Search found 669 matches

by Mercator
21 Mar 2024, 23:33
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479891
Australia

Re: Australian Defence Force

by Mercator
15 Mar 2024, 23:03
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479891
Australia

Re: Australian Defence Force

https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/all-female-royal-australian-air-force-team-join-in-air-to-air-refueling-mission The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) celebrated International Women’s Day by deploying an all-female team to undertake an air-to-air refueling mission at the RAAF Base Amberley in Quee...
by Mercator
15 Mar 2024, 22:54
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479891
Australia

Re: Australian Defence Force

HMAS Choules fitted with CEAFAR radar https://www.australiandefence.com.au/news/news/hmas-choules-fitted-with-ceafar-radar While Choules’ current armament of a single Phalanx Close-In Weapons Systems (CIWS) is able to engage targets independently using its own integrated radar, that radar has limite...
by Mercator
15 Mar 2024, 22:52
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479891
Australia

Re: Australian Defence Force


A few of these in the ORBAT now, all civilian crew.
by Mercator
28 Feb 2024, 01:57
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: New Zealand Defence Force
Replies: 619
Views: 38472
Australia

Re: New Zealand Defence Force

by Mercator
27 Feb 2024, 04:28
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479891
Australia

Re: Australian Defence Force

Tully, North Queensland. Annual rainfall over 4000 mm.

by Mercator
27 Feb 2024, 00:48
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479891
Australia

Re: Australian Defence Force

Henderson-based Austal to build two more Evolved Cape-Class Patrol Boats for Navy https://psnews.com.au/henderson-based-austal-to-build-two-more-evolved-cape-class-patrol-boats-for-navy/128416/ One of the key elements of the government’s new plan is to grow its fleet of patrol vessels to 25 to cond...
by Mercator
23 Feb 2024, 00:46
Forum: Royal Air Force
Topic: Boeing E-7 Wedgetail (RAF)
Replies: 595
Views: 182080
Australia

Re: Boeing E-7 Wedgetail (RAF)

Australian Defence Force news article: Working with partners to control the skies 21 February 24 https://www.defence.gov.au/news-events/news/2024-02-21/working-partners-control-skies For the first time, air force experts have gathered in Australia to share solutions on Airborne Early Warning and Con...
by Mercator
20 Feb 2024, 03:01
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479891
Australia

Re: Australian Defence Force

The follow-on to the Hunter class (the DDG replacement) might be a Hunter class variant (like that 96 cell 'FFG' BAE was touting).
by Mercator
20 Feb 2024, 02:58
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479891
Australia

Re: Australian Defence Force

by Mercator
20 Feb 2024, 00:46
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479891
Australia

Re: Australian Defence Force

https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releases/2024-02-20/navys-enhanced-lethality-surface-combatant-fleet In line with independent analysis’ recommendations, Navy’s future surface combatant fleet will comprise: 26 major surface combatants consisting of: Three Hobart class air warfare destroyers...
by Mercator
20 Feb 2024, 00:18
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479891
Australia

Re: Australian Defence Force

Under the sweeping overhaul, Australia's current fleet of combat-ready warships would rise from 11 to 26, consisting of nine "Tier 1" frigates and destroyers and 11 smaller general-purpose frigates, as well as six optionally crewed vessels which will form a "Tier 2" force. https...
by Mercator
16 Feb 2024, 04:46
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479891
Australia

Re: Australian Defence Force

by Mercator
26 Nov 2023, 02:09
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479891
Australia

Re: Australian Defence Force

I accept what you have written but given the service lifespan of the current patrol vessels is replacing them really the top priority for Australia? Compared to the alternative of butchering Frigate programs which are also underway? If the current patrol vessels could carry on for another decade th...
by Mercator
26 Nov 2023, 00:14
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479891
Australia

Re: Australian Defence Force

The OPV's entire purpose is constabulary. Preventing illegal immigration and providing fisheries protection. That's why it wasn't a patrol boat or a Corvette. its entire armament consists of a planned 40 mm weapon but it will initially sail with a 25 mm weapon instead. All that was by design. The RA...
by Mercator
12 Nov 2023, 00:12
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479891
Australia

Re: Australian Defence Force

Eh. It's a good article but there is much that is contradictory floating around in that article and others. In one article, BAE is quoted as saying the towed array will go, but in this article, he says they are still doing ASW? Then he says it's all pretty cheap and with minimal design changes, apar...
by Mercator
11 Nov 2023, 01:04
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479891
Australia

Re: Australian Defence Force

I don't think anyone expected a 7000 ton design to have trouble. Not after Anzac. Someone probably should have checked BAE's homework, but part of me can hardly blame them when the 2018 version of me couldn't conceive it would be an issue.
by Mercator
11 Nov 2023, 00:09
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479891
Australia

Re: Australian Defence Force

The competition for the frigate was always about fitting a frigate around the Australian government requirements for CEA radars, SSMs and significant ESSMs. A requirement . If the T26 is having trouble incorporating that, then the trouble is the frigate, not the requirements. Not unreasonably in th...
by Mercator
11 Nov 2023, 00:06
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479891
Australia

Re: Australian Defence Force

Re: the earlier discussion about missile armament choices, consider the previous classes of frigates in our respective navies. T23 started out with Sea Viper (a 6nm weapon) and transitioned to CAMM in 2017. Anzac started with Sea Sparrow (10nm) but by the third vessel was fitted with ESSM (27nm+). T...
by Mercator
10 Nov 2023, 23:14
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479891
Australia

Re: Australian Defence Force

The competition for the frigate was always about fitting a frigate around the Australian government requirements for CEA radars, SSMs and significant ESSMs. A requirement . If the T26 is having trouble incorporating that, then the trouble is the frigate, not the requirements. Not unreasonably in tha...
by Mercator
10 Nov 2023, 00:33
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479891
Australia

Re: Australian Defence Force

I think it's more a matter of taking away things above the waterline so that they can add ballasting below the waterline. That's how they deal with stability issues from top weight. Honestly, it can't be the money. Because the Hunter class already exists and the batch 2 has 85% commonality, it will ...
by Mercator
09 Nov 2023, 04:17
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479891
Australia

Re: Australian Defence Force

https://twitter.com/AlexLuck9/status/1722415117735014620 This one is the Hobart class, Flight 2 that was overlooked in much of the discussions yesterday. The enormous cruiser-length Hobart Flight 3 was more an aspirational follow-on DDG proposal. The flight 2 is actually the real competition to the ...
by Mercator
09 Nov 2023, 04:10
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479891
Australia

Re: Australian Defence Force

US Navy sub boss reveals new details on AUKUS Virginia class sub sales to Australia https://breakingdefense.com/2023/11/us-navy-sub-boss-reveals-new-details-on-aukus-virginia-class-sub-sales-to-australia/ The optimal pathway for the AUKUS security pact will include sales by the US of the three init...
by Mercator
08 Nov 2023, 08:31
Forum: Defence Elsewhere
Topic: Australian Defence Force
Replies: 2617
Views: 479891
Australia

Re: Australian Defence Force

nah. Price won't be a problem. All other options will start from scratch (costing far more money) and still need those same VLS cells. No, if I had to guess, I would say that having all that weight for the new cells in a relatively high position on the superstructure means that they need to ballast ...