Armée Australienne/Australian Defence Force (ADF)

Australian M1A1 AIM ( SA )

ils sont en train de les upgradé avec un blindage réactif

Citation :

Un sixième Boeing C-17 pour l'Australie
Le 20/06/2012 à 12:56 | Par Guillaume Steuer


Et de six. Le Pentagone annonçait hier la signature avec Boeing de deux contrats séparés pour l'achat de deux avions de transport stratégique C-17 Globemaster III. Alors que le premier contrat porte sur l'achat du 224ème et probablement dernier C-17 pour l'USAF, le second couvre l'achat par l'Australie d'un sixième appareil, pour un montant évalué à 171 M$. L'avion devrait être livré à Canberra d'ici la fin du mois de novembre 2012. L'Australie avait annoncé en septembre 2011 son intention de commander ce sixième appareil, à l'occasion de la livraison de son cinquième avion.


Au titre des commandes actuelles, et notamment grâce à l'achat de dix avions par l'Inde, la chaîne d'assemblage de Long Beach (Californie) devrait pouvoir maintenir son activité jusqu'en 2015. Boeing croit toujours à de possibles ventes supplémentaires, au Canada et en Inde notamment. Mais la perspective de commandes additionnelles par l'USAF, qui aurait pu vouloir acquérir de nouveaux appareils pour remplacer ses anciens C-5 Galaxy, semble s'éloigner à mesure que le Pentagone réduit la voilure sur ses ambitions en termes de projection de puissance. Une étude de deux ans sera prochainement lancée pour déterminer le format idéal de la flotte américaine, peut-être en deçà de l'objectif actuel de 275 avions de transport stratégique.

http://www.air-cosmos.com/defense/un-sixieme-boeing-c-17-pour-l-australie.html

belle serie nazim, merci

Citation :

Tiger helicopters grounded again

Defence has again grounded its fleet of Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters.

THE decision follows the precautionary landing of a Tiger at the Shoalwater Bay training area on Monday after the aircraft's two-man crew detected fumes in the cockpit.

There was a similar incident in mid-May when a pilot detected fumes in his plane.

As a precaution, the Army's operational fleet of 19 Tigers was grounded while tests were conducted to detect the source of these fumes.

That suspension was lifted on May 28.

In the latest incident, the aircraft landed safely with no injuries to the crew or further damage to the aircraft.

Defence says it is again investigating the cause of the fumes.

.heraldsun.com

Citation :

Le Hawkei : le futur transporteur léger de l’armée australienne
On a peu l’habitude de voir Thales concevoir des véhicules, mais quand l’industriel s’y met, c’est pour percer! L’inspiration du petit dernier, que l’on pouvait voir durant Eurosatory, est clairement affichée par la branche australienne de Thales : le Hawkei s’inscrit dans la lignée du blindé de transport de troupes 4X4 Bushmaster, lui aussi de Thales Australia. Le Bushmaster est en service dans plusieurs armées (Pays-Bas, Espagne…) et apprécié pour sa forte résistance aux IED. Affichant le même niveau de protection que son aîné, reprenant le principe d’une coque en “V”, le nouveau 4X4 de 7 tonnes se veut aussi modulaire. Le Hawkei a été taillé sur mesure pour les besoins de l’armée australienne qui, dans le cadre de son très sérieux “programme 121 phase 4 Overlander”, souhaite remplacer un parc de 1300 Land Rover pour plus d’un milliard d’euros. Pour le pays du kangourou, le Hawkei se devait d’être transportable dans un hélicoptère Chinook. Pour y arriver tout en conservant le très haut niveau de protection, Thales s’est creusé les méninges et a conçu (avec le spécialiste blindage Plasan) des plaques de sur-blindage qui se dé-clipsent facilement en 30 min afin que le véhicule puisse prendre place à l’intérieur de l’hélicoptère de transport. Le blindé dispose de suspensions indépendantes, ses quatre roues motrices tournent, offrant un rayon de braquage important. Muni d’un système de gonflage/dégonflage automatique des pneus, le véhicule est aussi équipé d’une suite électronique intégrée ouverte, auquel sont reliés, caméras, GPS, système de com, de gestion de combat ou encore données du véhicules (état moteur, systèmes, gestion de l’alimentation électrique…). Le tout s’affiche sur des écrans uniques. Pour répondre aux besoins australiens, les différentes versions comprennent : une configuration transport (6 personnes); une version commandement (5 personnes), une reconnaissance, un véhicule de liaison ainsi qu’une configuration plateau/utilitaire pour du transport logistique (charge utile de 3 tonnes). Dernière configuration, une dédiée aux forces spéciales avec un habitacle ouvert. Le véhicule atteint les 130 km/h avec une autonomie de 600 km.Le Hawkei a été jugé “prefered tender” par le MoD australien il y a un mois. En clair il a été pré-sélectionné pour l’appel d’offre de 1300 4X4 blindés. Le contrat prévoit la pré-production de 6 unités (un véhicule par version) afin d’être testé et affiné aux besoins australiens. Quelques modifications sont en cours et les 6 véhicules seront livrés par Thales au plus proche du besoin militaire à l’été 2013. Le contrat de production est prévu pour la fin 2015/début 2016
http://forcesoperations.com/2012/06/20/hawkei-futur-transporteur-leger-larmee-australienne/

