From Flight International

 

DATE: 04/01/08

SOURCE: Flight International

 

Australia to review Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet purchase

By Emma Kelly

 

Australia's newly elected Labor government is to review the country's air power capability, in a controversial move that could see the previous administration's A$6.6 billion ($5.8 billion) order for 24 Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets dumped, and the planned purchase of up to 100 Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters also face a fresh assessment.

 

Australia became the first export customer for the Super Hornet (US Navy F/A-18F pictured below) last March, with its two-seat fighters scheduled for delivery from 2010 as replacements for the Royal Australian Air Force's General Dynamics F-111s. The aircraft are also intended to provide a stop-gap capability until the planned introduction of Australia's JSFs from 2013 at the earliest.

 

The F/A-18F deal drew considerable opposition at the time, with claims that the then-defence minister and now opposition leader Brendan Nelson rejected expert advice before advancing with the order. Critics say the procurement was also conducted without strategic justification or comparative analysis, and insist it would be cheaper to extend the F-111's service life, or replace the Super Hornet and JSF purchases with an order for Lockheed's F-22 Raptor. However, one industry source notes that US Congress has so far blocked Japan's requests to buy the F-22, and says development of an export variant could cost up to $1 billion.

 

Australia's new defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon will launch a thorough review of the previous government's military spending as soon as possible, with this to include an examination of the RAAF's air combat options. He has also committed to develop a new defence policy White Paper to provide strategic guidance for capability and force structure planning.

 

Boeing declines to comment on speculation about the Super Hornet deal's possible cancellation, or on reports citing a possible $300 million charge for terminating the deal. "We are under contract, and the Australian aircraft are already in the production process," the company adds.

 

[No shortage of controversial topics in recent news. Here's another! ]

From Flight International

 

DATE: 10/01/08

SOURCE: Flightglobal.com

 

Australia to weigh Lockheed Martin F-22 against Russian fighters

By Siva Govindasamy

 

Australia plans to request access to the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, and will also consider Russian fighters such as the RSK MiG-29 and Sukhoi Su-35, as part of a review of its air power capabilities that could lead to the cancellation of a A$6.6 billion ($5.8 billion) deal to buy 24 Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets.

 

The USA has refused even close allies like Japan access to the F-22 (pictured below left, with US Navy F/A-18E), and Congress has banned its export. But defence analysts say that if Washington changes its mind, Japan and Australia could be among the first to get access to the type. Lockheed is also keen to keep its Raptor production line open, but a major deterrent to a foreign sale could be a reported development cost of up to $1 billion for an export variant.

 

But Australia's new defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon appears unfazed in the search for a replacement for the country's General Dynamics F-111s (pictured below) and early-model F/A-18s. "I intend to pursue American politicians for access to the Raptor," he says. "We are well placed to talk to Democrats on the Hill about it, and I want it to be part of the mix." Fitzgibbon adds that all possible options will be studied before a decision, including the possible purchase of Russian aircraft. "The review should include a comparative analysis of everything on the market," he says. "I'm not ruling out any option."

 

Observers believe that domestic politics are behind the Labor Party's review of almost A$23 billion worth of defence projects, given that the Liberal Party which lost last December's general elections is now led by former defence minister Brendan Nelson. He was at the helm when Australia pledged to buy 100 Lockheed F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, which are not expected to enter service until the middle of the next decade, and when it ordered its Super Hornets as a bridging measure.

 

Fitzgibbon charges that the latter decision was made without "proper due process or capability justification", while some military analysts have claimed that the aircraft lacks the stealth capability and power that the Royal Australian Air Force needs. The new defence minister has meanwhile warned that Canberra will not tolerate further delays or an increase in the cost of the F-35.

 

Another project under review is a A$1 billion programme to upgrade 11 Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite helicopters. These were purchased in 1997 to operate from the navy's Anzac-class frigates, but have been plagued by technical problems and have been grounded for more than a year. Nelson said last year that the helicopters will be upgraded and available for use around 2010.

From Flight Global

 

DATE: 19/02/08

SOURCE: Flightglobal.com

 

Singapore 2008: Royal Australian Air Force chief backs Super Hornet selection

By Siva Govindasamy

 

The Royal Australian Air Force appears keen to convince its new government about the merits of keeping with last year's purchase of 24 Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet multirole fighters, with the service's chief officer expecting a "a rational" outcome from the nation's ongoing review of the purchase.

 

Canberra's new Labor government earlier this year launched a review of its air power requirements, including the former administration's order for Super Hornets as replacements for the RAAF's ageing General Dynamics F-111s, and the planned acquisition of Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

 

"We are asking them to spend a lot of money, so it is understandable that they want to examine it," said Air Chief Marshal Geoff Shepherd during the Global Air Power Conference, held prior to the start of the Singapore air show. "The review is under way, and it is a process we want to fully participate in. Perhaps, because they were in the opposition when the decision was made, they did not have all the information," he said.

 

"I am confident that these rational men in power will make a rational decision. We are confident that will be the case when the facts are put to them."

 

Any cancellation of the Super Hornet order could result in Australia having to pay damages to Boeing, which has already cut metal on the RAAF's first aircraft. Australia last March became the first export customer for the aircraft, with its two-seat fighters scheduled for delivery from 2010.

 

While some in Australia have suggested that the RAAF's F-111s could be upgraded while the country waits for JSF deliveries, that idea may face problems as the service has already begun retiring the type. "Under the previous government's plans, the F-111 fleets were starting to be wound down from 12 months ago, and they are scheduled to retire in 2010. To reverse that may prove to be difficult," said Shepherd.

