Singapore signs onto Lockheed Martin JSF program

alert5 SG

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/8199569.htm

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/75686/1/.html

http://www.todayonline.com/articles/16059.asp

alert5 SG

Another news about LM's other fighter program

GAO Tells Pentagon to Make F/A 22 Case
The General Accounting Office called on the Pentagon to do a better job of justifying why it needs the F/A-22 fighter plane. The military can now afford only 218 of the planes instead of the planned 277.
More here and here

Sandman302 SG

I wonder why those news reports dont mention that Australia is part of JSF program Shocked , from what i know we are planning to replace our F/A 18 and F111 A/C with the things.

But the more country's in the program, the lower the per unit price.

so, good on ya mate's Laughing

Gedanken SG

Welcome aboard, Sandman! Smile

Well, by the time the JSFs come about, the old Aardvarks ought to have reached their use-by date anyway. Not sure about the F18's though.

Which part of Oz are you from, BTW?

Sandman302 SG

G'day

Yeah, the pigs are getting a bit old but apparantly with the numerous weapons, airframe, engine and avionics upgrades, the F-111 remains the fastest and longest range combat aircraft in this region, so it appears that they can still kick some ass, also the F/A 18's in the RAAF are mostly F/A 18A's upgraded to C standard, so they are pretty old as it is. But hang some AIM-120 AMRAAM's off em and they can still do some damage... i hope Wink

I hail from the worlds most livable city, Melbourne, Victoria Cool

Gedanken SG

True enough about the upgrades, but I suppose that the key factor in the decision will be the cost of maintenance weighed against the aircraft's contribution to Oz's defence requirements at that point in time.

Ah paisan, a fellow Melbournian - you've got plenty of good company here, including Viper52 and the Bear! Smile

Sandman302 SG

Upgrades are good and all but when we have to keep grounding the F111's they are starting to cost too much, but the problem is that the F35 dosent offer anywhere near the range/strike capability of the F111, so unless the RAAF gets some new type as well as the JSF, we wont have a decent strike A/C.

A few B-1B bombers would certainly replace em... the indo's wouldent like it tho Cool

They had a fit when we got the F111's in the 1st place (had enough range to bomb Jakarta)

Gedanken SG

Well, I haven’t stayed up-to-date on what the Australian military’s projections are on the nature of their future operations, but looking at their last few operational deployments, would the F111’s range really be needed?

Viper52 SG

Sandman, the B-1 makes maintenance of the Pig look like a breeze by comparison, if what I've heard is true!

The RAAF doesn't need a strike aircraft capable of hitting Jakarta, it needs a decent strike aircraft to accompany the F-35s in defending Australia.

Gedankens right, I was a resident in Melbourne for 4 years, amen to the claim of being the world's most liveable city. I would assume you know Napoleons and Hylands in the city right Sandman?

LazerLordz SG

Hiya, saw ur peeps F-111 at the Asian Aerospace, saw them do the fuel dump thingy, and the sheer agility of the Aardvark makes it look young again.However, i don't see how the F-35 can possibly replace the Aardvark in terms of range.Hmm.