Australia likes Growler
The Australian government has approached Washington to inquire if the EA-18G is available for export in future. Boeing's Super Hornet program manager, Carolyn Nichols, confirmed Australia's interest.
Raytheon ATFLIR Targeting Pod Captures First International Orders
Raytheon has received a $62 million U.S. Navy order to provide the Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared pod to the air forces of Australia and Switzerland. The foreign military sale award calls for the delivery of 18 ATFLIR systems to Australia to equip its new F/A-18 F Block II+ Super Hornets.
Raytheon will also provide one ATFLIR pod to Switzerland as part of an upgrade program for its F/A-18C Hornets. The order allows the nation to purchase up to 14 more pods in 2009.
Hornet savings in the wings
Turns out that Australia could have made a wise decision to buy F/A-18F Super Hornets as a fighter stop-gap that could save taxpayers millions of dollars. According to well-placed sources, the Rudd Government is studying options to delay the purchase of the F-35.
The move will save Australia from buying the jet at early inflated prices. Figures show that a purchase delay of one year would save about $400 million.
RAAF says new fighters more than a match
The Royal Australian Air Force has refuted Carlo Kopp's claims that the F/A-18F and F-35 will be outgunned by the Su-30. "Detailed analysis has been conducted against realistic threats that Australia may face and results have indicated that the JSF can readily defeat them in BVR (beyond visual range) and within visual range combat even beyond the 2020 timeframe," a spokesman said.
Poor Air Power Planning Exposed But Super Horet To Stay
Australian Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon agreed that the F/A-18F Super Hornet is an extremely capable aircraft and agreed with the previous government's decision to buy 24 aircraft. Fitzgibbon added that Australia will also consider the purchase of the EA-18G under the second stage of the Air Combat Capability Review.
Politicians in dogfight over aircraft
The two main Australian political parties are in a war of words over the purchase of 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets by the previous government.
Fitzgibbon critical of Super Hornet deal
Australian Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon complained that the former Howard government paid too much for 24 Boeing Super Hornets. "The taxpayer will pay the price either way. If the project is to be canceled, there would be a penalty."
Australian defense chief says military '100 percent' behind Boeing's Super Hornet jets
The head of Australia's defense force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, told a Senate inquiry Wednesday that the military is 100 percent supportive of the Super Hornet order. And Australia has to pay A$400 million in penalties if the deal is canceled. "It's an awesome capability ... that is genuinely better than anything around at the moment, other than an F-22 or F-35," Houston said, also referring to Lockheed's F-22 Raptor.
Singapore 2008: Royal Australian Air Force chief backs Super Hornet selection
Royal Australian Air Force chief says his service is keen to convince its new government to keep the F/A-18F order. "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," said Air Chief Marshal Geoff Shepherd during the Global Air Power Conference, held prior to the start of the Singapore air show.
Flying Hornets still up in the air
Australian Defence Force chief, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, has distanced himself from the controversial F/A-18F deal. Houston say the aircraft was a "very good choice" but he feels that the original assessment of the capability gap may not be enough.
Raptor jet fighter tops defence wish list
Russian-built Sukhoi and MiG fighters as well as the F-22 Raptor will be included in the Australian government's latest air power review. "I intend to pursue American politicians for access to the Raptor to get it into the mix," Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said.
Sensors can save F-111, says firm
Structural Monitoring Systems, a company in Perth, has stepped in with its structural health monitoring systems to help extend the lives of RAAF F-111 fighter bombers. Extending the aircraft's life can allow the government to scrap its deal to buy 24 F/A-18F fighters from Boeing.
Scrapping Hornets could harm US ties
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute warned that canceling the contract to buy 24 F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter-bombers could hurt Australia's diplomatic and commercial relationship with America. Meanwhile former defense minister Brendan Nelson has defended his decision to order the Super Hornets.
Axe set to fall on Nelson's fighters
The Sydney Morning Herald reported today that Australia may cancel the Boeing deal for 24 F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters or try to renegotiate it. The new government has requested an analysis on all the fighter jet options available and how they stack up against likely adversaries.
Pull out of jet deal, Govt urged
A member of parliament from former Australian Defense Minister Brendan Nelson's party said his party leader made a mistake buying the Super Hornets and the current government should try to cancel the deal. Dr Dennis Jensen, a former defence research scientist, told the National Interest program on ABC Radio National that the Super Hornet can not compete with Russian-built fighters being deployed in Asia.
Aussie Rhinos - Sale or Return
Bill Sweetman quotes Gp Capt Steven Roberton, head of the Royal Australian Air Force's air combat transition office, as saying that the Australian Super Hornets could be sold back to the U.S. Navy once the F-35 phased in.
Claims new RAAF warplane outmatched
Australian ABC TV's Four Corners program last night criticized the government's decision to replace the F-111 with the F/A-18F. It also quoted aviation analyst Dr Carlo Kopp who said the Super Hornets will be outclassed by Chinese, Malaysian and Indonesian Flankers. Kopp gave a glowing review of the Super Hornet back in 2001 after a demonstration flight by Boeing. But he has become a critic after the Australian purchase and keep pushing for the purchase of F-22 instead, well doesn't he know that LM has no way to give him a demonstration flight in a Raptor? To the Boeing folks, we at Alert 5 will not turn ungrateful if given the chance to fly in a Boeing fighter.
