Armée Australienne/Australian Defence Force (ADF)

La marine australienne fait ses soldes........
http://www.corlobe.tk/article22662.html

Citation :

Airbus A330 tanker damaged in refuelling mishap
By Craig Hoyle, in Flightglobal.com

Airbus Military has launched an investigation into an in-flight refuelling mishap that damaged one of the Royal Australian Air Force's delayed A330 multi-role tanker transports (MRTT).

The aircraft was being operated by Airbus Military personnel from the company's Getafe site near Madrid, Spain when the incident happened at around 17:00 local time on 19 January. Also involved was a Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter from the Portuguese air force.


"The incident resulted in the detachment and partial loss of the refuelling boom from the MRTT," the Australian Department of Defence says. The separated part fell into the sea after causing "some damage to both aircraft", which then "returned safely to their home airfields", it adds.

"Airbus Military and the relevant European military airworthiness authorities will have the lead responsibility for investigating the incident," the DoD says. Australian experts will also participate in the process.

Designed by EADS, the MRTT's advanced refuelling boom system uses fly-by-wire controls and has an extended length of 18.2m (60ft). The system is also being installed on A330 tankers on order for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The mishap comes at an embarrassing time for EADS North America, which is offering the A330-based KC-45 against the Boeing 767 NewGen Tanker in the US Air Force's 179-aircraft KC-X contest. Its offer draws heavily on the MRTT configuration developed for Australia.

Airbus chief executive Tom Enders describes KC-X as "a very important business opportunity for EADS and Airbus".

Australia will receive five MRTTs under the nation's Project Air 5402 acquisition. The first two had been due to arrive in December, but Airbus Military and the DoD are still working to complete the necessary paperwork ahead of the transfer. To be designated the KC-30A in RAAF service, the type had originally been due to enter use from mid-2009.

Citation :

Boom or bust! – RAAF KC-30 loses boom

Item by australianaviation.com.au at 10:10 pm, Thursday January 20 2011

A file image of the first RAAF KC-30 refuelling a Portuguese F-16.

An Airbus Military A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), one of five on order for the RAAF as the KC-30A, suffered the partial loss of its air-to-air refuelling boom over the Atlantic Ocean on January 19.

The incident happened while the first of five KC-30As bound for the RAAF – and the first A330 MRTT development aircraft – was conducting a refuelling currency mission with Portuguese air force F-16s. Sources say preliminary reports suggest the boom’s probe snapped off near the F-16’s receptacle, causing the boom to spring up and strike the underside of the KC-30, possibly snapping off one of its two guiding fins and causing it to oscillate wildly until it snapped off at the pivot point.

The boom departed the aircraft and fell to the ocean below. Fortunately, both the tanker and the F-16 recovered safely to their respective bases with no injuries to the crews of either aircraft.

Damage to both aircraft is currently being assessed, while investigations by Airbus Military and Portuguese air force officials have begun. RAAF Directorate of Defence Aviation and Air Force Safety (DDAAFS) officials are already on their way to Madrid to join in the investigation.

A Department of Defence release issued late on the evening of January 20 states “The aircraft was being operated by Airbus Military Corporation. No Australian personnel were onboard the MRTT at the time of the incident.”

It is too early to tell whether the incident will have a further impact on the KC-30’s delivery schedule, although Airbus Military has told media that the incident should not affect the handover of the first two KC-30s to the RAAF, which had been scheduled for late December. The first KC-30 had been due to enter a period of maintenance before delivery to the RAAF, while it was the second and third KC-30 airframes which were due to be the first handed over to the RAAF.

RAAF deliveries are currently running more than two years behind schedule due to development delays with the boom, and issues in writing the aircraft’s comprehensive technical publications. The RAAF is understood to be willing to take delivery of the first two aircraft without an operational boom, as the aircraft’s substantial airlift and wing-mounted hose and drogue refuelling pod capabilities are more urgently required, and with the retirement of the F-111, the RAAF won’t operate a boom refuelled aircraft until its first F-35 JSFs are delivered.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have also ordered MRTTs in a similar configuration, while Airbus parent EADS is bidding the aircraft for the USAF’s KC-X tanker program.

