The Air Warfare Destroyer [AWD] project
is starting to gain more media time. It is a waste of money, as is the proposed Landing Helicopter Dock [LHD]. The AWDs are good for protecting ocean based assets that do not have guaranteed air-cover. Assets like aircraft carriers and contested landing zones - neither of which Australia has. The only ocean based asset I can think worth of defending are the offshore oil/gas platforms in the North-West shelf and they would be better protected by air projection, not ships.
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The F111 is being retired in just over three years. The question of
an interim solution was raised during question time in the Senate
.
(more)
The Australian reports
that the first C17 has rolled out of the hangar in California in RAAF markings.
The first of Australia's new fleet of four C-17 Globemaster III's was rolled out of the hangar this week in California, ahead of its initial flight later this month.(more)
There has been a flurry of political and media commentary on the F22 Raptor in Australia over the last two weeks. A quick run-down on the statements and issues. (more)
The Minister for Defence has announced the procurement of thirty-four MRH90 helicopters to replace the Navy's Sea-Kings and Army's Blackhawks. This is in addition to the twelve MHR90s ordered last year.
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I have argued previously in;
Do We Need a 2005 Defence White Paper
, that we need an updated Defence White Paper, and that the supporting documents released since do not fully answer some changes in the strategic environment regionally and domestically. As a result I was interested to see the Howard Government's reply to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade recommendations.
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The parliamentary library has released a research note which
updates information on the JSF project [PDF]
and Australia's position and options for it. The two main issues identified are increasing cost of the platform and Australian access to source code.
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The
Kokoda Foundation
asks of the upcoming replacement of the F111 and F18 platforms;
Australia's future Joint Strike Fighter fleet: How much is too little?
The Australian government will probably be asking that same question from another angle: How much is enough!
The Kokoda Foundation tested force structures for three, four and five squadrons of JSFs in two scenarios. One regional and one expeditionary. The Foundation discovered that less than sixty-four frontline aircraft forced compromises in Australian government policy and ADF capability. A further discovery was that with eighty frontline aircraft, out force multipliers such as AEW&Cs and tankers inflicted limitations on the JSFs ability to operate.
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The Australian Defence Force will receive the first of four C17 Globemasters by the end of the year. The order is for four aircraft. (more)
