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Military opts for US chopper
The Australian ^ | 23rd October 2009 | Patrick Walters

Posted on 10/22/2009 5:26:20 PM PDT by naturalman1975

AUSTRALIA'S military chiefs favour the US over Europe in a planned $4 billion naval combat helicopter buy that is generating high-level concern among senior government ministers and local defence industry leaders.

In a classified submission sent to defence ministers John Faulkner and Greg Combet, the military chiefs have opted for the US Navy's MH-60R Seahawk as the best choice for the Royal Australian Navy's new rotary wing anti-submarine warfare platform.

The military chiefs favour an early decision on the Sikorsky MH-60R, arguing that it represents a cheaper, risk-free solution for Australia compared with its competitor, the European NH90 naval frigate helicopter.

The NH90 is a maritime version of the MRH90 now entering service with the Australian army. Its maker, European defence giant EADS, has established a strong industry presence locally with a workforce of 1000.

The clear military preference for a US solution troubles ministers, given the multi-billion-dollar investment in European combat helicopters by the Australian Defence Force in recent years.

Another concern is that selecting a new US helicopter will fly in the face of Defence's goal of reducing the types of helicopters flown by the ADF.

(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.news.com.au ...


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: helicopter; mh60r; navair; seahawk; usnavy

1 posted on 10/22/2009 5:26:20 PM PDT by naturalman1975
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To: naturalman1975

Good heloporn here: http://www.sikorsky.com/StaticFiles/Sikorsky/Assets/Attachments/Mission%20Downloads/N-082%20August%202008.pdf


2 posted on 10/22/2009 5:29:34 PM PDT by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitur)
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To: Vroomfondel; SC Swamp Fox; Fred Hayek; NY Attitude; P3_Acoustic; Bean Counter; investigateworld; ...
SONOBUOY PING!

Click on pic for past Navair pings.

Post or FReepmail me if you wish to be enlisted in or discharged from the Navair Pinglist.
The only requirement for inclusion in the Navair Pinglist is an interest in Naval Aviation.
This is a medium to low volume pinglist.

3 posted on 10/22/2009 5:34:39 PM PDT by magslinger (Inside every father is a Bryan Mills waiting to get out.)
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To: naturalman1975

What is your take on this, naturalman1975? I know you guys down under really liked the F-111’s you bought from us. (Still flying them, I see...)

I say: Thank God for the Aussies...;)


4 posted on 10/22/2009 5:36:25 PM PDT by rlmorel (Obama, The Flatulence of One Thousand Black Dogs After Eating Boiled Eggs Be Upon Him...)
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To: naturalman1975

There’s a kindred spirit here, and also the knowledge that the equipment provided to our guys can stand up to the test for them as well. God Bless the Aussies!


5 posted on 10/22/2009 5:43:07 PM PDT by Sax
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To: naturalman1975
Good on 'em! Hope they have better luck than with the previous ASW helo's they got from us (SH-2G Seasprite)
6 posted on 10/22/2009 5:43:52 PM PDT by shorty_harris
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To: naturalman1975

Let’s hope our brothers in arms down under have better luck selecting helicopters than they have submarines...

Eh mate?


7 posted on 10/22/2009 5:56:57 PM PDT by Bean Counter (Stout Hearts....)
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To: Bean Counter

Actually, I believe the Collins class are extremely good boats. There were teething troubles but their effects were extremely exagerated in the media. And the same thing is happening now. The problems are nowhere near as severe as is being made out.


8 posted on 10/22/2009 6:15:38 PM PDT by naturalman1975 ("America was under attack. Australia was immediately there to help." - John Winston Howard)
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To: rlmorel

Personally, I don’t know enough about helicopters to have a real opinion on this. I’m just glad to see we seem to have a choice between a few decent options. Personally I’d rather our money to an American firm than a European one all things being equal - but I’ve no problem going European if what they’ve produced is better or better suited to our needs.

In this case, it looks like an American company can provide us with what we need, there’s no clearly better option. That’s enough for me.


