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Post by gibbo on Apr 6, 2018 18:10:49 GMT 12
There has been no official news release gibbo. This is my opinion, but when I spoke to Ron Mark, he didn't seem that confident the RNZAF would be able to replace these planes anytime soon. Let's hope I'm wrong. Ah no worries Zealman... yeah it's certainly a frustrating time! I certainly don't envy his position in the Govt he's part of. 'Mr Invisible' (Winnie the Pooh) has been no use, largely off the radar so the likes of Marks & Jones are largely flying solo... but I believe Winnie's 'ability' is another story...!
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Post by kiwirob on Apr 6, 2018 18:13:52 GMT 12
The P8 is not the only platform that can bring us up to the modern age of Surveillance aircraft. The Saab Swordfish, the P1, A320Neo MPA and the Embraers KC390/Ec190-E2 all have ultra-modern commercial-of-the-shelf and fully NATO compatible ELINT/COMINT/SIGINT capabilities available if that option is taken, with full datalinks and mission simulation packages, and all for much less acquisition cost and lower operating costs than the P8, and with better industrial offset opportunities. The reason Ron Mark is delaying this decision is that he is not happy with the lack of reason given by the previous government of why other platforms were dismissed. He is not 're-inventing the wheel', he simply demands to know what was wrong with the other platforms that offer a much greater capability vs cost coefficient. The P8 is most certainly NOT the only platform that offers seamless integration with our allies. Interoperability comes via communications and data links, and not via the platform itself. In the P8 is not slated get those ELINT and Electronic Intelligence capabilities for another few upgrade cycles, which will be who knows how are away (because the US, Aus and UK all have those capabilities available already on other platforms), when that capability will be available immediately if we buy another platform. Apart from the P1 none of those other aircraft you listed exist, they are all paper aircraft, the NZDF isn't going to be the first operator of this kind of platform.
I think putting off the purchase plays into the hands of Kawasaki, with a combined purchase of P1 and C2.
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