 

The F-35, though, remains at the fore of Shepherd's plans, even though the review will also examine the various options if there are further delays to the project. "Our future is with the JSF by 2020 we want to have an all F-35 fleet," he said. "We believe that the Super Hornets will serve us well until the F-35s come in. If the government gives us the OK for the F/A-18s, we will be able to handle any delays to the F-35 through mid-life upgrades for the Super Hornets."

From Defense Aerospace

 

Fitzgibbon Ignores Facts on Super Hornet

(Source: Liberal Party of Australia; issued Feb. 27, 2008)

 

Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon’s latest claim in relation to costs associated with the Super Hornet purchase are not based on fact, Shadow Defence Minister Nick Minchin said today.

 

Today 27 February 2008, Joel Fitzgibbon said “Sadly the taxpayer now looks like paying the price if the project was to be cancelled, there would be a penalty, if the project proceeds there is no doubt we would have paid too much for the project.”

 

The fact is Australia will pay the best possible price for the Super Hornet.

 

In Senate Estimates, 20 February 2008, Dr Stephen Gumley, CEO, Defence Materiel Organisation said “We get the same unit prices as the US government. I know no way of getting better prices than the US government, particularly in the home market; therefore I am confident that the price we are paying for the aircraft is as good as Australia is going to get.”

 

“The Super Hornet is the right aircraft to fulfil our air capability requirements and the Coalition government secured it at the best possible price.” said Senator Minchin.

 

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Australia has up to A$23 billion ($21.5 billion) worth of risky defence projects underway and will re-think several costly purchases, including U.S. fighter planes, Reuters reported Feb. 27, quoting Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon.

 

"This is a list of projects that are under real risk, real risk in terms of capability and real risk for the Australian taxpayer," Fitzgibbon told reporters, brandishing a confidential list of troubled military buys.

 

Fitzgibbon's centre-left Labor government, which won power in November, may dump several projects including the A$6.5 billion purchase by the former conservative government of 24 Super Hornet fighter planes from Boeing, Reuters said, quoting Fitzgibbon as saying that "The Super Hornet project is of great concern to us."

 

The Super Hornets were intended to fill a six-year gap between the retirement of Vietnam-era strike bombers and the 2016 arrival of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSF), but Labor believes they may not be needed despite JSF delays.

 

Also under review are a A$1.5 billion fleet of naval Seasprite helicopters, manufactured by Kaman Corp. and the problem-plagued A$1.4 billion upgrade of guided missile frigates by the local division of French defence electronics group Thales, Reuters added.) (ends)

 

 

Fitzgibbon's Shambolic Approach to Military Aircraft

(Source: Liberal Party of Australia; issued Feb. 26, 2008)

 

Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon’s latest utterances on military aircraft reflect a completely shambolic approach to Australia’s air defences, Shadow Defence Minister Nick Minchin said today.

 

“Mr Fitzgibbon and the Labor Party have been constant and incessant critics of the former Coalition Government’s decision to acquire Super Hornet aircraft” said Senator Minchin.

 

On 15 March 2007, Joel Fitzgibbon said “The Super Hornet purchase is a $6 billion taxpayer funded election year fix. It’s a patch-up job.”

 

“Despite clear evidence that Defence itself strongly supports the Super Hornet decision, Labor has played cheap party politics to attack the Howard Government decision.

 

“Labor set up an Air Capability Review presumably as a pretext to scrap the Super Hornet contract.

 

“Mr Fitzgibbon said only last week he “would have no hesitation in cancelling” the Super Hornet contract if that’s what his review advises.

 

“Yet today on ABC Radio Mr Fitzgibbon said “I am really hoping that the air combat review recommends that we retain the Super Hornet.”

 

“Mr Fitzgibbon’s erratic and clumsy statements on this vital air capability acquisition are an embarrassment to the Rudd Government and to Australia and its international reputation.

 

“The Howard Government decision to acquire the Super Hornet is backed “100%” by Defence, as confirmed by the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Houston, in Senate Estimates last week.

 

“Mr Fitzgibbon has been playing a dangerous and irresponsible political game with Australia’s air defences.

 

“He would be well advised to keep his mouth shut until his air capability review is completed and then back its inevitable conclusion that the acquisition of the Super Hornet and the JSF are the right decisions for Australia” said Senator Minchin.

 

[CV32: Shambolic, eh? I must try and remember that one].

You've not heard shambolic before? Rather common term here.

 

Guessing the "risky" projects would include:

Super Hornets

Air Warfare Destroyer

Assault Ship (LHD IIRC)

 

Not sure what the Thales upgrade is.

Nope, 'shambolic' is a rather new one on me.

From Jane's

 

Australian government commits to Super Hornet acquisition

By Julian Kerr

18 March 2008

 

The Australian government has confirmed the purchase of 24 Boeing F/A-18F Block II Super Hornet fighters.

 

This is despite accusing the previous administration, which originally ordered the aircraft, of having failed to make sound, long-term air combat capability decisions during its decade in power.

 

The decision followed the release of Part A of an Air Combat Capability Review ordered by the new government in January. This focused on the feasibility of retaining the Royal Australian Air Force's ageing F-111 strike aircraft beyond 2010 and the status of Australia's plans to acquire the Super Hornet.

 

Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said in a statement on 17 March that cancelling the Super Hornet would bring significant financial penalties and create tension between the United States and Australian governments. In February, defence officials said cancelling the Super Hornet contract under the US Foreign Military Sales programme would cost between AUD400 million and AUD600 million (USD375 million to USD563 million).