9 posted on 10/22/2009 6:18:45 PM PDT by naturalman1975 ("America was under attack. Australia was immediately there to help." - John Winston Howard)
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To: naturalman1975

No better friends to us Yanks than the Aussies


10 posted on 10/22/2009 6:22:49 PM PDT by llevrok (As a matter of fact, yes I DO care if Jimmy cracks corn !)
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To: naturalman1975

Good reply. I will be the first to admit, that I am willing to surrender some margin of some capability in a weapons system in order to retain domestic production capability, but I also admit to having realistic limits to that willingness.

There have been times in history where there is technology that makes the balance of capability so lopsided that to fail to acquire it by any means is very destructive to the warriors who may have to use it.

I do not think this is the case in this situation, though. I understand the concept of commonality of platforms, but the drawbacks of not making that a priority are far outweighed by the concept of getting excellent, robust and battle-tested hardware from a trusted ally.

Our countries go back a ways as dedicated partners in warfare. Better that we never had to fight any wars, but even better yet is being able to depend on someone if you do.

You can tell I am a fan of your country...:)


11 posted on 10/22/2009 6:31:25 PM PDT by rlmorel (Obama, The Flatulence of One Thousand Black Dogs After Eating Boiled Eggs Be Upon Him...)
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To: naturalman1975

All I know about the problems with the Collins Class subs is what I’ve read in the past week or so, and it did not sound good. It sounds like they have some major design flaws in the engineering plant, and the last I heard they were talking about new engines. even replacing all the main bearings is major drydock work, and probably involves a hull opening to gain access to the plant.


12 posted on 10/22/2009 6:41:49 PM PDT by Bean Counter (Stout Hearts....)
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To: naturalman1975

Well, let’s face it. The Leftists in the world want to disarm everyone, but the conservatives everywhere understand that everyone won’t be “everyone”.

As such, they do all they can to discredit any weapons system they can. There are a lot of examples in my country. The F-111 was a great example. Even better was the Abrams tank, and the Bradley.

They crucified the Abrams, said it would be hopelessly useless in the desert sand and would be technologically neutered by unreliable hardware. It was magnificent in every use employed.

I read a book recently called “No True Glory” by Bing West. It is about the battle for Fallujah. There were parts in the book that I recall where when a Bradley showed up on the scene of a battle with its chain gun, the engaged Marines would feel that “Yep, we’re really going to give it to those bastards now” or “Thank God the Bradley is here”.

Sure, there are always turkeys in military terms, but they want everything to be a turkey. That way, they can get the program cancelled and use the money that was going to buy the military turkey, and put it towards turkey basters for Lesbians. Or, as Ann Coulter puts it, towards some other “comically useless” social program.


13 posted on 10/22/2009 6:43:57 PM PDT by rlmorel (Obama, The Flatulence of One Thousand Black Dogs After Eating Boiled Eggs Be Upon Him...)
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To: Bean Counter

Hm. I hadn’t heard that. As a former Navy man, That sounds all bad. And any engineering design flaw on a sub is inherently ten times worse than a surface ship.

Hell, look at what happened to the USS Thresher. Design flaw. Gotta be careful with subs.


14 posted on 10/22/2009 6:46:35 PM PDT by rlmorel (Obama, The Flatulence of One Thousand Black Dogs After Eating Boiled Eggs Be Upon Him...)
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To: rlmorel
Extreme concern in Australia over subs
15 posted on 10/22/2009 8:52:01 PM PDT by Yo-Yo (Joe Wilson speaks for me.)
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To: naturalman1975
Personally, I don’t know enough about helicopters to have a real opinion on this.

As a former brownshoe, let me help.

Helicopters don't fly. They beat the air into submission.

The rotor is held onto the rotor shaft by a big threaded nut. It's called the Jesus nut because if it ever comes loose, Oh Jesus!

Helicopter: A collection of junk vibrating together in close formation.

Autorotataion: The Mom Manuever. As in, "Don't worry Mom! See, if the engine conks out we can just autorotate into the freezing water!"

16 posted on 10/22/2009 9:10:06 PM PDT by Knitebane (Happily Microsoft free since 1999.)
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To: magslinger

Good on ya’ mate. You won’t regret this choice. The Romeo is a good ASW helo.

TC


17 posted on 10/23/2009 2:11:48 AM PDT by Pentagon Leatherneck
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