EW AIRCRAFT FOR RAAF
 

See they are allocating $1.5 Billion in the budget for 12 GROWLERS for the RAAF.

They would not have had any resistance from Penny Wong on that one....

might be showing my ignorance but seems a high percentage of the FA18 fleet for EW.

12 currently order/delivered? + 12 new order? (or does this 12 replace the previously announced 12)

Unless they keep some multi-role functionality seems like a lot of escort aircraft.

Particularly if they'll be getting F35 type stealth?

Alidad - agree!
Boeing don't seem to realise that in this part of the world, Growler has some very specific connotations!

A Labor government promising money for defence expenditure? I'd be looking that particular gift horse in the mouth.

If you read the report it says we'll buy 12 new EA-18G Growlers and operate 24 x F models...for a total of 36..means any previously announced Growler upgrades are binned and new birds added. Not a bad idea really as we will have 12 Growler birds if we bend a G model.

I got a laugh when I heard the clip from the press conference when the minister described the current F18s, as the current fleet of 'Classic F18's'.

I thought you needed analogue gauges and a 6 pack for something to be described as 'classic'!:)

Probably thinking they can only afford to keep one or two operational, the rest for parts.

Any truth in the rumour that Eastwest Loco had to be sedated after reading the title of this thread?

Rgds

Neville, the term "classic" is simply to denote that the F-18 is not a Super Hornet, just a regular Hornet. But being 30 years old may qualify them for the classic title anyway.

Good one Fris!!! :}

I too wondered if the RAAF were getting F27s and F28s!

When I read it I thought of the 146!;)

Easy to make promises when your government won't be around to deliver them.