ASIAN DEFENCE: Australia

Showing posts with label Australia. Show all posts

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Australia's Collins class Submarine all at sea on repairs

12:02 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

BY THE time Australia's newest Collins class submarine returns to service in September or October next year the vessel will have been laid up for repairs and maintenance for longer than it has been in use. A Senate estimates hearing has been told HMAS Rankin was pulled out of service in 2008 because a crew could not be found. Commissioned 41 months late on March 29, 2003, the vessel was not due for a full cycle docking until March 2011. Current cost of a full cycle docking for a Collins class submarine varied between $200 million and $220 million.

Australia reviews timetable for buying 12 F-35s

2:17 AM ASIAN DEFENCE 1 comment

Australia is reviewing its timetable for buying 12 troubled F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, the defense minister said Monday after the United States announced a rethink of its purchase schedule for the futuristic warplanes.

Read More

US, Japan, Australia plan South China Sea drill

8:47 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

The US, Japanese and Australian navies will Saturday hold a joint drill in the South China Sea -- most of which China claims as its maritime territory -- Japan's defence ministry said. Japan's Maritime Self-Defence Force will send destroyer Shimakaze to join a US Navy destroyer and a Royal Australian Navy patrol boat for communications training and other drills off Brunei, the defence ministry said Friday. It will be their first joint military exercise in the South China Sea, most of which an increasingly assertive China claims as its maritime territory, but where several Southeast Asian nations have competing claims.

U.S and Australian Military Participate in 'Land Down Under' Exercise

11:23 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortresses supporting U.S. Pacific Command's Continuous Bomber Presence in the Asia-Pacific region flew from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to the "Land Down Under' to demonstrate the capability and flexibility of the Stratofortress to Australian military partners, as part of Exercise Hamel Oct. 8 through 18.

Participation in Hamel and similar exercises provide an opportunity for Airmen to engage with allies and regional partners, and ultimately contribute toward interoperability, regional stability and security.

"It's a great opportunity to interact with our coalition partners and sister services throughout the Pacific AOR [during exercise Hamel] to train together, learn from each other, and remain proficient at our mission and show U.S. resolve within the region to protect and defend our allies from any potential adversary," said Maj. James Greenfield, bomber liaison officer, 613th Air Operations Center, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

The long-duration flights, normally lasting between 11 and 13 hours, allowed the aircrews from the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, assigned to the 36th Wing at Andersen AFB, to team up with Australian joint terminal air controllers to conduct close air support training. During this year's exercise, 12 sorties were flown in direct support of the training.

"Such training provides a valuable opportunity for our forces to work together and hone their skills," said Wing Commander Ian Honey, Royal Australian Air Force, assigned to the 613th AOC's Strategic Guidance Team here.

This is the sixth time USPACOM bombers have participated in exercise Hamel. B-2 Spirit bombers completed the first Hamel exercise from Guam in July 2006, while the first group of B-52s completed their first exercise Hamel sorties with the Australian military in October 2006.

Thirteenth Air Force is one of four numbered air forces in Pacific Air Forces. It is located at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, and provides oversight of two Air force Wings, one air support operations group and 12 additional units in Japan, Alaska and California.

Australia's CH-47 Chinooks Returning Home From Afghanistan

3:36 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

After 737 flying hours and having moved in excess of 691,000 kilograms of supplies and equipment over the last eight months, Australia's Rotary Wing Group rotation is returning home for a well-earned break and mandatory maintenance on their aircraft.

The task group and their two CH-47 Chinooks will return to Afghanistan early in the new year to recommence flight operations in support of ISAF efforts – a deployment they have undertaken since rotations began in 2006.The Chinooks are unable to fly during Afghanistan's harsh winter months.

The two Chinooks chalked up an impressive 860 sorties, transporting more than 4700 troops while assisting the efforts of the International Stabilisation Assistance Force (ISAF) on this current rotation.Task Group Commander, Lieutenant Colonel David Lynch said the effort of the team was highly commendable.

" On just about all the missions we flew this year supporting our coalition partners; our crews were fulfilling the role of Air Mission Commander, taking the lead and providing direction to the other Coalition aircraft involved in the missions," he said.

A major contribution to the Rotary Wing Group's sustained high performance was the role played by the maintenance crews who were responsible for keeping the 'Chooks' in the air."A key mission requirement for the Task Group was to ensure that the CH-47's were mission ready whenever they were required," Lieutenant Colonel Lynch said.

"This year, we did not fail on a single occasion to provide support when we were assigned to a mission."This magnificent effort by the maintainers to keep our aircraft reliable and available through out our deployment period has underpinned our success this year."

Maintenance crews have already stripped the Rotary Wing Groups double decker bus-sized helicopters and packed them into a pair of Royal Australian Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft for the return trip to Australia.

