Australian lawmakers confident in F-35's future

[spazsinbad]

Would it be too much to ask for the correct spelling? HANGAR. Hanger is completely different & not alternative spelling.

[operaaperta]

So basically they must remove the arced-roof sun shelters in bermed bays (as used by visiting F-111 and SH) and build new enclosed hangers in each bay.

So, 6 FOBs with maybe 12 hangered bays per FOB?

How did you reach that conclusion

Forward Operating Base Works
176. A lightweight facility is proposed to be constructed at each of the forward operating bases to store the supporting operation and maintenance modules that will accompany deployed squadrons. The works will also include a compound and passive security measures.

A lightweight facility for deployable containers, no mention of hangared bays

The new Tindal car ports will only be used for F35 when nil flying (end of day, weekends). The current Wagon Wheels and other Shelters will be upgraded to handle high engine temps and higher tyre pressures.

[element1loop]

So basically they must remove the arced-roof sun shelters in bermed bays (as used by visiting F-111 and SH) and build new enclosed hangers in each bay.

So, 6 FOBs with maybe 12 hangered bays per FOB?

How did you reach that conclusion

This is the bit that has had me baffled:

"36. Forward Operating Bases. The deployable mission planning facilities and simulators described earlier will support the deployment of the aircraft to forward operating bases for training and operations. USA security requirements apply to these modules, requiring protection from unauthorised access. Many of the Forward Operating Bases are characterised by high temperatures or torrential downpours at times. Crew comfort considerations and the need to protect the equipment mean that the deployable mission planning facilities need to be protected from the extremes of the weather....”

Source: http://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ash ... bId=254100 (PDF 11.2Mb)

viewtopic.php?p=390899#p390899

----

Indicating what? A fully enclosed shelter at FOBs for aircraft? There's more than one way of reading that, and I've read it bass-ackwards. doh!

[spazsinbad]

These "deployable mission planning facilities and simulators" need to be protected - not the open sided sun shelters for aircraft. One would need to find / read what these modules are that need weather protection and required security.

On page 50 of the 11Mb PDF: "...RAAF Base Tindal
...b. The existing No. 75 Squadron hangarettes and corrosion control facility will be reused with minimal modification for use by visiting squadrons and for storage of deployable simulator and mission planning facilities..."

[operaaperta]

This is the bit that has had me baffled:

The deployable mission planning facilities and simulators described earlier will support the deployment of the aircraft to forward operating bases for training and operations.

Indicating what? A fully enclosed shelter at FOBs for aircraft? There's more than one way of reading that, and I've read it bass-ackwards. doh!

The quote is referring to offboard systems. The items in the pic below are the deployable facilities in question. One of the articles mentioned 39 modules between the F35 Squadrons. 2OCU don’t deploy all that often and generally only to Townsville, so majority will be shared between 3, 75 & 77 Sqn’s. It sounds like a Squadron would deploy with up to 10 of these,some configured for tools and maintenance publications,some with deployable ATE, ALIS, some as Mission planning and simulators. I would imagine the light facilities at FOBs would consist of covered concrete pads and walkways, along with power and IT distribution. All enclosed within a secure compound with security and surveillance systems. The ADGs and Doggies will be kept busy securing the aircraft parked in the FRAs.

[spazsinbad]

Aussie F-35A Drives Historic Shift To USAF Focus From USN
03 Apr 2018 Murielle Delaporte

"RAAF BASE WILLIAMTOWN: The unique capabilities of the 72 F-35As Australia will buy are driving the close US ally to rethink and build new infrastructure to protect the aircraft’s highly classified stealth capabilities, as well as its data, Air Commodore Michael Kitcher said during a visit here....

...Training
To generate a purely Aussie F-35A capability, it is necessary to develop what Kitcher refers to as a “healthy training system.” They will take lessons learned and years of embedding with the US Navy, but they are also incorporating their much shorter work with the US Air Force. In that sense, the F-35A is a major – -and unexpected — game changer as far as the traditionally Navy-centric military relationship between the United States and Australia is concerned.

While they’re taking much information from the US, the end-result is that Australia is to use its new air assets in a different way from any of the US services. RAAF aircrew and maintenance personnel training takes place at Luke AFB, where pilots and maintainers from various parts of the world are embedded for three to four month periods. “This,” the air commodore says, “is key to creating the RAAF F-35A IOC capability,” as this blend of cultures and the ability to learn from US F-35 experience represent a fundamental change compared to the past decades that allows each F-35 country to develop its own tailored modus operandi....

...the F-35A brings therefore a genuine transition to the Australian armed forces from multiple standpoints. The shift from primarily working with the US Navy to working with the USAF. The rapid shift from legacy fighters to F-35A, whereby the Hornet is being transitioned out and the F-35 transitioned in a very short period of time.

Put all of Australia’s air capabilities together — Wedgetail, Super Hornet, Growler, KC-30A and the F-35A with Royal Australian Navy assets such as the new Air Warfare Destroyer and it’s clear the Aussies will be blazing a path of innovation that the United States and other allies can learn from."