Edit Yak:please do use "quote"button for aticles.

Citation :

Raytheon Wins $69 million contract for Better communication from Australian Defense


Defence today signed a A$69 million contract to deliver faster and more reliable communications on the battlefield.

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare said the contract with Raytheon would provide: -- more than 1000 radios, which will be mounted on Army vehicles, primarily Bushmasters and M113 armoured vehicles, and handheld portable radios to be carried by soldiers in the field; -- equipment needed to mount and operate the radios; and -- maintenance and support services for three years.

“These new radios will give frontline soldiers and the Commanders directing them instant information on where they are, where they need to be and what is happening around them,” Mr Clare said.

“Right now, the Army is using an older, analogue system which is fast becoming obsolete.

“It’s served our troops well, but it’s time to move the Army forward into the digital age.

“This new system will be faster and more reliable, allowing troops to communicate instantly with the central command post.

defenseworld

voici quelques photos des soldats australiens ... remarquez qu'ils utilisent des SAR comme principal arme !

normal le Singapoure est leur allié juré dans la region,ils ont les memes craintes et les memes ennemis(Malaisie/Indonesie)

Citation :

Airbus: FSTA Tests Succeed, Boom Tests on Hold


LONDON - Airbus Military said it successfully tested the final hose-and-drogue system destined for Britain's Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) program by refueling two Spanish Air Force F/A-18 fighter jets while in flight on Jan. 21.

A company spokeswoman also confirmed that Airbus has, for the time being, ceased test flying using its new flight refueling system. Part of the equipment broke off during contact with a Portuguese Air Force F-16 during Jan. 19 tests on an aerial refueling plane built for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
On Jan. 21, the Cobham-designed fuselage-hose-and-drogue refueling unit was tested in a series of "wet contacts" with the F/A-18s during a three-plus-hour sortie by the A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, Airbus said.
Situated on the fuselage, the system is similar to the Cobham units fitted under the wings of the British-bound refueling plane, but with a higher rate of fuel transfer. The wing systems have already been tested.
Airbus parent EADS is leading a consortium to supply 14 A330 tanker planes for use by the U.K. Royal Air Force as part of a private finance initiative.
The first aircraft is to be handed over at year's end.
Meanwhile, investigations continue into the loss of part of the new Airbus-designed aerial refueling boom system during testing on the A330 destined for the RAAF.
The spokeswoman said Airbus could not give any details of the incident at this time. She said it was not unusual for aircraft equipped with boom flight refueling systems to suffer a break.
The first of the RAAF jets is earmarked for handing over next month, and discussions are underway between Airbus and its customer as to whether the delivery will go-ahead on schedule.
Australia has purchased five A330 MRTT planes and will become the first operator of the airliner-based system, which also has been sold to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the U.K.
The A330 and boom system is currently embroiled in a competition with Boeing to supply the U.S. Air Force with a new tanker plane.

defensenews

Citation :

SOURCE:Flight International
Boeing accepts charge on new 737 AEW&C problems
By Stephen Trimble

Boeing has announced a new setback for the long-delayed plan to deliver fully operational 737 airborne early warning and control system aircraft to Australia andTurkey.

The company's fourth quarter earnings statement included a new charge against earnings valued at $136 million on the AEW&C programme.

Boeing blames the writedown on "additional software development and testing required for acceptance of the Wedgetail aircraft" by the Royal Australian Air Force. The charge also covers the "resolution of issues associated with the test programme" for the Turkish air force's Peace Eagle programme, it adds.

It was not immediately clear whether the new issues will further delay the delivery of full operational capability for Australia's six AEW&C aircraft, ordered a decade ago under Project Wedgetail.

The programme has suffered repeated delays due to development problems with the aircraft's Northrop Grumman multi-role electronically scanned array (MESA) radar, Boeing's design for the heavily modified 737-700 and the BAE Systems Australia suite of electronic support measures.