RAAF's F/A-18F Super Hornet first AGM-154C JSOW

9:52 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Dutch Apache helicopters refused to help Australian SAS in firefight in Afghanistan: Digger

3:24 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

AUSTRALIAN special forces were abandoned by Dutch allies during a firefight in Afghanistan, reports say.News Limited papers reported that Dutch pilots refused to drop below their "safe" height of 5000m to rescue Australian SAS and US forces caught in an ambush in September 2008.Former SAS sniper Rob Maylor, wounded during the battle, said the Australians had pleaded with the Dutch: "We're in an absolute doozy of a shitfight. We need your assistance as we're taking casualties."But the Dutch helicopter pilots refused to offer covering fire for the Australian, US and Afghan troops in the ambush. A US soldier was killed and seven SAS soldiers and two sappers were wounded. Trooper Mark Donaldson was awarded the Victoria Cross for his role in the battle.He writes that during the battle the Australians saw two Dutch Apache helicopters escorting a Chinook and radioed the pilots to fire their Hellfire laser-guided missiles and 30mm cannons on the Taliban.

Australian Tigers Will Not be Fully Operational Until December 2012

1:37 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Dan Oakes

Attack helicopters the opposition says should be sent to Afghanistan to support Australian troops will not be fully operational for at least two years.Defence Department told the Herald yesterday the Tigers were not expected to be fully operational until December 2012. Eighteen of the 22 armed reconnaissance helicopters have been delivered by their maker, Australian Aerospace, and are being introduced into service with the 1st Aviation Regiment in Darwin.

Push to axe Collins-Class Submarines Immediately , Buy German Type 214 or French Scorpenes

1:34 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

A RADICAL plan is being pushed by a group of senior Australian submariners.It is to retire two Collins-class submarines immediately and fast-track the purchase of four ready-made submarines from Europe.The proposal, which has been sent to both the federal government and the opposition, reflects growing concern among some former senior naval officers that the government's plan to build 12 of the world's most sophisticated conventional submarines is flawed and unrealistic.The Rudd government's defence white paper committed to building 12 large, sophisticated submarines in Australia to replace the six Collins-class boats from the mid-2020s.

Mr Patrick argues it would be cheaper and easier for Australia to purchase proven off-the-shelf submarines from Europe, such as the German Type 214 or French Scorpenes, rather than try to build a new generation of unique, homegrown submarines like the Collins.

Boeing Completes Production of 1st RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet with Provisions for Future Electronic Attack Capability

6:47 AM ASIAN DEFENCE 2 comments

Boeing announced today that it has completed production of the first Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/A-18F Super Hornet that has the capability to be converted into an electronic attack aircraft.

Boeing is pre-wiring the RAAF's second lot of 12 Super Hornets for potential electronic attack capability conversion during production at the company's facilities in St. Louis.

"Incorporating the ability to introduce an electronic attack capability on 12 RAAF Super Hornets as they are produced in St. Louis provides maximum flexibility for our Air Force in the future," said RAAF Group Capt. Steve Roberton, Officer Commanding 82 Wing, which includes Super Hornet and F-111 aircraft. "Ultimately, if a decision to incorporate an electronic attack option is pursued, it will further expand the broad capability of an already formidable Super Hornet weapon system."

Australian Aerospace MRH90 helicopters on track, on time

6:54 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

Australian Aerospace Limited, says it is on track to meet its 2010 schedule for deliveries of NH90 MRH multi-role helicopters to the Australian Defence Force (ADF).Australian Aerospace, which produces the MRH90s at its final assembly facility on Brisbane Airport, delivered its 13th MRH90 on 3 September 2010. Another three helicopters are scheduled to be delivered by the end of the year.A total of 46 MRH90s have been ordered by the Army and Navy to replace existing Black Hawk and Sea King helicopters.Dr Jens Goennemann, Chief Executive Officer Australian Aerospace said he was pleased to report that the delivery program is progressing well despite a temporary cessation of flying operations earlier this year when an MRH90 experienced a shutdown of one of its two engines. Australian Aerospace is on track to deliver all MRH90s during 2010 as contracted in the schedule.

US Gives Go-Ahead for Australia to Buy the EA-18G "Growler"

12:35 AM ASIAN DEFENCE 1 comment

WASHINGTON has given the go-ahead for Australia to buy the EA-18G "Growler" electronic warfare aircraft. It is the most advanced warplane of its type in the world, defence industry sources said yesterday.The Australian understands the decision was made about a fortnight ago by the US Technology, Transfer, Security Assistance, Review Board (TTSARB), a decision that could pave the way for the first foreign military sale of the Growler, defence sources said.

