Australian Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
- Thread starter Jeff Head
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So, AUSINDEX 15 Wrapped up. Here are pics of the major units that participated from Australia and India:
Australian Frigate HMAS Arunta, F151:
Indian Frigate INS Shivalik, F48:
Australian Collins class submarine, HMAS Sheean
Indian Destroyer INS Ranvijayi, D55
I will continue in the next post.
Australian Frigate HMAS Arunta, F151:
Indian Frigate INS Shivalik, F48:
Australian Collins class submarine, HMAS Sheean
Indian Destroyer INS Ranvijayi, D55
I will continue in the next post.
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
The way I see it, as the Pacific becomes an important arena for strategic power, the US is more than likely to want upgrade its Marine rotational force in Darwin to a amphibious one. Newly created Australian amphibious forces could then have joint training/ops with U.S. Marine amphibious forces thus expanding their cooperative ability. Secondly an amphibious force can be extremely useful in extending aid to her neighbors in the aftermath of natural disasters.
Jeff posted a picture of the Collin's class before, which I have some questions about. It's got a reputation in our media as being a bit of a dud. Is this deserved? I've read it had some teething problems to begin with, but these were largely sorted out. In the early 2000's they were able to give American nuclear subs a good run for their money in drills off Hawaii. A Collins was able to get into a position to sink a carrier apparently. The specifics have been classified, but reports have got out.
From what I can tell, the Collins is a good sub which can create a real headache for other subs and surface fleets. The current government (at least until a couple of weeks ago) wants to replace them with subs which might be foreign built. Why is this necessary? Why can't we build from the experienced gained from the Collin's? I'm sure the Swedes (who provided the basic design) would help for the right price.
We need to be able to build or buy stuff which suits our requirements, rather than just buying off the shelf. The F-35 is a perfect example. It doesn't have the range needed for our massive country, with most of its air bases a long way south of where combat could occur. They'll need to refuel in flight where the tankers could be vulnerable to attack. If only we could buy from the Russians.... That's not to say American planes are crap, they're just built for American needs, not ours. The Russians on the hand have similar needs to us in terms of having a large country to defend with a limited budget.
From what I can tell, the Collins is a good sub which can create a real headache for other subs and surface fleets. The current government (at least until a couple of weeks ago) wants to replace them with subs which might be foreign built. Why is this necessary? Why can't we build from the experienced gained from the Collin's? I'm sure the Swedes (who provided the basic design) would help for the right price.
We need to be able to build or buy stuff which suits our requirements, rather than just buying off the shelf. The F-35 is a perfect example. It doesn't have the range needed for our massive country, with most of its air bases a long way south of where combat could occur. They'll need to refuel in flight where the tankers could be vulnerable to attack. If only we could buy from the Russians.... That's not to say American planes are crap, they're just built for American needs, not ours. The Russians on the hand have similar needs to us in terms of having a large country to defend with a limited budget.
As an ally of USA, what frontline military aircraft do you think the Russians would entertain selling to Australia.
Australia’s large size is as much a disadvantage to any attacking force as spending so much time flying over size a large land mass to attack strategic targets increases their chances of being shot down.She already has three squadrons based in the north, at Tindal and Amberley flying Hornets and Eagles which IMO are more than capable of countering any situation which may arise in the current or intermediate timeframe. If necessary she could build an extra staging base or two in the north.
Under some conditions, conventional subs do perform exceedingly well.But the point is many of them do it better than the Collins.
The Collins have developed into good boats. One of the biggest problems Australia has had recently is effectively manning them all.
Other than that, as I point out above, you answered most of your own questions.
As to the Australians buying Russian aircraft and equipment...seriously? I am absolutely sure that that is simply not going to happen in my life time.
Australia has a strong alliance with the US. The needs of the US in the WestPac are strikingly similar to those of Australia...which are the precise tow reasons Australia often (but not all the time) works with the US.
There is significant history in that relationship and strong reasons for it. The current economic crisis would be both a shortsighted reason, and inappropriate reason to walk away from them.
As to fueling...refueling for such is done well behind any contested air space...and the refueling aircraft in any war time scenario would also be protected.
Fact is...outside of long range MPAs, long-range recon, or bombers, you cannot have enough fuel to effectively operate in most large reaches of western Pacifc...so re-fueling is pretty much a given anyway.
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