As the lead integrator, Boeing has accepted previous charges worth more than $1 billion as the schedule for first delivery to Australia slipped by more than three years. The company delivered the first two of six Wedgetails to Australia in November 2009, but with limited operational capability.

Turkey has ordered four 737 AEW&C aircraft under its Peace Eagle programme, while South Korea also has four under contract via its Peace Eye project.

The 737 AEW&C features Northrop's unique approach to achieving 360° radar coverage with a "top-hat" array. The MESA radar includes two side-looking arrays, as well as a top-hat array that uses "endfire" techniques to steer the radar beam forward and aft of the aircraft.

Last year, the Australian government commissioned Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to study whether the MESA radar's architecture can meet its requirements. The results of the study indicated that the architecture was sound, but that software changes would be required to achieve full capability.

Fremo a écrit:

voici quelques photos des soldats australiens ... remarquez qu'ils utilisent des SAR comme principal arme !

Nan c'est pas le Sar-21 C'est le Steyr AUG

Citation :

Australia Cancels A$40 Million Defense Sea Craft Project



CANBERRA -(Dow Jones)- Australia's government on Tuesday canceled a A$40 million defense contract to build six sea craft since deemed unsuitable for their intended purpose of ferrying troops and supplies from ship to shore, with Defense Minister Stephen Smith calling for greater scrutiny of defense projects to prevent future costly bungles.

Australian defense firm ADI Ltd., now known as Thales Australia, was awarded a contract to build the LCM2000 watercraft, designed for use with landing platform ships Kanimbla and Manoora, in 2001. But the weight and dimensions of the craft meant they were too heavy and too big to ever be launched from these ships, or for any other defense force use, Smith said.

The LCM2000 contract was "not a project (in) which defense covered itself in glory, at a cost of some A$40 million to the Australian taxpayer," Smith told reporters. "This is precisely what we are seeking to avoid in the future," he added, calling for greater "internal rigor" around defense spending.

The defense minister also announced plans for a high-level review of the MRH-90 helicopter project, which is running up to 18 months behind schedule due to issues including engine failure, transmission oil cooler fan failures and poor availability of spare parts.


Australian Aerospace Ltd., a subsidiary of European Aeronautic Defence & Space Co. (EAD.FR) unit Eurocopter, said in September it was on track to meet its 2010 delivery schedule, despite a temporary cessation of flights earlier in the year when an MRH-90 experienced a shutdown of one of its two engines.

The former Liberal-National coalition government ordered 46 MRH-90s to replace the army Black Hawk and navy Sea King fleets. Only 13 have been accepted by defense to date and are being used for testing and initial crew training.

Australia is embarking on the biggest upgrade of military capability since the Second World War amid concerns about China's rapid military modernization, which officials say could weaken the supremacy of traditional allies like the U.S. in the region.

Defense experts warn that defense buildup could lead to further delays as defense companies struggle to meet the growing demand for new kit.

Since September last year, the ruling center-left Labor government has added two projects to its so-called "Projects of Concern"--a list comprising projects that face significant challenges with scheduling, cost, capability delivery or project management.

Eighteen projects have been placed on the list since 2008 and seven have been removed: five due to remediation and two due to cancellation, including the A$1 billion Seasprite helicopter project. That project, being built by U.S.-based defense contractor Kaman Corp. (KAMN), was six years overdue before it was canceled in 2008.

Production on Australia's largest defense project, an A$8 billion plan to build the navy's new air warfare destroyers, also hit a setback last year when the central keel block of the first warship distorted unexpectedly because of shrinking as the block cooled after welding.

The issue was successfully resolved, according to AWD Alliance, the consortium lead-managing the air warfare destroyer project. The project was running four months ahead of schedule before the setback, providing a buffer to absorb such issues, AWD said at the time.