The Australian Defense Force last night issued a statement refuting the criticisms. Group Captain Steve Roberton, Head of the Defence Air Combat Transition Office, was quoted saying : "If a Super Hornet was to meet a Su-30 in the next 5-8 years and I had to bet my life on the outcome, I'll sit in the Super Hornet F-18F cockpit every time. Any pilot who has flown the new Block II F-18F with AESA radar would do the same."
Incidentally, Harley Wayne from ABC actually left a comment seeking views on our Super Hornet Raptor gun kill web page while researching for that program two weeks ago.
Australia - Weapons for F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Aircraft Update
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency have taken down the notice to Congress on the weapons package being offered to Australia for its F/A-18F Super Hornets. To rehash, the sale is for 43 AIM-9X SIDEWINDER Missiles, 50 AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapons (JSOW), 18 AN/ASQ-228 (V2) Advanced Targeting Forward-Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) Pods, 24 AN/ALQ-214 Radio Frequency Countermeasures, 90 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS), 32 AN/PVS-9 Night Vision Goggles (NVG), 16 Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVT).
Australia - Weapons for F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Aircraft (PDF)
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia of weapons for F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft. The sale includes 43 AIM-9X SIDEWINDER Missiles, 50 AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapons (JSOW), 18 AN/ASQ-228 (V2) Advanced Targeting Forward-Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) Pods, 24 AN/ALQ-214 Radio Frequency Countermeasures, 90 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS), 32 AN/PVS-9 Night Vision Goggles (NVG), 16 Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVT).
Hornet's nest - are we buying?
Another story that says Australia is interested in expanding its current F/A-18F Super Hornet fleet and the next purchase could include the EA-18G as well. The money to buy the extra planes will come from budget surpluses.
RAAF Super Hornet buy excites interest
Bob Gower, Boeing's Vice President of F/A-18 programs, said the Australia purchase of Super Hornets has led to renewed interest in the F/A-18F Block 2 aircraft by Canada, Switzerland and even the U.S. Air Force.
Raytheon Secures Contract to Equip Australian F/A-18F Super Hornets
Raytheon Company has been awarded a $24.4 million U.S. Navy contract to equip Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornets with the ALR-67(V)3 digital radar warning receiver. The contract, representing the first international sale of the ALR-67(V)3 for the Super Hornet, calls for the delivery of 24 radar warning receivers to the RAAF.
The Hornet's nest
The Age has uncovered Boeing's plan to sell beyond the 23 F/A-18 Super Hornets to Australia. Boeing will offer another 26 Super Hornets and 20 EA-18G electronic attack jets to Australia if the Joint Strike Fighter encounter delays.
Super Hornet Contract Signed
Australia has signed an approximately AUD$2.9b contract with the United States Navy for the acquisition of 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets and associated support systems. Australian personnel will begin Super Hornet training in the United States in 2009.
Australia confirms AIM-9X selection for Super Hornets
Australia's F/A-18F Super Hornet will be armed with the AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missile, and potentially also Raytheon's ATFLIR targeting pod. Gp Capt Stan Roberton, head of Australia's Super Hornet program office, said U.S. Navy-common are preferred to keep a low risk.
Super Hornets 'out of date in 10 years'
Tom Burbage, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin's JSF program, says the F/A-18Fs Australia just bought will be outdated in ten years. He added that he sought an urgent meeting with Defence Minister Brendan Nelson, fearing money would be taken from Australia's JSF program to pay for the Super Hornet when he heard the news.
Minister's plane speaking
Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson flew in a F/A-18F Super Hornet yesterday over Melbourne. "It was absolutely fantastic and a phenomenal experience," he said after his flight.
Air Force to buy 24 Super Hornet fighters
The Australian Defence Business Review magazine said Prime Minister John Howard is expected to announce the purchase of 24 F/A-18Fs in early March.
Chief slightly sorry for rushed jet deal
RAAF chief, Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd, was questioned by an Australian Senate committee on why the Government was advocating buying 24 Super Hornet jets just months after dismissing concerns there were problems with the F-35.
$4bn Hornet buy tipped to get nod
Australia is expected to approve the purchase of 24 F/A-18Fs within weeks. The number of F-35s to be purchased could be reduced in order to fund the order.
Australia – F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Aircraft (PDF)
Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress that it was proposing to sell Australia 24 F/A-18 Super Hornets. The package includes 6 F414-GE-402 spare engines, 24 AN/APG-79 Radar Systems, 24 AN/USQ-140 Multifunctional Informational Distribution System Low Volume Terminals, 30 AN/ALR-67(V)3 Electric Warfare Countermeasures Receiving Sets, 145 LAU-127 Guided Missile Launchers and 30 AN/PVS-9 Night Vision Goggles.
The proposal will include integration of the AN/ALE-47 Electronic Warfare Countermeasures Systems, Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems, 12 Joint Mission Planning Systems, and AN/ALE-55 Fiber Optic Towed Decoys.
Defence spending a mess, says Rudd
The Australian Financial Review reported that Defence Minister Brendan Nelson had confirmed that Australia was in discussions with Washington for the purchase of the 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets. The jets are to be used as a stop-gap between the F-111 and the F-35.
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