Post by corsair67 on Mar 1, 2006 8:48:55 GMT 12
From this morning's The Australian.
I thought there already was an arms-race going on in SE Asia, as countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia have been purchasing new military hardware for the past 10 or so years, including Sukhoi and MiG aircraft from Russia.
I still think retiring the F-111s before the JSF arrives (if it ever does!) is a really dumb idea. At least the Govt has changed it mind on using the AP-3C Orions as a standoff attack aircraft.
Missile purchase to upset region
Cameron Stewart
March 01, 2006.
AUSTRALIA'S F/A-18 fighters will be armed with the most lethal long-range cruise missiles in the region, a move likely to upset our Asian neighbours.
In a controversial decision, the federal Government announced yesterday that it had chosen to buy the most deadly of the three cruise missile types it was examining to help offset the looming retirement of the F-111 strike bombers.
The decision to choose the longer-range Joint Air-To-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) will be seen by Indonesia as provocative, given that Jakarta has previously warned that such missiles could trigger a regional arms race.
The Lockheed Martin JASSM was by far the most deadly of the three missiles being considered by Australia.
The 909kg missiles, which cost about $544,000 each, are described by the US Air Force as having a "kick-the-door-down capability".
With a range of more than 400km - four times that of any missile currently available to the RAAF - it will be the first self-guided land-attack stealth cruise missile in Southeast Asia when it is introduced from late 2009. The Government did not say how many missiles it would buy but the total cost is likely to be about $350million.
The RAAF also plans to use the missile on the new Joint Strike Fighter when it arrives from 2013.
With only one air-to-air refuel, a JSF armed with JASSM could hit targets as far north as Thailand. With repeated mid-air refuelling, it could strike anywhere in Asia.
The issue is a sensitive one with Jakarta, which has questioned the need for cruise missiles capable of striking any part of Indonesia.
In 2004, when The Australian broke news of the plan to buy cruise missiles, an Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman said the idea "may not be construed by some countries as defensive".
"Australia's Government has, until now, been against the proliferation of advanced missile technologies in the region. There is a risk that raising the level of sophistication could lead to some kind of counter response," the spokesman said at the time.
However, Defence Minister Brendan Nelson yesterday played down the impact of the new missiles.
"The acquisition of long-range missiles does not represent a change in Australia's defence posture and capability planning," Dr Nelson said.
The decision to fit cruise missiles on the RAAF's 71 F/A-18s has been forced on the Government by the looming retirement of the long-range F-111 strike bombers from 2010.
With the F-111's replacement - the JSF - not due to arrive until 2013, the Government is facing at least three years without a potent air-strike capability.
The fitting of JASSM to the shorter-range F/A-18 fighters is aimed at boosting their strike capabilities in the interim years.
"The introduction and fitting of the JASSM to the F/A-18 Hornet provides an important capability for Defence and forms a key part of the Government's plan to withdraw the F-111 aircraft," Dr Nelson said.
"The acquisition is a prudent decision to ensure Australia retains its strike capability so Australian objectives can be met whilst maintaining the safety of aircraft and crews."
The Government said it had abandoned plans to fit cruise missiles to the AP-3C Orion.
I thought there already was an arms-race going on in SE Asia, as countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia have been purchasing new military hardware for the past 10 or so years, including Sukhoi and MiG aircraft from Russia.
I still think retiring the F-111s before the JSF arrives (if it ever does!) is a really dumb idea. At least the Govt has changed it mind on using the AP-3C Orions as a standoff attack aircraft.
Missile purchase to upset region
Cameron Stewart
March 01, 2006.
AUSTRALIA'S F/A-18 fighters will be armed with the most lethal long-range cruise missiles in the region, a move likely to upset our Asian neighbours.
In a controversial decision, the federal Government announced yesterday that it had chosen to buy the most deadly of the three cruise missile types it was examining to help offset the looming retirement of the F-111 strike bombers.
The decision to choose the longer-range Joint Air-To-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) will be seen by Indonesia as provocative, given that Jakarta has previously warned that such missiles could trigger a regional arms race.
The Lockheed Martin JASSM was by far the most deadly of the three missiles being considered by Australia.
The 909kg missiles, which cost about $544,000 each, are described by the US Air Force as having a "kick-the-door-down capability".
With a range of more than 400km - four times that of any missile currently available to the RAAF - it will be the first self-guided land-attack stealth cruise missile in Southeast Asia when it is introduced from late 2009. The Government did not say how many missiles it would buy but the total cost is likely to be about $350million.
The RAAF also plans to use the missile on the new Joint Strike Fighter when it arrives from 2013.
With only one air-to-air refuel, a JSF armed with JASSM could hit targets as far north as Thailand. With repeated mid-air refuelling, it could strike anywhere in Asia.
The issue is a sensitive one with Jakarta, which has questioned the need for cruise missiles capable of striking any part of Indonesia.
In 2004, when The Australian broke news of the plan to buy cruise missiles, an Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman said the idea "may not be construed by some countries as defensive".
"Australia's Government has, until now, been against the proliferation of advanced missile technologies in the region. There is a risk that raising the level of sophistication could lead to some kind of counter response," the spokesman said at the time.
However, Defence Minister Brendan Nelson yesterday played down the impact of the new missiles.
"The acquisition of long-range missiles does not represent a change in Australia's defence posture and capability planning," Dr Nelson said.
The decision to fit cruise missiles on the RAAF's 71 F/A-18s has been forced on the Government by the looming retirement of the long-range F-111 strike bombers from 2010.
With the F-111's replacement - the JSF - not due to arrive until 2013, the Government is facing at least three years without a potent air-strike capability.
The fitting of JASSM to the shorter-range F/A-18 fighters is aimed at boosting their strike capabilities in the interim years.
"The introduction and fitting of the JASSM to the F/A-18 Hornet provides an important capability for Defence and forms a key part of the Government's plan to withdraw the F-111 aircraft," Dr Nelson said.
"The acquisition is a prudent decision to ensure Australia retains its strike capability so Australian objectives can be met whilst maintaining the safety of aircraft and crews."
The Government said it had abandoned plans to fit cruise missiles to the AP-3C Orion.
