Talk:Royal Australian Air Force

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Contents 1 Rating 2 Future equipment 3 Munitions 4 Today's photo removal 5 Deletion 6 F-22 7 F-35 numbers 8 Roundel

[edit] Rating

The reason I rated it as a "Start" is that it could be much more than what it currently is. Just my humble opinion. --Looper5920 13:22, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

Do you have any specific suggestions for how the entry could be improved? --Nick Dowling 23:54, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Future equipment

This section is not intirely correct. It should be updated as nothing has been desided officaly as to the replacement of the fleet. Sorry for adding the new section (Fleet retirment and replacements), should have put it in the future equipment section (i'm only new to all this) -- Powderhound11 09:56, 17 October, 2006 (UTC)

While the F-35 hasn't been 'officially' selected, the Minister for Defence and RAAF have recently ruled out purchasing any other aircraft to replace the F/A-18s and F-111s. The F-22 was explicitly ruled out as being unsuitable. See: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20556293-31037,00.html If you copy and paste non-neutral material from Karlo Copp's website it will be removed - Wikipedia:Neutral point of view is worth reading and should help. Kopp's point of view appears to be a minority, with the RAAF, Department of Defence and Australian Security Policy Institute supporting the F-35 over the other available aircraft (the ASPI publication at: http://www.aspi.org.au/publications/publication_details.aspx?ContentID=42&pubtype=5 is a good example of the arguments in favour of the F-35 and the unfeasibility of purchasing F-22s and keeping the F-111's airworthy as Kopp proposes) --Nick Dowling 10:06, 17 October 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for your help :) . From what i have read and what Kopp's saying it looks to me that buying the F-22s and keeping the F-111's is the best option for the RAAF, as the F-35 is outclassed by surrounding Countries Fighters. --Powderhound11 10:27, 17 October 2006 (UTC)

Aparently the RAAF considers the F-22 unsuitable for Australia's requirements as it is only effective in a single role (air superiority) while the F-35 is a much more capable attack aircraft. Kopp isn't held in high regard by much of the Australian defence community and while his articles are typically interesting they shouldn't be considered the last word on the topic. --Nick Dowling 10:53, 17 October 2006 (UTC)

Yes i agree with you on that last point, although the issue is quiet intriguing. It's a pitty little is published about this issue. --Powderhound11, 17 October 2006

I just came across an interesting online news paper article stating that the US wonnt let us buy the F/A - 22, if true it could explain alot. see: http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/US-decisions-threaten-fighter-project/2006/08/04/1154198330441.html -- Powderhound11, 17 October 2006

Yes, and the fact that the F-22 is too expensive. If it were for sale and a purchase was made by the RAAF, they won't be available in significant numbers to be effective. My rationale for the F-35 is 1)multi-role better for a middle power nation 2)upgrade and spares capability - the RAAF doesn't want to stuck with an aircraft that is only used by few or is too old (eg. F-111) 3)Asia-pacific region has a US bias - geopolitical reality. The procurement debate seems to be a clash of the multi-role vs air superiority paradigm. Htra0497 15:04, 11 November 2006 (AEST)

What does JSF stand for? (the article does not say) --AUser 14:30 11 December 2006 —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 218.214.46.95 (talk) 03:33, 11 December 2006 (UTC).

It stands for Joint Strike Fighter.

Acquisition of 24 F/A-18F Block II as an interim replacement for the F-111 was announced today. Text updated with link to media release. Dbromage 04:21, 6 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Munitions

Could we get a list of the munitions utilised by RAAF aircarft? eg. JDAMs, GBUs, Harpoons etc Htra0497 15:04, 11 November 2006 (AEST)

[edit] Today's photo removal

Why were the aircraft photos removed by User:Imgi12? I think they added a lot to the page. Mlouns 07:15, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

I presume it was becuase they were squishing the table of aircraft up. I've reduced the size of the photos, but they really need to be moved so the table works properly. --Nick Dowling 07:28, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

Would arranging them in a horizontal strip (Gallery fashion) make sense? Mlouns 16:16, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Deletion

Removed Robert Little's name from the list of WWI aces. He never served in any Australian formation. He served in the Royal Naval Air Service. --Catstroke

OK, that makes sense, sorry for the revert. I hope Little is mentioned in an appropriate list for that service? Mlouns 23:25, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

Little listed in the Notable Personnel section of the RNAS article Catstroke

[edit] F-22

If anyone is still following the yes/no/maybe/wrong aeroplane/too expensive/unavailable debate in Canberra re the US denying F-22s for the RAAF then the following link should be an eye-opener. http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2006/10/retired-raaf-vicemarshal-abandon-f35-buy-f22s-updated/index.php -- Catstroke

[edit] F-35 numbers

I read in Australian press that the USAAF has halved it's orders for the F-35 but have not been able to confirm this. I left a similar note in the F-35 talk pages but no one has replied. This is very serious for us. Does anyone know more? Brettr 01:58, 19 February 2007 (UTC)

None have actually been ordered. A final decision on placing an order will not be made until 2008. Dbromage 04:19, 6 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Roundel

I find the history of the RAAF Roundel pretty interesting and believe a paragraph on the subject to be worthy of inclusion. I intend to put it at the bottom of the page, and move the pictures of the Roundel. Any objections? RP Bravo 12:10, 15 March 2007 (UTC)

Go for it --Nick Dowling 08:38, 16 March 2007 (UTC)