F-111 Veterans Create RAAF F/A-18F Squadrons

Veteran Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-111 aircrews are drawing on their strike experience to create the first squadrons of the nation’s F/A-18F Super Hornet fleet.

Among them is Wing Commander Terence Deeth, the skipper of Australia’s No. 6 Sqdn., which takes on operational training duties for the fleet.

The F-model Super Hornet has a two-person crew, like the now-retired F-111, and a portion of the latter’s navigator-bombardiers are being retrained as weapon systems officer (WSO) cadres and aircrews for the F/A-18F.

WSOs will be a subspecialty within the larger RAAF category of air combat officer (ACO), which was instituted about five years ago. If Australia decides to turn 12 of the F-model aircraft into EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft, another ACO specialty will be added for electronic warfare officers (EWOs).

“We take the pilots and WSOs and turn them into functioning crews before feeding them into No. 1 Sqdn.,” says Deeth. “With retirement of the F-111, there’s only one place for WSOs to go. The [training process for Super Hornet] is in its infancy. At the moment, we’re doing the same sorts of things as [those training for the older] classic F/A-18s. We have the capacity to do it a little bit better.”

If Australia decides to turn 12 of the F-model aircraft into EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft

Which without the nonexportable ALQ-99 they won't be able to accomplish. They're betting that they might be able to acquire the NGJ,

If they cannot get the ALQ-99 tactical jammer, what would the chances be of acquiring the Next Generation Jammer?

I understand that the Aussies wired some of their Fs to make it possible for them to become Growlers, and thus they must have known it is possible to get the NGJ as you stated, however I am not comprehending how they can get the NGJ and not the ALQ-99. If the NGJ will include capabilities not found in the current ALQ-99, such as (I am using the original white-paper requirements from the concepts that came up during the NGJ competition) 'broad-band, electronically-scanned arrays, advanced radars, digitized exciters and techniques generators to produce exotic waveforms and algorithms for electronic warfare as well as 'sophisticated arrangement of six, active electronically scanned arrays [AESA]. The new, elongated-hexagon antenna is designed to create a continuous, scalloped and overlapping, 360 degree coverage area with less range and accuracy degradation at array join points.' It sounds (for what that is worth) quite capable, and it would not be replacing the ALQ-99 in USN service if it was less than what it is replacing. Hence, why would the ALQ-99 be off limits, but the NGJ is not? If it is about giving the Aussies a product that is not as capable than what the USN has, isn't it possible to do that with the ALQ-99 as well? Thanks.

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