Australian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

The Royal Australian Air Force is preparing to conduct its largest training activity this year – Exercise Pitch Black 2016 – in the Northern Territory from 29 July to 19 August 2016.The Northern Territory will host up to 2500 personnel and 110 aircraft from around the globe for the exercise including participants from Australia, Canada, France (New Caledonia), Germany, Indonesia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand and the United States.Aircraft will begin to arrive at RAAF Base Darwin and RAAF Base Tindal from 11 July to prepare for the exercise and will depart over the weekend following the exercise. The exercise will use airspace over Bradshaw Training Area and Delamere Air Weapons Range.Air Commodore Christopher Sawade, Head of Special Events, said major exercises such as Pitch Black are pivotal in ensuring the Royal Australian Air Force remains ready to respond whenever the Australian Government requires.“The training and integration of forces that occurs during these exercises directly supports Air Force’s ability to conduct operations, such as current missions in the Middle East against Daesh,” Air Commodore Sawade said.“In planning this exercise, Air Force has balanced the requirement to meet training outcomes with minimising aircraft noise, especially at night. Noise abatement procedures will be in force during Pitch Black.”Exercise Pitch Black flying activity will commence after 9.00am and cease by 11.00pm during the week. There is no exercise mission flying scheduled on weekends.“Air Force has a longstanding relationship with the Northern Territory community,” Air Commodore Sawade said.“We are engaged with Territory and local Government authorities and community organisations as we prepare for the exercise and we will ensure the Northern Territory community has up-to-date information.”Exercise Pitch Black information will be provided via media outlets, the exercise website and Air Force social media.“Exercise Pitch Black is a major boost for the Northern Territory economy,” Air Commodore Sawade said.“Pitch Black 2014 contributed $25 million to the local economy and this year’s exercise is expected to exceed that.”There will be two major opportunities during Exercise Pitch Black for the public to talk to Defence personnel and see Air Force capabilities on display.A handling display and flypasts will be performed over Mindil Beach on Thursday 11 August and an Open Day at RAAF Base Darwin is scheduled for Saturday 13 August. Both events are free and provide the Royal Australian Air Force with the opportunity to thank the local community for their continued support of important training activities in the Top End.

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SouthernSky said:

Some photos from Exercise Pitch Black 2016.

A RAAF C-17A Globemaster from No 36 Squadron landing at Nackeroo Airfield in the Northern Territory during Exercise Pitch Black 16.

F/A-18F Super Hornets from No 1 Squadron sit on the tarmac prior to the day's mission at RAAF Base Darwin, during Exercise Pitch Black 16.

More photos available here.

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Australian Army Sends Envoy To U.S. Future Vertical Lift Talks


Aug 5, 2016

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| Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

• 
  
  V-280: Bell Helicopter
  
  As some of America’s most sophisticated airborne weaponry—including the
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  ,
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  Growler,
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  , MQ-4C Triton and
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  Amraam—head to Australia, Canberra is now saying g’day to the next generation of military rotorcraft being designed in the U.S. for Future Vertical Lift (FVL).
  
  The Australian Defense Force (ADF) confirmed on Aug. 5 that the U.S. Army has formally invited it to participate in early discussions about FVL as the requirements are still being cemented. The soon-to-launch program seeks to usher in a new era of long-range, high-speed rotorcraft for the 21st century. It will produce a successor for all traditional helicopters in different size classes for all of the U.S. services, including long-serving
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  Black Hawk,
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  AH-64 Apache and
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  Chinook aircraft.
  
  Australia—the world’s sixth-largest importer of military equipment and a strategic U.S. ally in the Asia-Pacific region—rivals Israel in its pursuit of high-end American armaments. It is often quick to partner with emerging U.S. programs early in the requirements development stage like it did with the Joint Strike Fighter, Triton and Poseidon.
  
  In this instance, Australia is sending a high-ranking army officer to participate in FVL discussions as the U.S. military rotorcraft community prepares to launch into its first Army-led FVL program of record.
  
  Canberra is not paying to participate and is not a formal member of the FVL group, but as a longtime Black Hawk and Chinook operator, it will probably want whatever vertical-lift aircraft spins out of the program.
  
  “The Australian and U.S. armies share an interest in the development of the future vertical-lift capability. As such, the U.S. Army has invited the Australian army to participate in an exchange of ideas in order to understand and prepare the next-generation of helicopters,” the ADF tells Aviation Week. “This exchange of ideas assists the Australian army to meet our future requirements as outlined in the 2016 Defense White Paper, and is occurring without a financial arrangement, membership or any other commitment from the Australian army. An Australian army lieutenant colonel, in his capacity as a liaison officer, is attending the U.S. Army forums to better understand and inform our army as to the U.S. approach.”
  
  The statement confirms that Australia has become the first nation to dip its toes into the still-cool waters of FVL, seemingly undeterred by its protracted and expensive involvement in the multinational F-35 development effort that will introduce the
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  ’s first stealth fighter.
  
  ADF says it is “privileged to be actively involved in the development of the next generation of the vertical-lift capability,” while making the point that no acquisition decision has been made and the Australian government will make those determinations “at an appropriate time.”
  
  Confirmation of Australia’s participation in FVL discussions comes as the U.S. Army seeks a material development decision from the Pentagon that will trigger an analysis of alternatives for the first tranche of military rotorcraft to be produced under FVL. Once it hits full stride, FVL will be the second-largest military acquisition next to the F-35.
  
  The service is currently partnered with
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  and a
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  -Boeing team for flight demonstrations of their competing V-280 Valor and SB-1 Defiant prototypes as a risk-reducing exercise. The military has also teamed with smaller design shops to test innovative vertical-lift concepts in the laboratory, like Karem’s optimum-speed tiltrotor and AVX’s coaxial compound helicopter.
  
  A formal competition for a three-year technology maturation phase will begin in fiscal 2019, to be followed by a full-scale, six-year development effort in 2024. The Army expects to deliver the first war-ready FVL combat squadron in early 2030, although many in industry want the Army to move more quickly.
  
  
  

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1. Beazley joins Lockheed Martin Australia board
   June 9, 2016 "Former Defence Minister Kim Beazley has joined the board of Lockheed Martin Australia. ..."
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2. Former Fleet Air Arm Commander to lead Lockheed Martin Australia
   August 3, 2016 "Former Fleet Air Arm Commander Vince Di Pietro will succeed Raydon Gates as vice president and chief executive of Lockheed Martin Australia from January 2017. ..."
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3. Former CAF Geoff Brown joins Lockheed Martin Australia board
   August 5, 2016 "Former Chief of Air Force Geoff Brown has been appointed to the Lockheed Martin Australia board. ..."
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4. Former senior defence adviser now heading French sub builder
   May 16, 2015 "EXCLUSIVE: A former senior government adviser who enjoyed privileged access to top-secret information about the navy’s future submarine project has taken a high paid job with one of three foreign contenders for the $20 billion plus contract. ..."
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FORBIN said:

Two ANZAC FFG
View attachment 30679

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Jeff Head said:

They did a great thing with the ANZACs with their modernization.

I hope they serve alongside the Hobarts for a long time to come.

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