The air warfare destroyer hull construction work is being undertaken by BAE Systems PLC's (BA.LN) Australian unit BAE Systems Australia, Australian government-owned ship and submarine builder ASC Pty Ltd. and Newcastle-based FORGACS Group.

foxbusiness

Citation :

SOURCE:Flight International
Australia adds MRH90 helicopter to Projects of Concern list
By Greg Waldron

The Australian government has added the NH Industries MRH90 transport helicopter to its Projects of Concern list, with the acquisition to undergo a major review this month.

MRH90s on order for both the Australian navy and army are behind schedule, with the maritime version delayed by 12 months and the army's by 18 months, say minister for defence Stephen Smith and minister for defence materiel Jason Clare.

The troubled helicopter programme will now undergo a "high-level comprehensive diagnostic review".

"Delays are due to a series of key issues, including engine failure, transmission oil-cooler fan failures and the poor availability of spares," says the Department of Defence.

Australia has ordered 46 MRH90s to replace its army's Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks and the navy's Westland Sea Kings. Canberra has so far accepted 13 MRH90s, which are being used for testing and initial crew training.

Smith says external specialists will support the review, which will "provide recommendations to the government on the actions necessary to fully implement this important project".

The programme suffered a major slip in 2010 following a 20 April incident in which one of an MRH90's two Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 engines failed. Although the aircraft landed safely, the fleet was grounded for three months pending an investigation by the DoD and industry.

Completed last July, the investigation discovered that the failure resulted from the compressor blades fracturing after coming into contact with the engine casing. The DoD established a new inspection regime and other measures to prevent another such incident.

Eurocopter chief executive Lutz Bertling personally wrote to the Australian government to "directly refute any suggestion that engine damage was caused by improper handling of the aircraft by Australian Defence Force pilots".

Eurocopter, the majority shareholder in the NHI consortium, is also leading a bid to sell the NH90 naval helicopter to Australia. It stresses the 80% commonality in avionics and airframe between the NH90 and MRH90 as an advantage in the 24-aircraft competition, where it is up against the Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk.

The objective of Australia's Projects of Concern list is to help the DoD and industry focus on resolving issues such as significant challenges in scheduling, cost, capability delivery or project management.

Several other high profile defence aerospace projects are on the list, including the Boeing 737 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft, the Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transport, the Lockheed Martin AGM-158 joint air-to-surface standoff missile, and an electronic support measures upgrade for the air force's Lockheed Martin AP-3C Orions.

lisez bien cet article ... sachant qu'on a déboursé des millions de $ pour le renouvellement à l'époque je me demande à quoi ressemble les locaux du 407 maintenant

Citation :

La force amphibie de la marine australienne connait d’importants problèmes

La marine australienne a dépensé 40 millions AUS$ (29,3 millions €) pour de petites embarcations qui ne sont pas adaptées à ses bâtiments amphibies — qui sont dévastés par la rouille de toutes façons et pourraient ne jamais renaviguer, laissant un trou dans les capacités opérationnelles qui pourrait devoir être bouché au prix de centaines de millions de AUS$.
Il s’agit d’une journée noire pour l’agence australienne chargée des achats de matériels militaires. Le ministre de la défense, Stephen Smith, a aussi annoncé que le programme d’hélicoptère naval MRH-90 était soumis à une revue de programme.
M. Smith, et le ministre chargé des matériels militaires, Jason Clare, ont refusé de condamner la hiérarchie de la Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO), qui achète tout, depuis les salières jusqu’aux sous-marins, mais ont déclaré qu’il y avait de sérieux problèmes ’’institutionnels’’ au sein de l’organisation.
M. Smith a indiqué que le projet LCM Watercraft avait été annulé parce que les embarcations ne pouvaient pas être lancées depuis les bâtiments amphibies HMAS Manoora et Kanimbla.
“Ce n’est pas un projet dans lequel la Défense s’est couverte de gloire”, a-t-il reconnu. “Pour un montant de quelques 40 millions d’AUS$ pour le contribuable australien, c’est précisément ce que nous cherchons à éviter à l’avenir”.
Il a ajouté que le Manoora, qui se trouvait amarré à couple du Kanimbla à Sydney depuis 4 mois, sera désarmé. Le chef de la marine, le vice-amiral Russ Crane, avait pourtant déclaré l’an dernier que tout serait fait pour que le bâtiment puisse reprendre la mer dès que possible.
Les 2 bâtiments étaient déjà touchés par la rouille lorsqu’ils ont été achetés pour un montant important à l’US Navy dans les années 90. Depuis, de nouveaux problèmes ont été découverts. M. Smith a refusé de garantir que le Kanimbla puisse reprendre la mer à nouveau.
Il a expliqué qu’il fallait trouver une solution transitoire, entre maintenant et 2015, lorsque 2 gros bâtiments amphibies deviendront opérationnels.
M. Smith a pourtant déclaré qu’il avait entière confiance dans le directeur du DMO, Steve Gumley.