Japanese P3 Orion's Engine Change at RAAF Base Darwin

11:15 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

After Exercise Kakadu, the Japan Maritime Self Defence Force worked side by side with members of the Royal Australian Air Force, utilising the Joint Task Force 639 Air Component Coordination Element hangar for a required engine change to the Japanese P3 Orion.

RAAF's F/A-18F Began Testing Air-to-Ground Weapons

9:34 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

AUSTRALIA'S new combat aircraft, the $6 billion Super Hornet fleet, is in South Australia to begin its first live weapons trials at the Woomera Test Range.Five F/A-18F and about 100 aircrew and maintenance personnel from No. 1 Squadron at RAAF Amberley, Queensland, began testing air-to-ground weapons firing in the middle of the South Australian desert on Monday.Wing Commander Glen Braz told The Advertiser yesterday the warbirds were performing above expectations."It's amazing. It's got incredible performance," he said. "You can be on the runway here at Edinburgh and, two minutes later, it's supersonic at 40,000 feet."In terms of capability, it has 11 weapons stations - a 2000 pound bomb. We can carry four of those, each the size of a small car.

RAAF operated Heron crashed at Kandahar airfield

9:30 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

DEFENCE covered up the crash of an unmanned spy plane in Afghanistan that left taxpayers with a $1.2 million repair bill.On June 4 this year, a Canadian-built remotely-piloted Heron aircraft operated by the RAAF crashed short of the airfield at Kandahar, in southern Afghanistan. There were no injuries.Defence also chose to hide the details of a second Heron crash, this time by an Australian undergoing training in Alberta, Canada, in July. The aircraft was a write-off.Defence admitted that the Kandahar crash had occurred but refused to provide details of the repair bill for "commercial in confidence" reasons.
Read More

Seven MRH-90 Helicopters on the way for Australian Defence Force

5:20 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

AUSTRALIAN Aerospace says it is on schedule to deliver seven MRH-90 helicopters to the Australian Defence Force before the end of the year.The delivery will bring to 16 the total number of new choppers the army will have in its inventory.The ADF has resumed flying the MRH-90 choppers after one of the new aircraft suffered an engine failure in one of its two engines.The incident in May, north of Adelaide, forced a temporary grounding of the $4 billion fleet.Initially the cause of the problem was attributed to an “improper engine start procedure”.But this was later rejected by the defence department, which blamed the fault on a “compressor blade fracture”.

Australian Aerospace Accuses Australian Government of Bias over Helicopter Tender

11:08 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

THE battle for a billion-dollar contract to supply navy helicopters has turned nasty, with one of the two bidders accusing Defence of giving the rival company preferential treatment.Australian Aerospace, a subsidiary of Eurocopter, has pitched its NH90 helicopter against a United States joint venture between Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin and the US Navy.Australian Aerospace chief executive Dr Jens Goennemann told journalists yesterday that his company had one hand tied behind its back because the US Navy could not be constrained by rigid Australian Government tender guidelines.

Terry van Haren Became only 2nd RAAF Pilot to Achieve 3000 Hours Flying F/A-18 During Exercise Pitch Black 2010

11:51 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

During a mission on Exercise Pitch Black 2010, Commanding Officer No. 3 Squadron, Wing Commander Terry van Haren became only the second Royal Australian Air Force pilot to achieve 3000 hours flying the F/A-18.

Officer Commanding No. 81 Wing, Group Captain Gavin Turnbull and 3SQN aircrew gathered at the Ordnance Loading Area at RAAF Base Darwin to congratulate Wing Commander van Haren after his successful sortie.

Commander Air Combat Group, Air Commodore Mel Hupfeld was the first to achieve the rare milestone and recalled the time when he first flew with a young Flying Officer van Haren.

Australia to Purchase 18 RQ-7B Shadow 200 UAVs

11:03 PM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

AUSTRALIAN troops in Afghanistan will be better protected by a fleet of spy planes under a new $175 million deal.Defence Minister John Faulkner will today announce that the Government has approved the purchase of 18 RQ-7B Shadow 200 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and support systems.It is part of a $1.1 billion plan announced in the May budget to boost force protection for diggers serving in Afghanistan.It comes on top of a $32 million lease deal for a C-RAM warning radar to counter rocket and mortar attacks.

Australia finds MRH90 engine failure due to compressor blade fracture

4:55 AM ASIAN DEFENCE No comments

By Leithen Francis

Australia has discovered that an engine failure on an NH Industries MRH90 transport helicopter was caused by the compressor blades fracturing after coming into contact with the engine casing.The engine failure, on one of the NH90's two main RTM322 engines, happened on 20 April and led the Australian Department of Defence to ground its entire fleet of 11 MRH90s until the outcome of an investigation.