RMAF capabilities?

last SG · 2002-01-23T13:36:00+00:00

They do have the PAVEWAY IIs…. in limited quantitiesthough, i believe

Joe Black SG

I concur.

I think you are right... I can now vaguely recall something like they had bought 28, 18 Hawk 200 and 10 Hawk 100, or was it the other way round. Anyway, a couple has since crashed.

I will still give the Hawks a bit of respect given that the RAF use them for secondary air defence. At least the Hawk 200 is equipped with APG-66 radar and decent avionics.

Shotgun SG

Hmm since they only “officially” have harpoons and sidewinders, their Bugs don’t really have precision strike capability since they don’t have precision strike weapons. Unless someone can confirm the PavewayII.

YourFather SG

I remember seeing that from a reputable source, cannot remember which one though… so I believe that we can take it that they have PAVEWAY IIs.

Shotgun SG

I was wonderin if they had a precision strike aircraft without precision strike munitions. Hehehehe.

GMD SG

er…ppl forgetting about the Mavericks that RSAF have…last i heard, they are still pretty solid…and let’s face it, the Hawk is not a transonic plane…dogfighting may usually be carried out in the subsonic envelope, but still, it gives the edge in gettting “there the fastest with the mostest” (from Patton), and in gettin out of ‘jail’ when the need arises…

Shotgun SG

Dogfighting Hawk? Well, this i feel would be a bit out of the little plane’s league. It may be used for close air support, if properly equipped. One important part about dogfighting, is having enough power to make hard turns, while maintaining stable flight. The Hawk can’t do that.

Shotgun SG

Does RMN have any Submarines in service? Even training or “Semi-floatable” ones. Anyone has ever seen a periscope feather while out in the seas around Singapore?

GMD SG

well, they do have a ship called the Hang Tuah (named after one of the greatest heros in Malay folk legend) that does not really go out to sea, and which rumours say stays above water only because it rests at the bottom of its dock... ;-)

dogfighting is about all the Hawk CAN do, cause it doesn't have a sophisticated radar...i believe it only can use sidewinders and its gun armament...i hear it is quite manueverable though...but as you said, it suffers from energy problems in turns...

YourFather SG

Hmmm, I wont call the APG-66H an ‘unsophisticated radar’.... the Hawk 209s they have should not be written off so easily, as they are upgraded with a heavy emphasis on combat…. interestingly, they are the only Hawk models with air-refueling capability…

Shotgun SG

Seriously, APG-66 or not. Hawks in Dogfights will be chewed to bits. Sidewinders can only fire 30 degrees off boresight, Hawks will still have to try bringing their nose on speedier targets. Making such hard turns reduces airspeed, and airspeed is crucial in aircombat. It doesnt have the power to regain its airspeed, hence its a dead duck.

If the Hawkeyes aren't a factor, then I would try running a small flight of Hawks low, radar off and emcon. Might be able to pull off a hit and run with the hawks.

GMD SG

well, flying low or terrain following might be useful…except for the presence of our ‘moat’...even if it is only pretty narrow, anything moving fast over the flat surface should be pretty obvious to the Hawkeyes, ...which incidentally, the RSAF is looking for replacements…

YourFather SG

RSAF looking for replacement to the Hawkeye? A little early for that, dontcha think? Especially after the recent upgrades done by ST… If we are really replacing that, what do you think we would get? The Wedgetail, or the Hawkeye config after the Hawkeye 2000( the one with the UHF electronically scanned array radar, which is still under development).....

Shotgun SG

No, I think they will be looking for just additional early warning platforms. Then we can release more planes for exercise overseas, without stretching the ones remaining too much.

Joe Black SG

I did read somewhere (I believe its Flight International) that RSAF is looking at replacing or supplementing Hawkeyes in the future. Wedgetail will be the platform Boeing will be trying to pitch to RSAF.

GMD SG

well, i read that they are looking for a replacement from Jane’s quite some time ago…they had looked at Hawkeye2000, but thought that the next plane after that would be better…seeing as the USN hasn’t made a choice themselves, i guess it is still up in the air…

YourFather SG

The USN HAS already made a choice. Originally the AWACS platform was to be on the CSA, but it was cancelled, and now its decided that the Hawkeye will shoulder the responsibility well into the this century, with the new UHF array, of course.

Shotgun SG

Wow. Actually I feel the Hawkeye isn’t that outdate yet. Okay yes it usese Props, but those props are really economical on fuel.

Joe Black SG

Its the radar not the props. Even the Israeli Phalcons are more advanced. RSAF should look at electronic scanned array radar for their next AWACS platform. Secondly, Hawkeyes are too slow to keep up with jets. If RSAF wants to send a strike package, the AWACS will have to be able to fly close to the strike package speed. Thus, Wedgetail or E3 AWACS are better platforms for such missions.

Shotgun SG

Why would our Hawkeyes need to keep up with our jets?? I mean, that radar has A LOT Of distance. Chances are, wherever our jets go, they would still be under coverage. Unless you’re talking about having that extra speed for quick repositioning?

YourFather SG

Speed is not such a big issue for AWACS platforms. Follow a strike package?! Hello, you trying to get your ultra-valuable AWACS killed or what? :-) The E-2 radar has a range of over 200 nautical miles, deinitely MORE than enuff. What is more important is endurance and operating altitude. Anyway, Hawkeye will be coming with a new Electronically-scanned array next time, though the Wedgetail( which will be upgraded by then) will provide even better capability at a fraction of the E-3's cost. The current Hawkeye suffers from large sidelobes, making it susceptible to jamming and Electro Magnetic Inteference. Furthermore, its over land operating capability is hampered by its relatively lower frequency UHF pulses.

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