Australia to Buy 24 Super Hornets As Interim Gap-Filler to JSF

DID has covered the recent controversies over Australia's involvement in the F-35 Lightning II program, amid criticisms that the new aircraft will be unable to compete with proliferating SU-30 family aircraft in the region, lacks the required range or response time, and will either be extremely expensive at $100+ million per aircraft in early (2013-2016) production or will not be available until 2018 or later. The accelerated retirement of Australia's 22 long-range F-111s in 2010 has sharpened the timing debate in particular, with a recently retired Air Vice-Marshal and the opposition Labor Party both weighing in with criticisms and alternative force proposals.

In December 2006, The Australian reported that Defence Minister Brendan Nelson is discussing an A$ 3 billion (about $2.36 billion) purchase of 24 F/A-18F Block II Super Hornet aircraft around 2009-2010, a move that came as "a surprise to senior defence officials on Russell Hill"; but now it's official - as in, a signed contract....
The 2-seat F/A-18F sacrifices some range, carrying only 13,350 pounds of fuel - 900 fewer pounds than the F/A-18E. In exchange, it adds a second crewman with an advanced attack station cockpit to assist in strike roles. The F/A-18F Block II adds a number of enhancements, but all are electronic rather than aerodynamic. The most sigtnificant improvement is its AN/APG-79 AESA radar; Australia will be the first country outside the United States to receive it, and only the third country (UAE APG-80 in F-16 Block 60, Singapore APG-63v3 in F-15SGs) to receive AESA fighter radars in a US sale.

Dr Nelson reportedly decided to opt for the Super Hornet without a detailed study of alternative aircraft types such as the longer-range F-15E Strike Eagle, or more advanced air superiority options like the Eurofighter Typhoon. Despite its name, the Super Hornet is a larger aircraft that offers only 25-30% commonality with the Australian air force's existing Hornets; it does, however, share the same support structure.

The justification advanced for this buy include service as a gap-filler to the F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter after the F-111's retirement in 2010, and also the ability to plus-up aircraft numbers while existing F/A-18A Hornets rotate through the year-long center section replacements designed to lengthen their service fatigue life. The move would have significant impacts on the 2006-2016 Defence Capability Plan, and would reportedly cut the number of F/A-18A Hornets undergoing the $1+ billion HUG mid-life upgrade program to 42. It may also result in cuts to other programs unless additional funding is provided to cover the interim fighter purchase.

For a detailed account of the Super Hornet's origins and its specific differences vs. the earlier model F/A-18 A-D Hornets, plus an in-depth first-person flight report, see "Flying the F/A-18F Super Hornet," originally published in the May/June, 2001 issue of Australian Aviation. Whether these attributes will be enough to deal with present and future Su-30 aircraft on even terms remains a matter of controversy.

For a more detailed account of the ongoing controversy around Australia's F-35 Lightning II/ F/A-18F Block II purchases, as well as links that shed more light on the F-111 program at RAAF Amberley, see DID's updated spotlight article, esp. the updates and readings sections.

May 5/07: Australia's DoD announces the signing of its first contract for the new F/A-18F Block II Super Hornet fleet, valued at approximately A$ 2.9 billion (currently about US$ 2.39 billion), for the acquisition of 24 aircraft and associated support systems. Additional contracts will be established later in 2007 for weapons acquisition and sustainment.

The aircraft will be based at RAAF Amberley, which currently houses Australia's long-range strike fleet of F-111 fighter/bombers. The government will be focusing on local Industry participation as part of the through life support concept, in order to maintain the extensive support infrastructure that has grown up around the F-11 fleet. Australian personnel are scheduled begin Super Hornet training in the United States in 2009, and the current government plans to retire its F-111s in 2010 instead of 2020 as originally forecast.
March 6/07: Defence Minister Nelson officially announces the F/A-18F Block II purchase in his release: "$6 Billion to Maintain Australia's Regional Air Superiority." A$ 6 billion is the estimated total cost for purchase, training, and maintenance over 10 years.

The Australian Super Hornet program plans to use local contractor owned and operated intermediate maintenance and training for aircrew and support personnel. Additionally, the supply chain infrastructure, warehousing and operation will be manned locally in support of both Australian and US Navy Super Hornets in the region.
Note, however, that the Minister's quoted Aviation Week reference to the aircraft's 5th generation capability "similar to that of the F-22A Raptor..." refers to the Super Hornet Block II's APG-79 radar, which is an AESA radar like the F-22A's larger, more powerful, frequency-agile APG-77. It does not refer to the entire aircraft, as the selective excerpt might lead one to believe.

February-March 2007: Some in Australia are less enthused about the Super Hornet purchase, and with a contract request without any competition. See also DID's follow-up: "Australian Air Power Controversy: F-35 and Super Hornets Under Fire," which has been updated to reflect subsequent DoD speeches and defenses of their purchase.

Feb 6/07: Australia has submitted a formal request. The US DSCA has announced the $3.1 billion request and its details. In addition to the 24 F-18Fs, Australia has requested:

- 48 installed and 6 spare F414 engines
- 24 AN/APG-79 AESA radar systems
- 24 AN/USQ-140 Multifunctional Informational Distribution System Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVT Link 16)
- 30 AN/ALR-67(V)3 Electric Warfare Countermeasures Receiving Sets, the same kind that will also equip Australia's other Hornets after the ALR 2002 project's failure.
- Integration of the AN/ALE-47 Electronic Warfare Countermeasures Systems
- 145 LAU-127 Guided Missile Launchers. These wingtip launchers allow the plane to launch AIM-9 Sidewinders or medium-range AIM-120 AMRAAM air-air missiles.
- 30 AN/PVS-9 night vision goggles
- 12 Joint Mission Planning Systems
- AN/ALE-55 Fiber Optic Towed Decoys
- System integration and testing, software development/integration, test sets and support equipment, spare and repair parts, maintenance and pilot training, software support, publications and technical documents.
Additional Readings
 DID - Retired RAAF Vice-Marshal: Abandon F-35, Buy F-22s (updated). Has grown to be out spotlight article for the entire F-35 controversy in Australia. Includes criticisms and alternative force proposals being floated by the opposition Labor Party, as well as link to materials outlining the position of the government, DoD, opposition party, and independent defense analysts & associations in Australia. It is updated on an ongoing basis.
 Flight International (March 13/07) - Ultra Hornet. Describes the updates to create the Hornet Block 30/Block II+; the performance enhancements are all electronic rather than aerodynamic. Interestingly, among future Flightplan enhancements is a limited electronic attack function for all APG-79 AESA radars.
 Aerospace Web - Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Multi-Role Fighter
 Sea Power (June 2004) - F/A-18E/F SUPER HORNET. Via FindArticles.
 Australian Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee On Foreign Affairs, Defence And Trade Defence Subcommittee: Australian Defence Force Regional Air Superiority panel Q&A (July 5/06) - Ipswich session, near RAAF Amberley: Group Capt. Morrison; Group Capt. Davies; Mr Webb; Mr Harling; Mr Duff; Mr Sanderson; Mr Macklin. A very interesting look at the elements required to maintain aging aircraft (the F-111) whose original suppliers are no longer making those parts - an issue that's highly relevant around the world as global military aircraft fleets age.


Source : DEFENCE INDUSTRY DAILY --

(www.defenseindustrydaily.com)

Posted : 04/05/2007

Photo : F/A-18F Super Hornet -Australia to Buy 24 Super Hornets As Interim Gap-Filler to JSF
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(5.07.2007)