Post by corsair67 on Sept 27, 2006 13:29:12 GMT 12
Probably not such a bad suggestion, but it just might be better to wait until all the bugs are ironed out of the system before committing to further aircraft.
This story is from AAP
RAAF urged to buy more Wedgetails
By Nick Butterly
September 26, 2006.
A GOVERNMENT-sponsored think tank has called for the RAAF to buy extra Wedgetail early warning radar aircraft, cautioning that many neighbouring countries have jet fighters that far outperform Australia's F/A-18A Hornets.
The group has also warned a hijacked jetliner could, once within Australia's borders, be flown most of the way to any Australian capital city without being tracked.
In a report released today, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) said there was a case to buy eight or nine Wedgetails, instead of the six on order.
The institute said airborne early warning radar aircraft, such as the Wedgetail, were a crucial weapon in any modern war.
"The Asia-Pacific is undergoing a deep transformation, as most nations are rapidly industrialising," ASPI said.
"An unfortunate by-product of the resulting gains in national wealth has been an unprecedented investment in state-of-the-art military hardware, with Chinese and Indian commitments on a scale rivalling the Warsaw Pact's spending during the last decades of the Cold War."
The institute said it would only take a small air raid on oil and gas infrastructure off Australia's north-west to do major damage to the Australian economy.
"The notion that Australia is somehow immune to the strategic risks arising from a region where major nations are competitively buying up the latest Russian – and Western – military technology is not credible," the ASPI report said.
The group said another "less visible" risk was the possibility of civilian airliners being hijacked in Asia and used for 9/11-style suicide attacks in Australia.
"Given Australia's very limited radar coverage, a hijacked airliner could, once over the continent, be flown most of the way to any Australian capital city without being tracked."
The institute said the Wedgetail could be used to cover pockets of Australia that do not have radar coverage.
The Government confirmed in June that the $3.5 billion Wedgetail project would be delayed for at least 18 months because of testing problems with radar and sensor computer systems.
The first Wedgetail was due to be in action at the end of the year.
This story is from AAP
RAAF urged to buy more Wedgetails
By Nick Butterly
September 26, 2006.
A GOVERNMENT-sponsored think tank has called for the RAAF to buy extra Wedgetail early warning radar aircraft, cautioning that many neighbouring countries have jet fighters that far outperform Australia's F/A-18A Hornets.
The group has also warned a hijacked jetliner could, once within Australia's borders, be flown most of the way to any Australian capital city without being tracked.
In a report released today, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) said there was a case to buy eight or nine Wedgetails, instead of the six on order.
The institute said airborne early warning radar aircraft, such as the Wedgetail, were a crucial weapon in any modern war.
"The Asia-Pacific is undergoing a deep transformation, as most nations are rapidly industrialising," ASPI said.
"An unfortunate by-product of the resulting gains in national wealth has been an unprecedented investment in state-of-the-art military hardware, with Chinese and Indian commitments on a scale rivalling the Warsaw Pact's spending during the last decades of the Cold War."
The institute said it would only take a small air raid on oil and gas infrastructure off Australia's north-west to do major damage to the Australian economy.
"The notion that Australia is somehow immune to the strategic risks arising from a region where major nations are competitively buying up the latest Russian – and Western – military technology is not credible," the ASPI report said.
The group said another "less visible" risk was the possibility of civilian airliners being hijacked in Asia and used for 9/11-style suicide attacks in Australia.
"Given Australia's very limited radar coverage, a hijacked airliner could, once over the continent, be flown most of the way to any Australian capital city without being tracked."
The institute said the Wedgetail could be used to cover pockets of Australia that do not have radar coverage.
The Government confirmed in June that the $3.5 billion Wedgetail project would be delayed for at least 18 months because of testing problems with radar and sensor computer systems.
The first Wedgetail was due to be in action at the end of the year.