Citation :

Thales va livrer 214 blindés à l’armée australienne
http://www.usinenouvelle.com/article/thales-va-livrer-214-blindes-a-l-armee-australienne.N177964

Citation :

Army takes delivery of two Chinook helicopters


Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare have announced that two additional CH-47D Chinook helicopters have been handed over to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in Townsville.

The Chinook provides the ADF with an outstanding battlefield lift capability and has provided excellent service to Army for more than 25 years.

The purchase of the two ex-United States Army helicopters was approved by Government last November following the loss of a CH-47D Chinook on operations in Afghanistan in May 2011.

The CH-47D Chinook undertakes a wide range of missions, including troop movement, battlefield equipment transport, search and rescue and disaster relief roles.

These two aircraft will allow Army to more effectively manage its training and operational support programs whilst continuing to support continued operations in Afghanistan.

The Chinooks have been deployed on Operation Slipper in Afghanistan since 2006.

They have performed an outstanding service for both ADF and ISAF forces and are in high demand across Afghanistan due to its superior performance in hot and high altitude conditions.

The handover of the aircraft to Army marks the culmination of many thousands of hours of work by the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) and Defence Industry. DMO has been supported by a range of Australian companies to achieve the delivery of these aircraft to Army on schedule and to budget.

Companies such as Nova Defence, Townsville’s BAE Systems, Flying Colours Aviation and Columbia Helicopter Incorporated have helped support the successful delivery of these aircraft.

The CH-47D fleet will be replaced with seven new CH-47F Chinook helicopters from around 2016.

On Friday, 22 Jun 2012, an Australian Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter suffered a hard landing during combat support operations at a Coalition force patrol base in Kandahar province. It does not appear the hard landing was the result of enemy fire.

The cause of the accident will be investigated.

Due to the damage to the aircraft, it may not return to service prior to the end of July when the current CH-47 rotation in Afghanistan is due to complete operations. A decision will be made as to the most cost-effective location for repairs, which could result in returning the aircraft to Australia.

defence

Citation :

Des véhicules blindés Bushmaster supplémentaires pour l’armée australienne
4 juillet 2012 – 17:48
La filiale australienne du groupe français Thales a remporté un nouveau contrat auprès de Canberra, avec la commande de 214 véhicules blindés Bushmaster en plus des 800 exemplaires qui ont d’ores et déjà été livrés. Le montant de la transaction n’a pas été rendu public.

« Les véhicules Bushmaster font leurs preuves tous les jours en Afghanistan, dans les conditions les plus difficiles que l’on puisse imaginer » a expliqué Chris Jenkins, le patron de Thales Australia.

Et le fait est, que ce soit en Afghanistan ou en Irak, aucun militaire australien n’a perdu la vie à bord d’un Bushmaster, alors que ces véhicules ont été visés par des engins explosifs improvisés ou des tirs de roquette. Et cela grâce à son blindage (standard STANAG 4569 level 1) ainsi qu’à son châssis en V.

