Major Defence Shake-up

[Charl]

Lots of tasks handed off to civvies (a worldwide trend, really)
Herks to be replaced by 2020 - surely by another...J version?
And 3 more A109's than previously included in the new buy.
I wonder how they get to cost $15 million a copy?

No mention of UAV's anywhere...

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article....jectid=10684967

[Naki]

Yeah I would say the J model ..if not the A400M (probably too expensive) or the Embraer KC-390 (maybe too small and yet to fly)..it also mentioned the 757s which maybe replaced at the same time..so maybe a slightly bigger fleet of J model Hercs and a BBJ? IMO they should of already had J model Hercs instead wasting money trying to update the current 45 year old ones.

$15M seems way too much for one A-109LUH ..maybe thats for three?

In the document itself (which the Herald omits), it outlines the Purchase of maritime patrol/light transport aircraft to replace the King Airs. Possibly Q300s although it does talk about STOL so hopefully this will mean something more useful such as the C-235 or C-295 which have rear loading ramps.

Other aviation related items mentioned is that the Orions would be replaced in 2025 with something similar in capability - this would only mean P-8s (wont be cheap) and that the Seaprites will be upgraded or replaced within 5 years. My guess that they will be upgraded as they arent that old.

Who know what will happen between now and 2025 and no doubt other Governments will have different ideas.
In any case we arent going backwards with the changes (just look at the massive cuts in the UK and Germany and to a certain extent the US) and strengthens what we already have. No sign of a ressurected AFC though...which isn't surprising

[Ian Warren]

You replace a C130 with a C130Z model , with the upgrades they probally be able to sell them off to a third world country , think the A400s maybe a little to big , the P8 would be the obvious choice for maritime patrol , any thing smaller would not have the range .

I would say your right with the costing on those A109s .

Strange to think everyone downsizing forces , wonder what would happen if the pooh really hit the fan , all us civvies will flying our combat strikes from the desktop with UVAs .

[Charl]

Maritime Patrol, and the Search part of SAR... these are functions for much smaller and cheaper unmanned vehicles.
More correctly, Remotely Piloted Vehicles (which can loiter for many hours autonomously, too).

When you find a target of interest, launch the expensive hardware to do stuff, like drop a life-raft, or kill it.
Seems like a no-brainer to me.

[deaneb]

QUOTE (Naki @ Nov 3 2010, 10:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

IMO they should of already had J model Hercs instead wasting money trying to update the current 45 year old ones.

At the time the J model was consider, apart from being beyond the budget, they were farly new and there were issues with capability. They were ok for medium haul transport, but rough strip operations were not so flash with "plastic propellers" and other issues. Not sure if most of these have been sorted or not, but the Aussies had limitations on pax hours in the back (5 hours a time) due to the associated vibration and fatigue from the props as well. Thats why they had a Squadron of J's to do the transport and another Squadron of E's? or H's? that do all the rough and tough combat stuff.

[deaneb]

QUOTE (Charl @ Nov 3 2010, 02:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Maritime Patrol, and the Search part of SAR... these are functions for much smaller and cheaper unmanned vehicles.
More correctly, Remotely Piloted Vehicles (which can loiter for many hours autonomously, too).

When you find a target of interest, launch the expensive hardware to do stuff, like drop a life-raft, or kill it.
Seems like a no-brainer to me.

Nice in theory, but we are too small a Force to justify remote vehicles and then have other aircraft sitting waiting for an as required basis. The Orions (and 5 Squadron) have always been capable of doing their job well, because they are out there doing a variety of roles all the time, either patrolling / searching or training. All this means a ready and competent capability.