F/A-18 and EA-18 Programs. "Cooperation and great teamwork on the part of Australia's Defence Materiel Organisation, the Royal Australian Air Force, the U.S. Navy and the Hornet Industry Team have enabled the first RAAF Super Hornet to be delivered within budget and ahead of schedule."
The remaining 23 Super Hornets, each equipped with the Raytheon-built APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, will be delivered to the RAAF throughout 2010 and 2011.
"The RAAF Super Hornet will bring a new generation of air power to Australia," said Group Capt. Steve Roberton, Head Air Combat Transition Office, RAAF. "Its advanced, networked weapons system will deliver enhanced air combat capability across the spectrum of air-to-air, strategic land attack and maritime strike, which is so important for Australia. It is a true multirole aircraft and there's a lot of excitement on the ground in the Air Combat Group about its arrival." The Australian government announced in March 2007 that it would acquire 24 of the F/A-18F multirole fighters, making that country the first international Super Hornet customer.
"The rollout of the first RAAF Block II Super Hornet is an important and exciting milestone for all of the Australian and U.S. team members, who have accomplished a great deal of significant work to make this event possible," said U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Darrah, F/A-18 and EA-18 program manager, PMA-265. "Our long and successful relationship has been mutually beneficial during the RAAF classic Hornet program, and taking this next logical step with the acquisition of the Super Hornet is a win-win for both nations. The Super Hornet's inherent tactical capabilities and ability to force multiply speak for themselves."
The Block II F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a multirole aircraft, able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions. Boeing has delivered more than 395 F/A-18E/Fs to the U.S. Navy. Every Super Hornet produced has been delivered on or ahead of schedule.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.
"The Super Hornet is on its way to delivering advanced combat capabilities to the Royal Australian Air Force," said Bob Gower, Boeing vice president of F/A-18 and EA-18 Programs. "Cooperation and great teamwork on the part of Australia's Defence Materiel Organisation, the Royal Australian Air Force, the U.S. Navy and the Hornet Industry Team have enabled the first RAAF Super Hornet to be delivered within budget and ahead of schedule."
The remaining 23 Super Hornets, each equipped with the Raytheon-built APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, will be delivered to the RAAF throughout 2010 and 2011.
"The RAAF Super Hornet will bring a new generation of air power to Australia," said Group Capt. Steve Roberton, Head Air Combat Transition Office, RAAF. "Its advanced, networked weapons system will deliver enhanced air combat capability across the spectrum of air-to-air, strategic land attack and maritime strike, which is so important for Australia. It is a true multirole aircraft and there's a lot of excitement on the ground in the Air Combat Group about its arrival." The Australian government announced in March 2007 that it would acquire 24 of the F/A-18F multirole fighters, making that country the first international Super Hornet customer.
"The rollout of the first RAAF Block II Super Hornet is an important and exciting milestone for all of the Australian and U.S. team members, who have accomplished a great deal of significant work to make this event possible," said U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Darrah, F/A-18 and EA-18 program manager, PMA-265. "Our long and successful relationship has been mutually beneficial during the RAAF classic Hornet program, and taking this next logical step with the acquisition of the Super Hornet is a win-win for both nations. The Super Hornet's inherent tactical capabilities and ability to force multiply speak for themselves."
The Block II F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a multirole aircraft, able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions. Boeing has delivered more than 395 F/A-18E/Fs to the U.S. Navy. Every Super Hornet produced has been delivered on or ahead of schedule.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32 billion business with 70,000 employees worldwide.
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It's unfortunate that the decision to scrap the F-11 was made, but to be honest keeping it in the air was probably going to be very expensive. Unfortunately there does not appear to be anything out there that would replace it's strike capabilities, but that is the nature of the aircraft industry these days.
The post of defence minister down here seems to be a bit of a poison chalice, which is not helping long term defence planning/spending. While the option to but Typhoon might be tempting, I think we are way beyond the point when that choice should have been made.
The post of defence minister down here seems to be a bit of a poison chalice, which is not helping long term defence planning/spending. While the option to but Typhoon might be tempting, I think we are way beyond the point when that choice should have been made.
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While the option to but Typhoon might be tempting, I think we are way beyond the point when that choice should have been made.
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F1 11 Replacement
So, just what would be a good replacement for F1 11's (anywhere).
It seems if you fancied buying Russian there there is a good modern option, but what about western products?
Would it be a case of second hand US F1 11's from desert storage, 'used' B1B's, or would Australia buy French?
I'm not saying any of these would be possible of course, or affordable. But what would be the best 'strike' replacement.
Just curious
It seems if you fancied buying Russian there there is a good modern option, but what about western products?
Would it be a case of second hand US F1 11's from desert storage, 'used' B1B's, or would Australia buy French?
I'm not saying any of these would be possible of course, or affordable. But what would be the best 'strike' replacement.
Just curious
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OK, so what will you do for heavy strike?
Your Typhoons won't do that... not even the much-ballyhooed T3... since it has had its strike capabilities reduced as a cost-saving measure.
All Typhoon will be able to do is some secondary light-strike work.
Typhoon is an excellent partly-stealthy air superiority aircraft, but it is not, nor will it be, a strike aircraft... which is exactly what the F/A-18Fs are being bought to do.
Your Typhoons won't do that... not even the much-ballyhooed T3... since it has had its strike capabilities reduced as a cost-saving measure.
All Typhoon will be able to do is some secondary light-strike work.
Typhoon is an excellent partly-stealthy air superiority aircraft, but it is not, nor will it be, a strike aircraft... which is exactly what the F/A-18Fs are being bought to do.