Initialement conçu par la société irlandaise Timoney Technology Ltd avant que sa licence de construction soit achetée par Thales, le Bushmaster fait partie de la catégorie des véhicules protégés mobiles. C’est en 1998 qu’il a été sélectionné par l’armée australienne, dans le cadre du programme Bushranger.

D’une masse à vide de 12,4 tonnes, le Bushmaster peut rouler à une vitesse de 100 km/h sur route et transporter 10 soldats (2 hommes d’équipage et 8 fantassins). Il se décline en plusieurs versions (transport, ambulance, ISTAR, détection d’IED, etc…). Son armement de base se compose d’une mitrailleuse de 12,7 mm télécommandée.

Outre l’Australie, les Pays-Bas en ont commandé 86 exemplaires et le Royaume-Uni en a acquis 24 en mai 2008. Il est dit que l’armée espagnole serait aussi intéressée par le Bushmaster, lequel pourrait également succéder au VAB français sous le nom de « Broussard » s’il remporte l’appel d’offres qui l’opposera au véhicule qui sera soumis par le tandem Nexter/Renault Trucks Defense.

L’armée australienne est une très bonne cliente de Thales Australia. En plus du Bushmaster, elle a également commandé 1.300 véhicules protégés légers (PVM-LM) de type Hawkei pour 1,1 milliard d’euros. Les premières livraisons sont attendus en 2016.

http://www.opex360.com/2012/07/04/des-vehicules-blindes-bushmaster-supplementaires-pour-larmee-australienne/

bushmaster

Citation :

Launch of second Amphibious Ship Landing Helicopter Dock



Launch of second Amphibious Ship Landing Helicopter Dock 05 July 2012 Second Australian Amphibious Ship Landing Helicopter Dock enters the water at the Navantia shipyard in Spain. Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today announced the launch of the second Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) at the Navantia shipyard in Spain. The launch represented a major milestone in the shipbuilding process and was attended by the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Ray Griggs. Australia is acquiring two amphibious ships for the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The LHDs are the largest ships ever built for the Royal Australian Navy and will provide the ADF with one of the most capable and sophisticated amphibious deployment systems in the world. The Canberra Class LHDs are bigger than Australia’s last aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne (II) . When completed th...

Full article:http://www.navy.gov.au/Launch_of_second_Amphibious_Ship_L...

lancement du HMAS Abelaide

Photos Alejandro Pérez López

Citation :

Thales optronics for Australian indirect fire support program




11 July 2012



Thales Australia has signed a contract with prime contractor Rockwell Collins Australia to deliver its market-leading optronics systems as part of a Department of Defence indirect fire support upgrade program.

A significant number of Sophie MF long range multi-function binoculars / thermal imagers and TYR laser target designators will be provided as part of the LAND 17 1B program for a Digital Terminal Control System to improve coordination and terminal control of air, naval and land fire support.

The Thales optronics sensors will be seamlessly integrated into Rockwell Collins’ Firestorm joint fires targeting system to provide a complete turnkey solution.

Thales Australia CEO Chris Jenkins said: "We have worked very closely with Rockwell Collins Australia to provide an advanced solution that will help the Australian Defence Force enhance its offensive support systems to provide greater tactical flexibility and precision targeting capability. The Sophie family of thermal imagers is used around the world, and we have recently upgraded our optronics facilities in Australia to offer an extensive and responsive local support capability for both thermal and laser equipment.”

A world leader in the design and manufacture of thermal imagers, Thales’s Sophie family of both cooled and uncooled products meets the full spectrum of observation, surveillance, orientation and fire-control requirements of today’s defence and security forces. Nondetectable due to their passive infrared operation, Sophie systems can be used day and night and under all weather conditions. Since their introduction, over 10,000 Sophie units have been sold to more than 45 countries. There are currently around 300 Sophie units
already in service with the Australian Defence Force, as well as a quantity of TYRs.

