New Royal Australian Air Force F 35As leave bound for Luke AFB

Australian Industry Proves World Beater, Smashing $1BN Milestone for Superjet

The Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today announced that Australian industry has been collectively awarded over $1 billion in production for the F-35 program.

The strength of Australia’s defence industry has made it a significant and crucial contributor to the program which will support up to 5000 Australian jobs by 2023.

“More than 50 Australian companies directly shared in the production contracts to date, with many more indirectly benefiting through supply chain work,” Minister Pyne said.

“Australian industry continues to prove its global competitiveness by performing better than initial forecasts, with Australian industry involvement expected to exceed $2 billion by 2023.”

“The journey of Australian industry’s involvement in the global F-35 Program has been one of great success and long-term economic opportunity for Australia.

In 2016 the Joint Strike Fighter program supported more than 2400 jobs across Australia, which is set to grow to 5000 by 2023.

“Further opportunities are expected for Australian companies to increase production contract values over the next four years as F-35 production rates more than double.

“Australian industry is manufacturing parts that will be fitted to every F-35 aircraft in production across the globe.

“Australian success in the Joint Strike Fighter program isn’t limited to manufacturing parts. Australian industry has also been chosen as the maintenance hub for the engines, airframes and 64 of 65 components which have been assigned by the Joint Project Office.

“When I travel to the U.S. in April I will be arguing for more work for Australia, we have the capability and we deserve the work,” Minister Pyne said.

In a major milestone for the Australian F-35A Project, the first Australian-made Vertical Tail – produced by Victorian-based company Marand – was fitted to Australia’s third F-35A aircraft as it neared completion at Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, in August 2017.

The stealthy, advanced F-35A represents a significant change in capabilities and will give Australia an edge against the emergence regionally of advanced capabilities.

The first two Australian F-35A aircraft are scheduled to arrive for permanent basing at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, in December.

By the time of Final Operating Capability, expected in December 2023, Australia will have a training squadron and three operational squadrons comprising 72 aircraft.

Engine component suspected in RAAF EA-18G incident

Royal Australian Air Force Group Capt. Tim Alsop told Las Vegas Review-Journal that “a particular component failure” on one of the engines of a EA-18G had a role to play in the fire at Nellis Air Force Base on Jan. 27.

Royal Australian Air Force Second flight of life-saving equipment arrives in Tonga

Royal Australian Air Force to Test Skills in Exercise Cope North 2018

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) members will deploy to Guam to participate in Exercise Cope North 18, held from 10 February–2 March 2018.

Exercise Cope North is an annual high-end air combat and humanitarian assistance exercise.

Up to twelve F/A-18A Hornets from RAAF Base Williamtown No. 77 Squadron will participate in Exercise Cope North, operating alongside aircraft from the United States and Japan.

The Exercise aims to develop and improve combat readiness, humanitarian assistance procedures and increase the interoperability between the United States, Australia and Japan.

The focus of the exercise will be the deployment and redeployment of combat support capabilities and the conduct of aeromedical evacuation, security forces and airfield operations.

Australian Commander for the Exercise, Group Captain Ben Sleeman, said there are great opportunities to gain from Cope North.
“This is the seventh year Australia has participated in the Exercise and every year we gain a further appreciation of how our equipment, aircraft and personnel operate together in this environment,” Group Captain Sleeman said.

“A C-27J Spartan aircraft from RAAF Base Richmond will also deploy for the first time on Exercise Cope North as part of the humanitarian assistance scenario, and will provide aeromedical evacuation and air logistics support from Guam.

“Cope North gives us the opportunity to validate the effectiveness of our new platforms such as the C-27J Spartan in complex scenarios, as well as the training of its crew,” Group Captain Sleeman said.

In addition, a Combat Support element and Aeromedical Evacuation team will deploy to enhance interoperability.

Exercise Cope North is held at Andersen Air Force base on Guam and hosted by the United States Pacific Air Forces.

2018 Australia Day F/A-18 Sydney Harbour Flyover

Video of RAAF EA-18G incident at Nellis AFB

A RAAF EA-18G caught fire during take-off at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada on Jan. 27. KTNV Channel 13 Las Vegas has a video of the incident.

RAAF Base Darwin was on “increased readiness” when Russian bombers were in Indonesia

Personnel at RAAF Base Darwin were operating at “increased readiness” earlier this month when a pair of Russian Tu-95MS bombers were in neighboring Indonesia.

AP-3C Orion A9-756 delivery to the South Australian Aviation Museum

HMAS Hobart continues with her trials off the coast of New South Wales

#GreenGhost #HmasHobart continues with her trials off the coast of New South Wales - this is a great video of yesterday’s Harpoon ejection test- #FightandWin. @Australian_Navy pic.twitter.com/1iuLdX4oi5

— RADM Stu Mayer (@COMAUSFLT) November 30, 2017

Royal Australian Navy MH-60R badly damaged

A Royal Australian Navy (RAN) MH-60R naval helicopter was badly damaged inside the hangar of HMAS Warramunga on Oct. 9

Royal Australian Navy commissioned the Guided Missile Destroyer, HMAS Hobart

HMAS Hobart has “slipped her lines” and set sail for the first time since commissioning on 23 September 2017.

