Australian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

Jeff Head said:

12 P-8As, 86 F-35s, 24 F/A-18F or EA-18Gs, 3 AEGIS Holbarts (wish there were at least four, if not six), the 2 Canberra's, the future SSK buy...Australia is tanking up with the best technology available.

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Pusser01 said:

Don't forget also potentially up to 7 MQ-4C Tritons either Jeff

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Jeff Head said:

12 P-8As, 86 F-35s, 24 F/A-18F or EA-18Gs, 3 AEGIS Holbarts (wish there were at least four, if not six), the 2 Canberra's, the future SSK buy...Australia is tanking up with the best technology available.

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SouthernSky said:

Numbers for F/A-18 Super Hornets will eventually be Thirty Six.

24 x F/A-18F - Already in service. Twelve of which are pre-wired for Growler configuration.

12 x E/A-18G - On order from Boeing. IOC expected in 2018.

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Australia is likely to commit to buying 58 more Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightnings this month, setting aside the alternative of consolidating its combat aircraft squadrons on the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The decision will increase the country's total commitment to 72 F-35s and expand the Royal Australian Air Force's fast-jet fleet, counting a separate order for 12 EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft as additional to, not part of, the fighter force renewal.

The defense department has recommended the F-35 order, probably worth around $8 billion, and the proposal has the endorsement of a leading think-tank. The government shows every sign of accepting the recommendation, says a source closely connected to the authorities. Accordingly, Lockheed Martin has probably escaped the danger of losing one of its largest F-35 customers, one that has already backed away from an original requirement for about 100 of the stealthy fighters. Even the risk that Australia could trim its commitment a little further now looks low, although that option was suggested by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute think-tank.

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SouthernSky said:

Numbers for F/A-18 Super Hornets will eventually be Thirty Six.

24 x F/A-18F - Already in service. Twelve of which are pre-wired for Growler configuration.

12 x E/A-18G - On order from Boeing. IOC expected in 2018.

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The first two RAAF aircraft are scheduled to be delivered to the USAF’s integrated training centre at Luke AFB in Arizona by the end of the year, while the service’s first pilot for the type will begin training at Eglin AFB in California in December, and the second at Luke in April 2015. Australia's first F-35A unit will be 3 Sqn, based at RAAF Williamtown in New South Wales

The 72 F-35As on order will replace the 71 F/A-18A/B Hornets of the RAAF's 3 and 77 squadrons, and its 2 Operational Conversion Unit – all based at Williamtown – as well as those of 75 Sqn, based at Tindal air base in the Northern Territory. Its fighter squadrons typically have 15 aircraft on strength, so a maintenance and attrition reserve of 12 jets has been allowed for.

A further Phase 2C tranche of the project, for up to 28 additional combat aircraft, was also deferred in 2012 for a decision in the early 2020s. These would replace the 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets of the RAAF's Amberley-based 1 and 6 squadrons. The Super Hornets were ordered in 2006 as a ‘bridging’ capability between the retirement of the General Dynamics F-111C in 2010 and the arrival of the F-35A. However, ongoing delays to the JSF programme mean it is likely the Super Hornets will be retained, alongside the 12 Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft also on order, for 20 years or more.

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AWD Alliance said:

Six strike-length missile modules for the Hobart Class Vertical Launch System (VLS) were this week installed into Ship 1 Hobart, marking a significant Combat System load out achievement for the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) project.

The VLS MK41 modules are a critical part of the Hobart Class Combat System which will enable the Navy’s new DDG guided missile destroyers to execute air warfare and ship self-defence tasks. It is the first major Combat System element to be loaded into the ship following consolidation.

Each ship will be fitted with six VLS modules, each containing eight cells, giving a total of 48 cells per ship. Each cell is capable of accepting, storing, preparing for launch, and launching either a single SM-2 Missile or four Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles.

AWD Alliance CEO Rod Equid said the VLS load out is the first multi-module VLS load out and has built on the in-country expertise developed through the Navy’s FFG Upgrade Project which involved installing a single-module VLS.

“Whilst the Anzac Class and Adelaide Class frigates have a single-module Vertical Launch System, the new Hobart Class destroyers will have a multi-module configuration that will provide more capacity for air warfare. It will also be the first configured to fire SM-2 medium range weapons and has the flexibility to support multiple missile types within a single weapon launching system,” said Mr Equid.

“Complex installation work, such as VLS, involves different groups working together to get the job done and has drawn on the technical expertise of the Commonwealth of Australia, United States Navy and Thales. It has been a true representation of how the Alliance operates.”

“The installation has been a coordinated activity between the AWD Alliance’s Production and Test and Activation teams for the preparation of the VLS compartment and providing the subject matter expertise for pre-staging work.”

The modules were taken out of storage from an Adelaide warehouse facility earlier this year and moved into the purpose-built Mobile Staging Platform located alongside the ship on the Common User Facility at Osborne for pre-staging work prior to installation. Following installation, the system will be operationally tested during the upcoming Combat System Light Off period.

The acquisition of the VLS modules was made by the Commonwealth of Australia, through the United States Foreign Military Sales program.

The AWD Alliance is made up of the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) representing the Australian Government, ASC as the lead shipbuilder and Raytheon Australia as the mission systems integrator. The AWD Alliance is responsible for delivering three world-class destroyers to the Royal Australian Navy. The AWDs are being built for Australia’s specific defence needs and will provide a significant increase in Australia’s defence capabilities.

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