The Sophie MF is a complete acquisition, identification and location system that weighs less than 3kg. It can be used day or night, with a high resolution stabilised image, plus an eyesafe laser rangefinder, GPS and direction finder.

The TYR is a state of the art compact laser target designator that can operate in standalone applications, with forward observation sensor equipment, dismounted soldiers or vehicle mounted platforms. The TYR designates targets and provides both accurate range data and images of the laser spot on the target to allow laser-guided munitions to be accurately deployed.

.thalesgroup.com

Citation :

Australian sub sinks target ship Kilauea during RIMPAC

The former USS Kilauea is the latest ship sunk as part of the Rim of the Pacific exercises in and around the Hawaiian Islands.

The ammunition ship commissioned in 1968 went down in water nearly 15,500 feet deep 63 miles off the coast of Kauai this morning, sunk by an Australian submarine.

Australian Commodore Stuart Mayer, Combined Forces Maritime Component commander for RIMPAC, said the "HMAS Farncomb's success reminds us yet again of the invaluable role submarines play in modern warfare."

The U.S. Navy says the exercises allow crews to gain proficiency in live firing.

Two other ships were sunk during the exercises this month.

Environmental and costs concerns had prompted the Navy to observe a moratorium on using old ships for target practice.

staradvertiser

Citation :

Two Australian No.77 Squadron F/A-18 Hornet welcome Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) Sukhoi Su-27 & Su-30 Flanker into Darwin to participate in Exercse Pitch Black 2012.

Spoiler:

HMAS Darwin ( FFG 04 ) et HMAS Perth ( FFH 157 ) durant les exercices RIMPAC-12

Citation :

Incident à bord d’un sous-marin australien
30 juillet 2012 – 8:42
Dans le cadre de l’exercice aéronaval RIMPAC 2012, qui, organisé par l’US Navy, est l’un des plus importants du monde, un sous-marin australien de la classe Collins, le HMAS Farncomb, s’est illustré, le 24 juillet dernier, en coulant l’USNS Kilauea, un navire ravitailleurs américain retiré du service en 2008, après lui avoir envoyé une torpille Mk 48.

La Royal Australian Navy (RAN) n’a pas manqué de communiquer sur ce fait d’arme en diffusant un communiqué sur son site Internet en mettant en avant que les sous-marins de type Collins constituent « l’un des meilleurs systèmes d’armes au monde. »

Il faut dire que la marine australienne n’a pas eu, jusqu’à présent, beaucoup de chance avec ses 6 sous-marins acquis auprès de la Suède dans les années 1990. Un rapport public établi en 1999 estimait en effet que leurs performances étaient insuffisantes afin d’atteindre « le niveau requis pour les opérations militaires », en raison d’une « myriade de déficiences dans leur désign et des limitations opérationnelles conséquentes liées à la plate-forme et aux systèmes de combat ».

Pour autant, le coup au but du HMAS Farncomb n’aura pas mis fin à la « scoumoune » de la RAN étant donné que ce sous-marin a été contraint, le lendemain, de faire surface en urgence, sous les yeux des participants à RIMPAC 2012, ce qui fait plutôt mauvais effet.

La raison de cette remontée en surface en urgence, qui aurait pu être fatale en temps de guerre, est dû à la rupture d’un tuyau, ce qui a innondé partiellement un compartiment du submersible, qui naviguait alors à l’immersion périscopique en utilisant ses moteurs diesels poiur recharger ses batteries.

Cela étant, la marine australienne a minimisé cet incident en parlant de « voie d’eau mineure » à bord du HMAS Farncomb, qui avait déjà eu un problème il y a 5 ans, lors d’une mission de renseignement près de la base navale chinoise située sur l’île de Hainan, en mer de Chine méridionale, son hélice s’étant prise dans un filet de pêche.

« Dès l’incident, des procédures standards prédéfinies ont été immédiatement exécutées et la situation a été maîtrisée rapidement » a poursuvi la RAN. « Le sous-marin a fait surface dans le cadre de cette réaction normale » a-t-elle ajouté, en précisant qu’il n’y avait pas eu de blessé parmi les membres de l’équipage et qu’une enquête va être ouverte.