Source: https://breakingdefense.com/2018/04/aus ... -from-usn/

[spazsinbad]

Second Verse SAME as the First? Nope. But hey these furriners know the score with our RAAF - NOT! Sure an outside perspective is so cool and RONG. Our FREAKin RAAF does its own thing anyways but will filch what it can from whomever.

The Air Combat Group in Transition: The Perspective of Air Commodore Kitcher
05 Apr 2018 Robbin Laird

"During a visit to Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Williamtown in March 2018, Murielle Delaporte [ABOVE] and I [HERE] had the chance to talk with the new commander of the Air Combat Group, Air Commodore Kitcher....

...This [our RAAF aircraft] is a unique combat capability and represents a shift to the RAAF working with the USAF alongside their continuing long standing and excellent working relationship with the USN. From this, the RAAF will shape something a bit different than the US forces will fly themselves. [YessirreeBobSHIRLEY!]

“We’ve had a long and very fruitful relationship between the Royal Australian Air Force and the US Navy. “We have flown the P-3 and now the P-8. “We have operated the Classic Hornet since, since 1986, and more recently, the Super Hornet, and the Growler. “It’s been a long and enduring relationship, which has proved beneficial to both, and certainly we couldn’t have got where we are with Super Hornet and Growler without the outstanding support the US Navy provided us.

“With the F-35A we’re expanding our relationship with the US Air Force. “And clearly standing up our squadron at Luke AFB and working with the USAF has been beneficial and a key driver to this evolving relationship.”..." [DUH]

[THEN LOTS of LAH DE DAH about what is changing with infrastructure especially at RAAF Willyton]

Source: https://sldinfo.com/2018/04/the-air-com ... e-kitcher/

[spazsinbad]

RAAF accepts three more F-35As
09 Apr 2018 Andrew McLaughlin

"The RAAF has formally accepted three more F-35As from Lockheed Martin at the Integrated Training Centre at Luke AFB in Arizona. After rolling out and taking flight for the first time in December and January, F-35As A35-003, 004 and 005 were accepted into the ITC in early March. The new aircraft are the first JSF international partner aircraft to be delivered with the latest Block 3F operational flight program software load.

“These latest aircraft are fitted with the program’s final software system, which unlocks the aircraft’s full war-fighting potential including weapons, mission systems and flight performance,” Defence Minister Senator Marise Payne said in a statement on Monday. “Five more aircraft are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2018.”..."

Source: http://australianaviation.com.au/2018/0 ... re-f-35as/

[spazsinbad]

F-35A Training Equipment Delivered
02 May 2018 Minister for Defence Senator the Hon Marise Payne

"One of the world’s largest aircraft has landed at RAAF Base Williamtown today carrying the first delivery of Australia’s state of the art training equipment for the Joint Strike Fighter. Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne said the Antonov An-124 touched down this afternoon after a two day journey from the United Kingdom carrying equipment for the Australian F-35A Integrated Training Centre.

“Today’s deliver includes an Ejection Systems Maintenance Trainer which is a replica of the F-35A aircraft escape systems and a Weapons Load Trainer, which replicates the F-35A fuselage, including the weapons bay and wing hard points. “The equipment delivered today will provide Australia with its own F-35 pilot and maintainer training capability and will form part of the overall Australian F-35A Training System,” Minister Payne said. “Importantly this equipment will enable our pilots and crews to train without having to remove aircraft from flight schedules.

“This is an important milestone with two of Australia’s F-35A aircraft to be based at RAAF Base Williamtown from December 2018 and pilot training expected to commence at Williamtown from mid next year." Minister Payne said future deliveries to Williamtown’s No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit will include six Full Mission Simulators required for F-35A pilot training. “The first two of these six simulators will be delivered later this year,” she said...."

Source: https://www.f35.com/news/detail/f-35a-t ... -delivered

[steve2267]

My how the world has changed... a Russian-made aircraft delivering equipment to support a Russian-defying tactical jet...

[spazsinbad]

Before the big monsta C-17As our ADF used the services of these super monsta aircraft a lot then we got sic of it and....

[hythelday]

My how the world has changed... a Russian-made aircraft delivering equipment to support a Russian-defying tactical jet...

Antonovs are either Soviet made or Ukraine made, never Russian.

At least this one was Antonov Airlines, somewhat friendlier and maybe more secure option compared to Volga-Dnepr.

[spazsinbad]

Ruskies gettin' jiggy with it - Canberra.

[blindpilot]

Ruskies gettin' jiggy with it - Canberra.
...

Great video. That pretty much looks like my takeoff out of Diego Garcia back when it was a donkey island and a 6,000 foot runway. The U-2 Mission Commander in the jump seat was pretty quiet after that and squirmed a bit with his presumably damp shorts. Those takeoffs will get the heart beat going.

FWIW,
BP

[steve2267]

BP, do accelerate-stop / accelerate-go distances get tossed out (or paid lip service) for those types of takeoffs? That is, you're taking off whether you like it or not... it's just that if you lose a blower during roll... you're going for a swim (Diego)?