Australian lawmakers confident in F-35's future

Dragon029 · by **Dragon029** » 16 Aug 2018, 08:59

The total procurement for the Growlers, including spare parts, spare engines, ALQ-99 pods and some length of (possibly lifetime) support was $3.7 billion (not sure if that's AUD or USD) for 12 jets. $300 million is almost certainly an overestimate, with spares being able to go onto the other 11, etc, but there's probably some amount of $ that's effectively wasted on contractor support services that won't be needed to the same degree any longer (ie some contractors whose average work day just became ~9% lighter, but are still getting paid the same).

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 16 Aug 2018, 09:12

NON-defence hacks are just that - and today with click bait journalism, so called, anything goes. 'Dragon029' has it here:

viewtopic.php?f=58&t=23043&p=380155&hilit=growler+cost#p380155 PAGE 46 this thread.

"...It ended up being cheaper just to buy 12 brand new Growlers at $1.5 billion ($125m each) …"
https://www.airforce.gov.au/Technology/ ... FVFKb02OLN

steve2267 · by **steve2267** » 16 Aug 2018, 16:23

Any word on using that bird as a (slightly toasted) hangar queen for parts? Or was everything burned to a crisp? If it was an uncontained engine failure, one engine is certainly toast, but could the other engine potentially be a spare (assuming it didn't burn up or get flailed)? Could there even be useful spare parts from the engine that threw a shoe? Or will that likely be a total wreck?

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 19 Aug 2018, 02:52

RAAF warplane's engine 'destroyed itself' during attempted take-off, resulting in $120 million fire
19 Aug 2018 Andrew Greene

"...Six months on from the fiery mishap, the Defence Department has confirmed the damaged Growler has since been "withdrawn from service" and the department has begun examining how it can recover the cost of the aircraft, believed to be worth $120 million….

...The investigation has confirmed a high-pressure compressor in the Growler's engine had broken into three major pieces, with one segment piercing through the bottom of the jet and taking a chunk out of the runway.

Another piece of the compressor went sideways through the second engine causing severe damage, while the third piece went up and destroyed the right-hand tailfin before flying away and landing some distance from the jet.

As the jet came to a halt, the rear fuselage was engulfed in fire, the main undercarriage collapsed, and two of the three ALQ-99 electronic jammer pods it was carrying were severely damaged….

...The Defence Department says it is exploring options for the "recovery of economic losses resulting from the incident" now that the aircraft has been assessed as "beyond economic repair". "Due to contractual arrangements, this process is expected to take a period of time," the Department said.

Senior Defence figures say any compensation claim would likely go first through the US Navy, then to the airframe manufacturer Boeing, then to engine maker General Electric, and finally to the engine component supplier. The RAAF has 11 jets remaining in its Growler fleet but is yet to decide whether it will replace the damaged aircraft."

Source: https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australi ... ar-BBM61vQ

h-bomb · by **h-bomb** » 19 Aug 2018, 08:06

steve2267 wrote:Any word on using that bird as a (slightly toasted) hangar queen for parts? Or was everything burned to a crisp? If it was an uncontained engine failure, one engine is certainly toast, but could the other engine potentially be a spare (assuming it didn't burn up or get flailed)? Could there even be useful spare parts from the engine that threw a shoe? Or will that likely be a total wreck?

From this Aussie site, it looks like a lot is going to be salvageable. Even the seats are still in place:

http://adbr.com.au/raaf-growler-crash-a ... s-reports/

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 19 Aug 2018, 08:33

Mmmm Fire Damage Assessment from AFAR. Photos:

http://adbr.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2 ... -2-002.jpg

http://adbr.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2 ... CD9AE1.png

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 22 Aug 2018, 01:36

Long bits of drivel I reckon about protests about NGJ development - tell 'em their dreamin' but last paragraph interesting:

L3, Northrop Selected for Next Generation Jammer Work; Program Stalled After Raytheon Protest
21 Aug 2018 Sam LaGrone

"...The gradual introduction of the NGJ systems onto U.S. and Australian Boeing EA-18G Growlers will initially augment the ALQ-99 before eventually replacing the legacy capability, according to NAVAIR."

Source: https://news.usni.org/2018/08/21/l3-nor ... more-35935

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 31 Aug 2018, 05:25

For more information about the Australian F-35A Project, visit http://www.defence.gov.au/casg/AboutCAS ... rDivision/

Construction of new Joint Strike Fighter maintenance facility in Queensland
30 Aug 2018 Oz CASG

"TAE Aerospace will develop a Turbine Engine Maintenance Facility (TEMF) in Bundamba, south-east Queensland, which will support in-country sustainment of Australia’s fifth-generation F-35A Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft. The TEMF will enable deeper-level maintenance, where JSF F135 engine modules are disassembled, repaired and reassembled for testing.

The Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, said the new facility was a testament to the strength of Australia’s defence industry and the contribution it made to the global F-35 Program. “TAE Aerospace’s new facility will support maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade (MRO&U) activities for not only Australian F135 engines but also engines from around the Asia-Pacific region and the world,” Minister Pyne said.

“TAE Aerospace is 100 per cent Australian-owned with 237 employees at several sites across Australia, with contracts to support Classic Hornet, Super Hornet, Growler and M1 Abram tank engines. The addition of the F135 engine MRO&U activities will add a minimum of 15 aerospace technician jobs to its workforce and up to 85 additional jobs as part of the future F-35 Global Support Solution.”