Ce n’est pas la première qu’un tel incident arrive à bord d’un sous-marin de la classe Collins. En 2003, le HMAS Dechaineux, à qui, lors de manoeuvres, l’an passé, l’on avait prêté des exploits qui ne pouvaient qu’être imaginaires car le bâtiment avait été immobilisé au même moment à Singapour pour réparer une panne de son système de propulsion, avait connu une mésaventure semblable, un tuyau d’eau de refroidissement s’étant rompu alors qu’il se trouvant en immersion profonde.
http://www.opex360.com/2012/07/30/incident-a-bord-dun-sous-marin-australien/
Photo : Coup au but pour le HMAS Farncomb. L’USNS Kilauea va couler 40 mn après avoir été touché par une torpille Mk. 48 (c) Royal Australian Navy

KC-135 US ravitaillant un B737 AEW&C australian durant le RIMPAC-12

Citation :

Thales selects Boeing ILS services for Hawkei prototypes development
1 August 2012
Thales Australia has selected Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) to provide integrated logistics support (ILS) services during the next phase of its Hawkei Light Protected Mobility Vehicle (PMV) prototypes development programme.

The A$3.5m ($3.68m) contract was awarded under Stage 2 of the manufactured and supported in Australia (MSA) option of the Australian Defence Forces' (ADF) LAND 121 Phase 4 programme, and involves the supply of ILS services for six Hawkei prototypes and a trailer to Thales.

Services for the 16-month prototype production and testing phase include providing development and training to operators, conducting logistics support analysis and engineering services to the Thales design team, to help enhance the vehicles' long-term availability and maintainability, lowering future support costs.

Further testing of the trailer will be carried out by the Australian Government.
Thales Australia CEO Chris Jenkins said: "The Hawkei is very much a team effort, and Boeing's involvement since the project's early days has enabled us to deliver innovative prototypes specifically designed to meet the current and future requirements of the Australian Defence Force."

BDA managing director Kim Gillis said that the company's ILS services were sought for some of the major ADF acquisition programmes, including Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control and Vigilare system.

"We continue to provide operational lifecycle support for aircraft including classic Hornets, Super Hornets and the C-17 Globemaster III integrated sustainment programme," Gillis added.

Thales had signed an agreement with the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) in early July for the development and delivery of six prototype Hawkei vehicles for trials, including user assessments, as well as capability and reliability testing by the national army throughout 2013.

The first Hawkei is scheduled for delivery in late 2012, and the vehicles can be considered for meeting army's PMV light requirement of LAND 121 phase, provided the company is successful in manufacturing a suitable platform at an affordable cost.
http://www.army-technology.com/news/newsthales-selects-boeing-ils-services-hawkei-prototypes-development/

Citation :

Australia rules out US nuclear aircraft carrier base
By Agence France-Presse on Thursday, August 2nd, 2012
Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith has rejected a proposal to base a US nuclear aircraft carrier and other warships in the country, a move that would rankle key trade partner China.

The idea of using the Australian navy’s western base, HMAS Stirling near Perth, to host an American carrier group and other fighter jets was reportedly raised in a study of US military posture in the Asia-Pacific.

Media in Australia said the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report, commissioned by the US Defence Department, had been submitted to Congress.

Smith said after a speech late Wednesday that while increased US access to HMAS Stirling was possible long-term, American aircraft carriers would not be based in Australia.

“The report is an independent report to the United States government. It’s not a United States government document,” he said.

“We don’t have United States military bases in Australia and we are not proposing to. What we have talked about in terms of either increased aerial access or naval access is precisely that — greater access to our facilities.

“The strategic rationale for that is the growing importance of India and the growing importance of the Indian Ocean rim, particularly in a naval and maritime sense.”

In June, Pentagon chief Leon Panetta announced in Singapore that the United States would shift the bulk of its naval fleet to the Pacific by 2020 as part of a new strategic focus on Asia.

It followed a visit to Australia last year by US President Barack Obama, who announced an enhanced defence cooperation with Canberra which will see up to 2,500 US Marines deployed in the country.