Sidney Morning Herald

esperons qu´on l´utilise comme cible dans un exercice prochainement
les MU90 en dessous,les Exo,un tir HARM,des GBU et JDAM,AASM bref tout pour le couler

Yakuza a écrit:

esperons qu´on l´utilise comme cible dans un exercice prochainement
les MU90 en dessous,les Exo,un tir HARM,des GBU et JDAM,AASM bref tout pour le couler

ca se fait Nano,training courant dans toutes les grandes navy,regarde la navy australienne couper en 2 un destroyer decommissioné,par un torpedo MK.48



et puis bon pour l´environement,ca crée un récif artificiel

le 401 a fini de la même façon comme d'autres ...

Citation :

Australia Fielding Net-Centric Military

Feb 2, 2011

By David A. Fulghum

Australia is integrating three new operational elements into its advanced, network-centric military — a squadron of Wedgetail command and control aircraft, the first two squadrons of F/A-18F Super Hornets and the Vigilare theater surveillance integration system — all designed as the backbone of a small, highly responsive force. However, this cutting-edge force was envisioned somewhat differently only five years ago. The Wedgetail had a 2006 delivery date and F-35 Joint Strike Fighters were slated to replace the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) classic F-18 Hornets as soon as they were available. Instead, the Wedgetail’s radar was set back by a two-year delay for hardware and software redesign that has stretched into more than four years. The massive task of integrating many sources, services and sensor types caused a dragging out of Vigilare’s operational introduction. Finally, the U.S. slowed the F-35 program and drove up its cost, which injected uncertainty into Australia’s budgeting. These delays and a change in Canberra’s government have created extreme political and financial pressures for the Australian military. But now it appears that no matter how monumental the problems of the last four years have been, they are small compared to what would have happened without the slowdown in programs, improvements in technology and reshuffling of priorities. Because the RAAF’s Hornets are aging, Canberra approved purchase of the Super Hornets as an interim aircraft between the Hornets and F-35. Aerospace industry and military officials contend that without the Super Hornet to make the task of integration incremental, the shift from Hornet to F-35 would likely have become a nightmare of increased cost, complexity and schedule overruns. The delay of the Wedgetail and Vigilare air defense ground environment rippled through the high-tech aspirations of the RAAF. It meant they were not going to be in place for the creation of a network-centric force that could digest all of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter’s futuristic capabilities. To counter that delay, the RAAF acquired the Super Hornet, with its inherent network-centric capabilities, to begin the integration process. The Wedgetail radar delay allowed the performance of the MESA long-range, 360-deg. radar to mature and new missions to emerge. Instead of making a uniform sweep at a given range as originally planned, the MESA radar can stuff its power output into limited sectors to markedly increase its range and ability to detect small objects. Researchers contend they will make full use of the electromagnetic spectrum. With Wedgetail, we will see a slice of that growth. L-band radar with its lower frequency range is good for scouting for a couple of hundred miles. Finer-grained images, such as people and individual targets, require higher frequencies provided by the X-band radars carried by Super Hornets and Growler electronic attack aircraft. Even higher in the spectrum, visual identification of a person at short ranges is possible. Moreover, disparate sensors can be fused to create a combined picture. Wedgetail, Super Hornet and Vigilare lay the groundwork for an even more impressive force that is envisioned, if not funded, to include:

