good move and hope it happens soon. Im tempoarily in Philippines and hoping for more US deployments here too.

B 52s operated out of Darwin on a regular basis in the 90's. Says a lot more about the longevity of the airframe than the current geo-political situation. There is one in a museum at Darwin Airport after they stopped coming here as a memento of its service. If it could talk it would say "I'll be back!"

It will be interesting to see if bits go missing as spares.

Remembering the Vulcan refuelling probe at Wright-Patterson in the Falkland's War you may be correct!

Skins, tails, wiring, instruments, radar, engines - even fatigue lifted structural parts - all replaced. Not sure what would be usable from an old aircraft.

The B-52 is a bit like Trigger’s broom…

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidax...he-rivets-out/

A LM representitive said at the dubai airshow in January they were in discussion for the Sale of 30 C-130J, 24 cargo and 6 refuelers

I dont understand the aging part, we recieved this year the first of the Block 8 upgraded C-130J's

Block upgrades don't fix the fatigue issues. The C130J is the oldest aircraft in the RAAF now.

With one quiet exception.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c3cb16480.jpeg
More than 50 years of service and still the best looking beast.

The RAF have a few C-130s for sale. https://assets.publishing.service.go...ochure_34_.pdf

Reading the brochure, I think the RAF should keep them, but then, as an ageing Hercules pilot, what would I know?

I believe that there is a strong push within the RAF to retain their C130-J’s to avoid a capability gap but, if that is not successful and they are sold, then it would make sense for the RAAF to acquire a number of them to start the increase in numbers of aircrew & maintenance personnel prior to the introduction of the 24-30 new aircraft. The RAF aircraft are a bit younger but I don’t know if they have been kept as up to date as the RAAF C130J’s - the RAF didn’t do a good job of keeping the E3’s upgraded.

Perhaps it's not so much the 'ageing' part & more about doubling the fleet size. Doubling the current fleet would mean (possibly) the costs involved for the upgrade & twice as many 20-odd year old airframes. Biting the bullet & renewing the fleet might be a wise move as upgraded Hercs would be worth more you'd assume. (Don't mind me. Idle thoughts from the sideline):ok:

Never realised how old the RAAF C-130's are, the other rumors swirling around is that RNZAF teams that are currently in Europe to maintain their C-130 deployed there are climbing all over RAF C-130's for sale.

Never realised how old the RAAF C-130's are, the other rumors swirling around is that RNZAF teams that are currently in Europe to maintain their C-130 deployed there are climbing all over RAF C-130's for sale. The RNZAF hercs were delivered in the late 60's

The RNZAF would probably be interested in acquiring only 6 of the RAF C130-J’s so it would make sense that the RAAF bought the other 8 to have the fleet size to start the process of recruiting & training the additional crews and maintenance personnel that are required before the new J’s arrive. I believe that all of these aircraft have completed the wing box strengthening modification so they should be in similar maintenance condition. One additional advantage for the RAAF if they acquire some of the RAF fleet is that they would gain an air-to-air refueling capability.

13 of the RAF fleet are the longer -30 model but they do have one J model that is the shorter (standard) length - it could be very useful for the RAAF to use as a dedicated Special Forces deployment aircraft.

Are they? the RAF aircraft were delivered from 96 IIRC, RAAF from 99

Not exactly. Yes, the RAAF aircraft (all C-130J-30s) were delivered from late 1999.
The RAF aircraft of course comprised the two J-subtypes, the C.4s (C-130J-30) delivered in 1998, the shorter C.5s (C-130J) delivered same timeframe as the RAAF over 1999-2000.
So apples vs apples, RAF C-130J-30s in 1998, RAAF tad later 1999-2000.

I thought that the RAF has already retired their early delivery C130-J’s and the remaining 14 are from a newer batch but, with further research, I found that all 25 RAF C130-J’s were included in the original order placed in December 1994. The delivery dates indicate that they are a very similar age to the RAAF fleet.

The following is from Wikipedia:

”Shorter range, tactical-airlift transport is provided by the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules, known as the Hercules C4 (C-130J-30) and Hercules C5 (C-130J) in RAF service, based at RAF Brize Norton and flown by No. 47 Squadron. Twenty-five C-130Js were originally ordered in December 1994 (15 C4s and ten C5s), the first Hercules C4 to be delivered was ZH865 in August 1998, with the first Hercules C5 (ZH881) in May 1999. The 2010 SDSR called for the retirement of the Hercules fleet by 2022, with the 2015 SDSR amending this to maintaining the fourteen Hercules C4s until 2030. The draw-down of the Hercules C5 fleet began in 2016, with two left in service by December 2020. The fourteen C4 extended variants were scheduled to retire on 31 March 2035. However, due to the crash of Hercules C4 ZH873 in August 2017, one Hercules C5 was retained to keep the fleet at 14 aircraft. The 2021 Defence Command Paper brought forward the retirement of the Hercules fleet to 2023.”

‘A simple [ITAR] circuit breaker’ needed for Aussie nuke subs: Rep. Courtney

If Australia needs US tech for its AUKUS upgrade, arms transfer legislation could get in the way, unless Congress acts, says key US lawmaker.

A blanket exemption for Australia from the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and related legislation pertaining to nuclear submarines may be the best way for Congress and the Pentagon to clear the decks so the Royal Australian Navy can get nuclear attack boats in the water before the Collins-class subs are retired, according to a key US lawmaker.

***BREAKING***

Royal Navy's new attack submarine, SSNR, will (highly likely) have a VLS. This is a major break from the Astute class but makes a lot of sense strategically.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....26e6017ba.jpeg
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https://t.co/KdEbEdFL1O