The first troops touched down in April on a six-month rotational basis, based on the outskirts of the northern city of Darwin.

It is part of Washington’s plan to bolster its military presence in the strategically vital Asia-Pacific, amid concerns about China’s increasing assertiveness.

The CSIS report considers various options for increasing, decreasing or leaving US military presence in the region at its current level, Australian media said.

Another proposal in the report canvasses expanding the Marines’ presence to a full air ground taskforce that would see thousands more troops in Australia’s north, according to the Australian Financial Review.

But Smith played this down.

“There is no suggestion being made to us that Australia should receive such a large number of Marines transferred from Okinawa or from Guam,” he said.

The United States announced in April it would pull 9,000 Marines out of Japan as it seeks to ease a long-running standoff over the future of its huge military presence in one of its top Asian allies.

In his speech on Australia’s changing strategic circumstances, Smith highlighted the shift towards the Asia-Pacific as a region of global significance, particularly the Indian Ocean rim.

“The US, China and India will be the great strategic powers of our region and the international community,” he said.

“The emergence of three great strategic powers in the region will see an adjustment in the balance of power across the region and around the globe.

“A continued, indeed enhanced, United States’ presence in the Asia-Pacific is essential to peace and stability in our region,” he added.






Read more: http://www.defencetalk.com/australia-rules-out-us-nuclear-aircraft-carrier-base-44046/#ixzz22NlJXKyb

Citation :

Cost of 'Growler' Jets Blows Out to $1.7b
(Source: The Canberra Times; issued August 7, 2012)

The cost to the taxpayer of converting 12 RAAF Super Hornets into $250 million electronic warfare warriors, or ''Growlers'', has increased almost six fold from $300 million to $1.7 billion.

By the time they are expected to come on line around the end of the decade, the planes' jamming pods will be close to their use-by date.

The United States government has had to accelerate its ''next generation jammer'' program to counter problems with its own Growler fleet and the results of that research could be operational by the early 2020s.

Australian critics say Defence wants to spend top dollar for technology that dates back to 1971, was used on F-111s over Baghdad during the first Gulf War, has ''survivability issues'' in a combat environment and that America hopes to replace sooner rather than later.

Although the Australian government will not commit to Growler until next month at the earliest, it has already spent $55 million on the capability which has been strongly championed by members of the ADF senior leadership group.

Of this, $35 million was allocated in February 2009 to hardwire 12 of the 24 Super Hornets ''for but not with'' the Growler package. A further $20 million was allocated by Defence Minister Stephen Smith in March this year to fund ''long lead items''.

Joel Fitzgibbon, the then defence minister, said on February 27, 2009, that Australia's Growler project would ''require an additional investment of around $300 million''.

What he did not say was Australia wasn't planning to buy the ALQ-99 electronic warfare pods, just the systems and hardware to allow them to be fitted on an ''as required'' basis.

''Subsequently the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency advised the US Congress last May 22 of a potential sale of the Growler to Australia at an estimated cost of $1.7 billion,'' a Defence spokesman has explained. ''The initial proposal that underpinned the 2009 cost estimate would have provided a lesser capability than Defence now proposes to acquire''.

The pods would have had to be obtained from the United States Navy whenever Australia wanted them, a source said. The US would have retained absolute control over the RAAF's use of the Growler technology.

To buy the pods for 12 planes outright will cost an additional $1.4 billion, just $100 million short of the 2012-13 Australian budget surplus target.

The ALQ-99 pods have been criticised as unreliable by the US Government Accountability Office which said in 2010 the US Navy had identified ''seven major deficiencies'' and that the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation found the electronic attack suite ''degraded'' the aircraft's radar performance.

''The new plane [the Growler] is carrying aged ALQ-99 jamming pods into a future where they will be woefully inadequate,'' US analyst Loren Thompson says.

The Australian Growler project, listed in last month's revised Defence Capability Plan as Project Air 5349 Phase 3 and costing ''between $1 billion and $2 billion'', is well insulated from the current round of Defence budget cuts.

