super hornets to be axed!!!!

[Mr. Hat]

We need nuclear weapons so we can.. you guessed it ...shock and awe.


We should adopt the american health care system to... shock and awe.

We should invade New Zealand because they have WMD.

[Spaz Modic]

Northern Lights

Well, I got a better idea.
Why don't we just GIVE IN.
They're coming anyway, so we might as well keep the money, spend up big on the looney left programs about to filter in with the NY.
I'm still waiting on the Rolls Hawke promised.

[Angle of Attack]

Well I would'nt say they are being axed as the title said, there is just a thorough review of the available choices. Nothing wrong with that, if something is deemed better its all good. The previous government put $hitloads of legislation and decisions through with very little thought and consideration, there will need to be a lot of reviews like this to fix the mess that it created. History will view the previous Liberal government as an unmitigated disaster. Either way the title of this thread is sort of incorrect maybe it should be Super Hornets MAY be axed?!

[flying-spike]

KIWIs have got WMDs!!!!!!

That would be a wooly mating device would it not?

[Mr. Hat]

just invade anywhere that isn't america.

they need to know who's boss.

[Agony]

While we have the axe in hand Mr Rudd.....Can we give it a mighty swing in the direction of the Seasprite.

[Going Boeing]

virgindriver, your name isn't Chamberlain, is it?

[Captain Sand Dune]

The SMH article in post #1 is nothing more than wishful thinking by the usual left wing loony journos who are frothing at the mouth now that their Labour mates have got into government. Of course the Super Hornets could be axed! Indeed anything could happen!

Somewhat similar to the drivel by Tim Costello in last Friday's Australian. In his considered and well researched opinion the aquisition of the F-16 Super Hornet should be cancelled, and the money spent on

finding a way of somehow extending the life of the F-111's

. The scary thing is a lot of people believe this garbage. And don't start me on that fool K.C!

Given the experience of previous Labour governemnts, I am wary of what the future holds for Defence. However having said that the Rudd government appears to be the most conservative Labour government that I can remember. I get the feeling that Defence will not get screwed in the same manner that it was by the Whitlam/Hawke/Keating governments. Here's hoping!

[ZK-NSJ]

given australias lapdog support for the yanks, isnt it about time they handed over the keys to a few f-22's, 70 or 80 of those would ensure australia is miles ahead for the forseable future

[MrApproach]

What really needs reviewing is the cosy deal that got Australia lumbered with the F35. As far as I can see it is a replacement for a heap of single engined fighters such as the Harrier and F16. Didn't we get past single engines when the F18 was purchased? We are not the Connecticut Air National Guard (with apologies to that no doubt very competent air force) neither are we the US Marine Corps...we have a continent to defend, so we need continental defence airplanes in the class of the F15 or F22.

The Super Hornet and F111CK are a side show, how is a single engined F35 going to stand up against the Russian heavy metal if the going ever gets tough?

[Spaghetti Monster]

Somewhat similar to the drivel by Tim Costello in last Friday's Australian. In his considered and well researched opinion the aquisition of the F-16 Super Hornet should be cancelled

Terrible when people can't even get the basic facts right when spouting their opinions, isn't it? I'm sure Tim Costello , the Baptist minister, would agree with you, as would Michael Costello , the columnist. (And presumably by 'that fool K.C.' you mean 'that fool C.K.' )

Spot-on otherwise.

[Captain Sand Dune]

Ummmm........yes.......well......very good! Well spotted!
Tim, Michael, C.K., K.C.....c'mon - what's the difference?!

[Gnadenburg]

It's just politics!

Super Hornet was Nelson's baby. He didn't trust the RAAF view on an interim requirement for tactical fighters that gambled on JSF.

So Labor is going to sling mud on the deal and consequently the Opposition Leader.

Alternatives?

1) F15E Strike Eagle- Labor should have bought this long ago- but didn't! Now it's just a bit too late and unsuitable as an interim capability ( availability and introduction )

2) JSF- Pushed in too early is risky and expensive.

3) F111 Upgrade- Wasn't sent to two Gulf Wars. Why? Great for bombing coconut countries. But fast approaching obsolescence.

4) Long Range Missiles- P3 was dumped and how's the Hornet coming along?

Super Hornet seems to be a comon sense purchase as an interim capability.

[gaunty]

So tell me again why the Minister/Government preempted the defence departments final decision, maybe they got wind it wasn't Goeing Boeing.

And in any event defence track record in these things isn't exactly peerless. Or should we go back to the Sea Sprite fiasco, how many billion for a turkey.

Same scenario, paying a bazzillion dollars for warmed over technology that could have been bought for only a gazzilion by warming over the F111 for the meantime and then some F35s when they have a reasonably mature airframe. Besides whats wrong with the Rafaele and the Sukhoi apart from them not being Umurrican.

[ozbiggles]

Gaunty, do you think the Russians would back us in any scenario we might see us in?
I'd back the US over Russia keeping a supply line of aircraft parts (AND WEAPONS) available in the remote case we ever need them. Might be the same the way the EU operates as well.
And I can't remeber the last time a Mig got a US aircraft, due in no small part to the fact that the US aircraft is networked into AEW&C, refuellers, satellites etc etc.
There is no warming over the F111...not unless we want to relive the wirraway vs zero fights of a samll war a few years back....that was never going to involve us.