RAAF and MQ-4C Triton
Thread Starter
RAAF and MQ-4C Triton
Looks like at long last the RAAF will receive their MQ-4C Tritons to complement our fleet of 12 [15] P-8A's....
Gulfstream G550 ISR/EW's to follow.
Gulfstream G550 ISR/EW's to follow.
I find myself wondering what Australia would do if the Chinese shot one down.
Not quite the same as splashing an aircraft with crew on board.
But this is a very expensive Defense asset.
Strongly worded demarche?
Boot out Ambassador Chenge?
I assume even at 55k feet, and the ability to see 2,000 miles in a single sensor sweep, they'll be kept well clear of any trouble.
EDIT: I note the in service date is 2023 - the above question is probably a moot point given that they'll either have invaded Taiwan by then, or the west's war with China will be over...
Not quite the same as splashing an aircraft with crew on board.
But this is a very expensive Defense asset.
Strongly worded demarche?
Boot out Ambassador Chenge?
I assume even at 55k feet, and the ability to see 2,000 miles in a single sensor sweep, they'll be kept well clear of any trouble.
EDIT: I note the in service date is 2023 - the above question is probably a moot point given that they'll either have invaded Taiwan by then, or the west's war with China will be over...
Evertonian
Made by American defence giant Northrop Grumman, each aircraft can monitor an area the size of Switzerland - about 40,000 square kilometres - in a day.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Galafrey, Australia
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
6 billion dollars for 6 MQ-4C Tritons? That makes them about 3-4 times the cost of a P-8A Poseiden I think. Is that value for money? And if our 'friends' in the South China Sea did decide to launch a SAM, can it defend itself at all? Chaff, flares, maneuvering?
Big savings on not having to provide ‘frozos’ for the Airborne Eating Officers!
Last edited by Captain Dart; 28th Jun 2018 at 09:40.
Both the USN and the RAAF plan to use the MQ-4 and P-8 in conjunction as complementary platforms- wonder if we will see an RAF MQ-4 buy in the future, or is the passing reference to a maritime role for Protector in a recent press release an indicator of what we will do with them when we are not engaged on operations in the ME?