''If [the] government decides to acquire the Growler, the expenditure would be spread over a number of years, noting the modification kits and other mission and support systems would be produced later this decade,'' a Defence spokesman said.

Under the new arrangement, which will give Australia its own pods, there will still be constraints on their use.

''It is extremely unlikely the RAAF would be allowed to use its Growlers while there were American aircraft in the air [in the vicinity],'' we were told.

The cost blowout raises questions about transparency and value for money.

Andrew Davies, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, supports the shift from capability access to capability ownership - even if there are operational constraints. ''I think there is more of an upside than a downside,'' he said.

Carlo Kopp, of Air Power Australia, disagrees: ''There are some major survivability problems with the Growler,'' he said.

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/137534/cost-of-australian-growlers-grows-six_fold.html

Citation :

Cost of 'Growler' jets blows out to $1.7b


The cost to the taxpayer of converting 12 RAAF Super Hornets into $250 million electronic warfare warriors, or ''Growlers'', has increased almost six fold from $300 million to $1.7 billion.

By the time they are expected to come on line around the end of the decade, the planes' jamming pods will be close to their use-by date.

The United States government has had to accelerate its ''next generation jammer'' program to counter problems with its own Growler fleet and the results of that research could be operational by the early 2020s.

Australian critics say Defence wants to spend top dollar for technology that dates back to 1971, was used on F-111s over Baghdad during the first Gulf War, has ''survivability issues'' in a combat environment and that America hopes to replace sooner rather than later.

Although the Australian government will not commit to Growler until next month at the earliest, it has already spent $55 million on the capability which has been strongly championed by members of the ADF senior leadership group.

Of this, $35 million was allocated in February 2009 to hardwire 12 of the 24 Super Hornets ''for but not with'' the Growler package. A further $20 million was allocated by Defence Minister Stephen Smith in March this year to fund ''long lead items''.

Joel Fitzgibbon, the then defence minister, said on February 27, 2009, that Australia's Growler project would ''require an additional investment of around $300 million''.

What he did not say was Australia wasn't planning to buy the ALQ-99 electronic warfare pods, just the systems and hardware to allow them to be fitted on an ''as required'' basis.

''Subsequently the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency advised the US Congress last May 22 of a potential sale of the Growler to Australia at an estimated cost of $1.7 billion,'' a Defence spokesman has explained. ''The initial proposal that underpinned the 2009 cost estimate would have provided a lesser capability than Defence now proposes to acquire''.

The pods would have had to be obtained from the United States Navy whenever Australia wanted them, a source said. The US would have retained absolute control over the RAAF's use of the Growler technology.

To buy the pods for 12 planes outright will cost an additional $1.4 billion, just $100 million short of the 2012-13 Australian budget surplus target.

The ALQ-99 pods have been criticised as unreliable by the US Government Accountability Office which said in 2010 the US Navy had identified ''seven major deficiencies'' and that the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation found the electronic attack suite ''degraded'' the aircraft's radar performance.

''The new plane [the Growler] is carrying aged ALQ-99 jamming pods into a future where they will be woefully inadequate,'' US analyst Loren Thompson says.

The Australian Growler project, listed in last month's revised Defence Capability Plan as Project Air 5349 Phase 3 and costing ''between $1 billion and $2 billion'', is well insulated from the current round of Defence budget cuts.

''If [the] government decides to acquire the Growler, the expenditure would be spread over a number of years, noting the modification kits and other mission and support systems would be produced later this decade,'' a Defence spokesman said.

Under the new arrangement, which will give Australia its own pods, there will still be constraints on their use.

''It is extremely unlikely the RAAF would be allowed to use its Growlers while there were American aircraft in the air [in the vicinity],'' we were told.

The cost blowout raises questions about transparency and value for money.

Andrew Davies, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, supports the shift from capability access to capability ownership - even if there are operational constraints. ''I think there is more of an upside than a downside,'' he said.

Carlo Kopp, of Air Power Australia, disagrees: ''There are some major survivability problems with the Growler,'' he said.

www.canberratimes.com