• The modification of 12 Super Hornets to the EA-18G Growler configuration.
• The acquisition of an undetermined number of P-8 Poseidon jet-powered maritime surveillance and patrol aircraft to supplement and then replace the P-3 turboprops.
• Perhaps another two squadrons of Super Hornets for precision, standoff kinetic attack.
• As many as 75 F-35-type stealth aircraft, which could be introduced in 2025.
• Far in the future, perhaps 25 penetrating, high-performance unmanned platforms that can deliver bombs or anti-electronic weapons.

aviationweek

au moins ils ont déjà fait le choix ... mais je crois que s'ils ont opté pour le sabot, ils auraient pas pu avoir un trou dans leur capacité amphibie

HMAS Canberra le 1-2-11









Photo romarin ( FdB )

Citation :

SOURCE:Flight International
Australia's Quickstep gets more JSF work
By Greg Waldron

Australia's Quickstep Technologies has signed a long-term agreement with Northrop Grumman to produce parts for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

Under the deal the Australian aerospace manufacturing firm will make access panels, fuel tank covers, aircraft skins, and in-board weapons bay doors, says Australia's minister for defence materiel Jason Clare.

Quickstep has also signed a memorandum of understanding with another Australian company, Marand Precision Engineering, to supply vertical tail skins for the JSF.

The agreement positions Quickstep to secure up to A$580 million ($587 million) in F-35 work over the next 20 years and provide 400 jobs, says Clare, who recently signed a 'global supply deed' with Lockheed.

"Under the agreement Lockheed Martin will put in place a team of people dedicated to finding opportunities for Australian companies on top of the JSF project," he says.

"They are in charge of some big and important projects around the world and this gives Australian companies access to the work that flows out of that," says Clare. "It's a chance for Australian companies to take their expertise to the world."

In May 2010, the then minister for defence materiel, Greg Combet, called on Lockheed to give Australian firms a larger share of the F-35 programme. At the time he said that 28 Australian companies had won work on the programme valued at more than A$200 million, primarily during the initial design and production of test aircraft.

Combet also said that progress in securing additional work had been "slower than expected" in some areas.

Quickstep originally signed a memorandum of understanding with Northrop in November 2009 for the F-35 work, which will take place in a former Boeing facility in Bankstown near Sydney.

Australia has so far committed to buying 14 conventional take-off and landing F-35As, with a decision to acquire at least 58 more to be made next year.

Citation :

1st Armoured Regiment provided a Firepower demonstration to 7 Brigade, showing off the ability of the M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank (MBT) at Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA), Rockhampton.

Astan

Ah ... j'aime bien poster ce genre d'article ... parceque c'est seulement de l'information ordinaire, mais de l'information utile ... infos d'analyse !

Citation :

La marine australienne est en bien mauvais état



Les 2 tiers des bâtiments de la Royal Australian Navy n’étaient pas complètement opérationnels au cours du premier semestre de l’an dernier. La marine australienne a dû limiter ses activités.
Pour la première fois, des chiffres montrent l’état dégradé de la marine australienne. 38 des 54 bâtiments australiens ont connu au 1er semestre 2010 des pannes, des réparations, des restrictions opérationnelles ou des manques d’équipage.
La semaine dernière, la marine a, une fois de plus, été mise dans l’embarras parce qu’elle a été dans l’incapacité d’envoyer un seul de ses 3 bâtiments amphibies — le HMAS Tobruk, le HMAS Manoora et le HMAS Kanimbla — au Queensland pour participer aux opérations d’assistance après le cyclone Yasi parce que les bâtiments étaient hors service ou incapables de prendre la mer.
Selon les propres chiffres publiés par la marine, chacun des 6 sous-marins de la classe Collins a passé de 5 à 12 mois de l’année se terminant en juin dernier, au bassin pour des réparations ou de l’entretien.
En moyenne, la flotte sous-marine n’a été opérationnelle que 32% de l’année, à cause de panne sur les moteurs diesel, les générateurs électriques, de manque d’équipage et de période de maintenance.
La marine a dû dépenser 325 millions AUS$ (239 millions €) pour soutenir la flotte au cours de cette période.
La flotte de surface a aussi été fortement affectée par des problèmes : 8 des 12 frégates naviguent avec un "niveau réduit de disponibilité opérationnelle" parce que des "manques de personnel" ont affecté les essais, l’entraînement et les missions opérationnelles pendant le 1er semestre.
De même, la flotte de navires amphibies, de ravitaillement et hydrographies est touchée par des problèmes, s’étendant de la panne de moteur* et de défauts de la coque* au manque de personnel.
Le vice-amiral Crane, commandant de la marine australienne, a déclaré que la disponibilité des sous-marins s’était amélioré depuis le 1er semestre et que la marine allait créer un 4è équipage de sous-marins pour réduire la pression sur le personnel.
L'analyse de la rédaction :



