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Post by macnz on Aug 16, 2014 8:00:23 GMT 12
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Post by falcon124 on Aug 18, 2014 16:45:39 GMT 12
The Secretary for Defence was dropping "hints" to media about getting more C17s & KC30As while on a KC30 media ride up to Darwin for Pitch Black. Nothing definite, just hints. Given the current governments inability to get their budget through the Senate & house, I'm not sure how likely these large purchases will be
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Post by macnz on Aug 19, 2014 10:17:35 GMT 12
some more of his "hints" being promoted. www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/australia-considering-more-c-17s-kc-30-tankers-402771/Agree, the govt appear to throw their weight behind big $ defense procurement quite "liberally" these days. Interesting at the same time they are calling into question the DMO's ability to manage and oversee procurements. I agree the F35s, additional P8s, new subs, UAVs, AWDs, LHDs ...you wonder how much can be put on budget lay-by to 2020 Must be how the ruskies felt in the 80s during their arms race. Wonder how far AU & NZ prepared to go to keep skin in the game with rest of Asia
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Post by macnz on Aug 20, 2014 2:58:10 GMT 12
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mroz
Flying Officer
Posts: 59
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Post by mroz on Sept 15, 2014 19:47:06 GMT 12
Aust's level of defence spend is low in GDP terms and there is much to be leveraged off with the growing US presence in the region, if we go "off the shelf" with these bigger scale purchases it's pretty easy done balance sheet wise.
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Post by macnz on Sept 16, 2014 10:49:07 GMT 12
Agree mroz. Post GFC in 2008, defense force structure spend was pretty well hit in most countries to levels 1.5-2% GDP excl. China, US, AU and the Middle East. In Oz, the mining boom lasting until 2012 was helpful for kicking off these big scale purchases. Regrettably NZ doesn't have that capacity in resources nor the population to sustain that kind of spend on our deserving NZDF. However with the budget they have been given, NZDF have made some canny buys in the last decade. Love to see some A400s and V-22 added to our airforce. Seen debate elsewhere that we should be considering P8s to modernize our P3Ks but not convinced. Maybe there are some smaller airframes like; Saab2000 ERIEYE, Embraer P-99 MP, Sentinel R1, or Piaggio P180 Avanti which could succeed the MPA role of our P3Ks. A lot cheaper per unit (and to operate) than P8, so we could hopefully afford a reasonable number to patrol our EEZ.
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Post by richard1098 on Oct 3, 2014 20:39:04 GMT 12
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Post by falcon124 on Oct 4, 2014 16:25:35 GMT 12
I recall the Amberley guys saying they were at capacity with 2 x KC30As and the existing C17 fleet, let alone when the other KC30As come back. It's why they've had so many aircraft deployed lately as they're apparently overflowing if they all came home at the same time. Hmmm, wonder if the purchase will include making extra ramp space available somehow?
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Post by beagle on Oct 4, 2014 20:18:04 GMT 12
got 10 C27's going to based there too
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Post by falcon124 on Oct 4, 2014 20:23:49 GMT 12
got 10 C27's going to based there too Nope, they're going to be at RAAF Base Richmond with the C130Js & E7A Wedgetails (near Sydney). Amberley (near Brisbane) has the Super Hornets, C17s & KC30As Meanwhile, the 737 BBJs (while the RAAF still has them) & Challenger 605s are based at Fairburn in Canberra.
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Post by beagle on Oct 4, 2014 20:49:43 GMT 12
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Post by falcon124 on Oct 7, 2014 8:50:50 GMT 12
Thanks for this - I've had a friend staying with us and not had time to check the news until today. Gotta say I'm rather surprised that they're going to Amberley as the plan was always for them to be permanently at Richmond with the C130Js. Could it be an indication that Richmond is going to be wound down or opened up for civilian traffic? You're right that Townsville would be a good spot for them (given the old Caribou presence in the past) but who knows what's going on up top (Defence moves in mysterious ways, right? )
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Post by macnz on Oct 13, 2014 13:29:20 GMT 12
Reported purchase of 4 additional C-17 'safely assumed' that future budgets spend will be 2% of (current level) GDP. 2 definite purchases of the 10 remaining whitetails will reportedly cost AU $500m. "Under Prime Minister Tony Abbott, the government has pledged to return defense spending to 2 percent of GDP over the coming years; the current financial year budget has already seen an increase from around 1.7 to 1.8 per cent." Source: www.defensenews.com/article/20141003/DEFREG03/310030035/Australia-May-Acquire-Up-4-More-C-17sOriginal purchase of 3+1 back in 2006 was to cater for ADF needs to 2018/2020. Then 2 additional were ordered in 2011 (delivered 2012), and now (up to) 4 more will mean the C-17 fleet growth for No.36 Squadron will have reached 150% more than the original inception - one of those rare procurement cases that has been successful and testament to the aircraft's suitability for ADF Can anyone confirm the range of the C-17ERs? I've read material that quotes 4,500km, 5,200km and another 10,000km 'with troops'. Assuming distances quoted are with payload (but not MTOW) then the 4500km maybe is for the original C-17As before block 13 in 2001 which introduced the ER? But is it 5,200km or 10,000km?
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Post by camtech on Oct 16, 2014 10:16:13 GMT 12
Wikipedia quotes a range of 10,390km, with paratroopers. So I guess that would be with a payload of around 15 -20,000kgs
From Boeing:
Maximum Payload: 164,900 lbs. (74,797 kg)
At 4,000 nautical miles: 100,300 lbs. (45,495 kg)
Range with Payload: 160,000 pounds: 2,420 nautical miles
40,000 pounds (paratroop): 5,610 nautical miles
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Post by Barnsey on Oct 16, 2014 13:29:09 GMT 12
got 10 C27's going to based there too Nope, they're going to be at RAAF Base Richmond with the C130Js & E7A Wedgetails (near Sydney). Amberley (near Brisbane) has the Super Hornets, C17s & KC30As Meanwhile, the 737 BBJs (while the RAAF still has them) & Challenger 605s are based at Fairburn in Canberra. The Wedgetails are based at RAAF Williamtown, not Richmond.
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Post by macnz on Nov 14, 2014 0:26:59 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 14, 2014 12:55:37 GMT 12
There was talk of a trans-Tasman deal in which NZ put in some money and would get the opportunity to share C-17 operations with the RAAF, as and when NZ required one. Is that still going ahead? Or was it scuttlebutt?
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Post by beagle on Nov 14, 2014 19:31:08 GMT 12
probably just a dream
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Post by macnz on Nov 28, 2014 9:20:56 GMT 12
Agree with Beagle - dont think Aussies would be too keen to timeshare and probably you need a commercial framework to assure availability to do so. i.e. like the UK does with its Voyagers (A330MRTT) and Europe airforces
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Post by falcon124 on Dec 31, 2014 18:04:33 GMT 12
The Wedgetails are based at RAAF Williamtown, not Richmond. Whoops, yup, you are correct. Sorry about that, I got confused when one photo-bombed a C130H farewell session
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