The Australian Government has approved the acquisition of 72 F-35A JSF aircraft to replace the current fleet of 71 ageing F/A-18A/B Classic Hornets. “The global F-35 Program has had a positive impact on Australia’s growing defence industry, which has collectively been awarded in excess of $1 billion in production contracts and will support up to 5000 Australian jobs by 2023,” Minister Pyne said.

Source: http://www.defence.gov.au/casg/NewsMedi ... Queensland

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 17 Sep 2018, 09:04

RAAF takes delivery of ninth F-35A
17 Sep 2018 Australian Defence Business Review

"The RAAF has taken delivery of its ninth F-35A Joint Strike Fighter and the first to be taken on strength by its first operational flying unit to fly the jet, No 3 Squadron. F-35A A35-009 was delivered to Luke Air Force Base, Arizona where it was accepted by 3QSN in early September....

...3SQN pilots and maintenance personnel are currently training on the F-35 with the US Air Force’s 56th Fighter Wing at Luke. The squadron is due to bring the first two jets to Australia in mid-December for a ‘Verification & Validation Testing’ program and to allow in-country F-35 maintenance training to begin. Earlier RAAF F-35As are flying with the 56th Fighter Wing as part of the International F-35A Pilot Training Center....

...Australia has committed to buying 72 F-35As under Project AIR 6000 Phases 2A/2B, which are scheduled to be delivered by 2023 to replace the RAAF’s F/A-18A/B Hornets. RAAF Initial Operational Capability with the F-35A is planned for December 2020."

Photo: "RAAF F-35A A35-009, taking off from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. (Defence)"
http://adbr.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2 ... 002-PR.jpg

Source: http://adbr.com.au/raaf-takes-delivery-of-ninth-f-35a/

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 17 Sep 2018, 22:29

SENATE - FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE AND TRADE LEGISLATION COMMITTEE - Estimates - (Public)
21 Oct 2015 Aust Fed Parl

"...Air Vice Marshal Deeble: The first two aircraft were purchased under LRIP 6, and they were delivered in 2014. The next aircraft that we will receive will be Low-Rate Initial Production 10. That will be in 2018. Eight aircraft will be purchased at that point in time. The following year, in LRIP 11, we will purchase another eight aircraft. Following that, on an annual basis, we will be purchasing 15 aircraft each year out to 2023, where we will purchase the last nine aircraft to take us to a total of 72 aircraft.…"

Source: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/dow ... df/Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee_2015_10_21_3923.pdf;fileType=application/pdf [OF COURSE THE PDF is no longer here so I'll post a page]

This post in this thread may have some of the PDF: viewtopic.php?f=58&t=23043&p=307182&hilit=Deeble#p307182
PDF: F-35 bits Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee_2015_10_21_3923 pp2.pdf (163Kb)
download/file.php?id=21974 [PDF attached below again - quote at bottom of second page of the 2 page PDF]

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 18 Sep 2018, 23:05

My GoogieErf does not show a recent overhead of F-35 Precinct RAAF Williamtown (WillyTown) yours might. Images from:

https://www.defencetalk.com/military/at ... jpg.46179/ & https://www.defencetalk.com/military/at ... jpg.46178/ & https://www.defencetalk.com/military/at ... jpg.46177/

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 11 Oct 2018, 02:38

First two F-35A Joint Strike Fighters to land at Wiliamtown RAAF Base on December 10
10 Oct 2018 Charlie Elias

"RAAF Base Williamtown will be the scene of national defence force history when the first two of 72 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) arrive on Australian soil for permanent residency on Monday, December 10.... the aircraft will be operated by Number 3 Squadron to be commanded by Wing Commander Darren Clare.

A Defence spokesperson said that work on the infrastructure required for the RAAF Base at Williamtown to house the JSFs was ongoing “however the necessary components for the arrival of the first two aircraft are complete”....

...Pilot training is planned to commence at Williamtown in early 2019 [???] with the aircraft expected to enter service in 2020...." [how about pilots train in Oz in 2021 with MAINTAINER training starting in 2019 with RAAF F-35A IOC in 2021?]

Source: https://www.portstephensexaminer.com.au ... -december/

element1loop · by **element1loop** » 11 Oct 2018, 10:48

Hopefully before testing gets going they'll do a lap around the country to show everyone that they're here ........................ finally.

sferrin · by **sferrin** » 11 Oct 2018, 11:54

element1loop wrote:Hopefully before testing gets going they'll do a lap around the country to show everyone that they're here ........................ finally.

And do a low altitude supersonic pass over Carlo Kopp's place. :twisted:

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 24 Oct 2018, 01:43

NOT a KOPPuLater for Kopp but anuvver Oz ScientificBod gets a US Medal for F-35 work.

Australian scientist honoured for F-35 software
24 Oct 2018 ADM

"Australian Defence scientist Paul Marsden has been awarded the US Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service, the highest award of the US Office of the Secretary of Defense for a non-US civilian. Marsden has been recognised by the US Secretary for Defense for developing software estimated to save more than US$33 million over the life of the F‑35 program.

Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne congratulated Mr Marsden on his innovative work that converts raw flight data into an easily readable form….

...“This data conversion software means the Joint Strike Fighter program will save on recurring costs by no longer relying on the original equipment manufacturer to interpret the data,” Minister Pyne said.

The F-35 Joint Program Office will also use the converted data to support maintenance issues that require urgent attention, making further savings in indirect costs.

“Paul is the third Australian Defence scientist to receive this prestigious award in the last four years, which is a great indicator of Aussie ingenuity and the calibre of personnel going to the US for postings,” Minister Pyne said."

Source: http://www.australiandefence.com.au/new ... 5-software