Her departure from Fleet Base East, Garden Island, Sydney on Wednesday heralded the much anticipated return to sea for the Guided Missile Destroyer (DDG) of the Royal Australian Navy.

During her journey to and from Jervis Bay on the New South Wales south coast, HMAS Hobart’s ship’s company will perform a series of exercises to test core mariner skills.

Commanding Officer, HMAS Hobart, Captain John Stavridis, said the ship’s company were eager to put their skills to the test.

“This is really the first key milestone in proving that we can operate the warship safely and effectively,” he said.

“My crew have worked very hard to get the ship commissioned and ready for sea.”

The week long Mariner Skills Evaluation (MSE) period will see the ship’s company put through their paces in a series of essential navigation and seamanship exercises off the east coast of Australia to prove Hobart’s safe and effective operation at sea.

The MSE will feature boat drills, man-overboard, casualty and damage control exercises.

“The ship’s company will be tested in toxic hazards, fire-fighting, flood stop and repair, all the essential emergency responses to ensure a ship can operate safely at sea,” Captain Stavridis said.

“It’s a challenging time for the ship’s company but the sense of accomplishment will make it very worthwhile.”

“We’re all very proud to wear the name Hobart on our shoulders and carry the motto ‘Grow with Strength’,” he said.

“This is an opportunity to live up to that legacy.”

On return to Fleet Base East, Hobart will continue with a complex series of system trials and unit readiness tests and evaluations, working towards full operational capacity late next year.

Royal Australian Air Force Super Hornets Get EW Upgrade

Harris Corporation has received a US$133 million EW contract to supply electronic jammers to protect US Navy and Australian F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet aircraft against electronic threats. The contract was awarded during the first quarter of Harris’ fiscal 2018.

Under the contract, Harris will manufacture and deliver ALQ-214(V)4/5Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures (IDECM) jammers for the F/A-18C/D/E/F variants. The ALQ-214(V)4/5 is the key onboard electronic warfare jamming system for the IDECM programme and protects the aircraft from sophisticated electronic threats, including modern integrated air defence systems.

Deliveries to the US Navy and to Australia through the US government’s Foreign Military Sales programme are expected to be complete by May 2020.

“Naval aviators face a growing range of threats as their missions evolve and hostile actors gain access to increasingly advanced technology,” said Ed Zoiss, president, Harris Electronic Systems. “Harris has helped keep naval aviators ahead of emerging threats for nearly 20 years. We remain firmly committed to supporting their critical missions.”

RAAF C-27J Spartan lands on Nullarbor plain (Highway)

RAAF performed a rare practice landing on the Nullarbor plain

Extraordinary scenes on the Nullarbor plain as the Royal Flying Doctor Service & the RAAF performed a rare practice landing. @JessAdamson7 pic.twitter.com/fn2edgdNcq

— 7 News Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) October 22, 2017

Indonesia deploys F-16s to Darwin for Elang AUSINDO 17

The Indonesian Air Force has deployed six F-16s to Darwin, Australia for exercise Elang AUSINDO 17 with the Royal Australian Air Force.

Royal Australian MH60R helo conducts submarine-tracking exercises

Globally deployed #MH60R helo conducts submarine-tracking exercises | video via @Australian_Navy https://t.co/9SzbGHZYJY #SeoulADEX pic.twitter.com/Hoaja8rtBt

— Lockheed Martin (@LockheedMartin) October 20, 2017

Royal Australian Air Force races to the MotoGP

Three Miniature Satellites for ADF will be Provided by UNSW Canberra

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today announced a three-year space research and development program between the University of New South Wales Canberra (UNSW Canberra) at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

Announcing this significant investment at the Astronautical Conference on Thursday night, Minister Pyne said the Government was investing the $9.96 million to support the growth of Australian space technologies, as well as to investigate and demonstrate ways to enhance Defence space capability.

“The program is designed to enhance the ability of UNSW Canberra to deliver world-class space education to Defence personnel, as well as inform the future direction of Defence space capability.

“Through the program’s delivery, UNSW Canberra will partner with Australian industry to develop elements of a space flight mission.

“Research outputs are anticipated to provide UNSW Canberra with commercialisation opportunities, which in turn could provide opportunities to stimulate Australian space industry.”

A total of three miniature-satellites will be launched over the duration of the program, providing the opportunity to demonstrate innovative communications and remote-sensing payloads, and test spaceflight modelling techniques.

Minister Pyne said the program would also help to achieve a secure, resilient Australia by supporting the protection of our space systems from debris and anti-satellite weapons.

“Partnerships such as this are an integral element of our Defence Force,” Minister Pyne said.

“The expansion of space research and development into a regional academic institution provides Defence with an opportunity to build, sustain and create momentum to develop our space professionals.”

Austrian Army have revealed their new camouflage pattern

STOP!
The Austrian Army have revealed their new camouflage pattern!! #CamoGeek 🤓 pic.twitter.com/2udXiKNJpQ

— Ric Cole 🇸🇴 (@ric_cole) September 30, 2017