Comme dans le système américain, les années budgétaires en Australie vont du 1er juillet au 30 juin de l’année suivante.
Le 4è équipage dont la création est annoncée, est le 4è pour toute la flotte : chaque sous-marin, compte-tenu du manque criant de personnel, ne dispose pas de son équipage propre. Certains sous-marins n’ont pas d’équipage.

The Australian

* et encor une fois je me pose la question sur l'Etat du 407

Citation :

Engine fire grounds RAAF trainers




The Defence Force has temporarily grounded some of its training planes after an engine fire earlier this week.
A Defence spokeswoman says the PC9/A plane was being prepared for a training flight at an RAAF base north of Perth on Monday night when flames were seen coming from the engine.
She says training flights have been put on hold while the department investigates the cause of the fire.

abc.net.au

Citation :

Navantia propose à l’Australie un sous-marin "XXL"


Navantia ne veut laisser passer aucune chance dans l’un des plus importants contrats de son histoire. Les chantiers navals espagnols ont inclus dans leur proposition à l’Australie un nouveau sous-marin, plus gros que le S-80.

Selon des sources de l’entreprise espagnole, la réponse à l’appel d’offres que Navantia a déposée à la mi-janvier, comprend 3 propositions. Un sous-marin similaire au S-80 commandé par la marine espagnole, un S-80 adapté aux exigences australiennes, et un S-80 XXL, de dimensions plus importantes.
Bien que l’appel d’offres n’en soit encore qu’à ses débuts, cette période est l’un des moments les plus délicats, parce que la marine australienne doit se décider pour un modèle de sous-marin. C’est pourquoi la prochaine visite en Espagne de responsables australiens pourrait permettre de préciser les détails.
D’autres pays, comme l’Allemagne (avec HDW) et la France (avec DCNS), sont aussi candidats, et on n’attend pas avant 2015 ou 2016 la désignation du gagnant. Le premier sous-marin ne sera pas livré avant 2018.
Actuellement, même le nombre de sous-marins n’est pas connu. Si l’Australie se décide pour un sous-marin de la taille du S-80, la marine australienne pourrait en commander jusqu’à 12. Par contre, si elle retient un sous-marin de grande taille, elle se contenterait de 6. "Dans les 2 cas, le contrat dépasserait les 5 milliards €", indiquent les mêmes sources.

Defensa

Citation :

Australia to Upgrade Anzac Electronic Support System



The Australian Government has given first pass approval to upgrade the electronic support systems on Anzac Class frigates, Minister for Defence Stephen Smith MP and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare MP have confirmed.
Under Project Sea 1448 Phase 4A, the frigate's electronic support system will be upgraded to improve its ability to support the Royal Australian Navy's future air warfare destroyer capability.
The upgraded system will also provide the frigates with the ability to detect, classify and locate the latest maritime and aircraft radars, and modern anti-ship missiles.
The government is likely to finalise the approval for the project in the 2012 to 2013 period with costs capped between $100m and $300m.

naval-technology