Australia says it plans to buy 24 Super Hornet fighter bombers

IHT.com ^ | 3/6/2007 | AP Writer

[LM_Guy]

Australia is a Very GOOD ally that has shown in many ways it can be counted on !!

[b4its2late]

Yes they are!

[Yo-Yo]

I still say if Australia wants to replace the capabilities of the F-111, they should be looking at the F-15E (or K variant with sea search mode AESA radar.)

In terms of range, loiter, payload, and attack capability, the F-15 Strike Eagle is much closer matched to the F-111C/G than the F/A-18F or the F-35.

But that's just me.

[dighton]

Charles Krauthammer: Why I Love Australia

[Paleo Conservative]

I still say if Australia wants to replace the capabilities of the F-111, they should be looking at the F-15E (or K variant with sea search mode AESA radar.)

What about a squadron of B-1B's that is currently mothballed?

[Yo-Yo]

Speak-of-the-devil Ping.

[Sidebar Moderator]

International Herald Tribune material must be excerpted in all circumstances. Please make a note of it.

[Yo-Yo]

We have enough mothballed F-111s to keep the Aussie Varks flying forever. The B-1Bs are mothballed because they are maintenance pigs and hanger queens.

The RAAF want something shiny new out of the box.

The thing is the Aussies will find out that the F-35 doesn't replace the maritime interdiction role that the F-111 does so well for them. Neither will the F/A-18F. Only the F-15E with conformal fuel tanks comes close to the F-111's range and payload.

Does the B-1B even have an IR targeting designator pod option?

[SJSAMPLE]

I just saw a post yesterday with the Sniper pod on the B-1B.
Hella cool.

[Yo-Yo]

Oh yeah, I saw that too, now that you remind me.

Thanks!

[Paleo Conservative]

The B-1B would have plenty of range, and can carry most of the weapons the B-52H can carry but in larger quantities.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

So basically, the B-52-H is just a workhorse after all the threats have been eliminated, and we have air superiority.

[SampleMan]

Yes, its been it the works for quite a while.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

The old B-52H pickup workhorse

[Paleo Conservative]

So basically, the B-52-H is just a workhorse after all the threats have been eliminated, and we have air superiority.

Mostly, but it can carry Harpoon antiship cruise missles. I don't think those have been adapted to the B-1B.

[SampleMan]

Probably a sign that they aren't looking to replace the mission one for one.

[Centurion2000]

We should sell them 24 B-1B Bombers that we have mothballed. They'd love 'em.

Of course being nuclear capable strategic bombers ..... well the aussies could have a strategic retaliatory capability against China or India.

[Snickersnee]

We have enough mothballed F-111s to keep the Aussie Varks flying forever.

Seems so! "Fly" over the boneyard at Davis-Monthan sometime using the Google or Yahoo satellite maps -- there's a ton of them all right. Any FReepers ever take an inventory of the stuff in there? (Love spotting the RB-57s with the big, big wings.)

[SampleMan]

The thing is the Aussies will find out that the F-35 doesn't replace the maritime interdiction role that the F-111 does so well for them. Neither will the F/A-18F. Only the F-15E with conformal fuel tanks comes close to the F-111's range and payload.

When the Aussies bought the F-111's they were looking at a very different threat. The F-111 is a pig as a fighter, and the F-15E is G limited as well (I'm unsure about the K).

This tells me that the Aussies are more interested in an air superiority fighter that has attack capability than the opposite.

For strictly maritime interdiction missions, they would be better off with the 737 or getting some surplus S-3Bs. Range, loiter, and long range radar being king in that mission. Then again, it might just be about the cost.

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

Let's roll, Aussies!

Load them Hornets up with Mk82 Slum Truncheons and launch for Iraq.