SHAH ALAM: If you are in Butterworth or Kuantan you may see Super Hornets landing and taking off from the two air bases there from today until May 13.
No, we have not yet procured the Super Bug. Its the RAAF in action as part of the Ex Bersama Shield 2011. Who says you need to wait for Lima 2011 to see the Super Hornet in action? From the Australian Defence Force website.
ADF assets exercise around Malaysia
Australian Air Force multi-role F/A-18F Super Hornets will soar through the sky over Malaysia while Navy guided-missile frigates and a Collins class submarine will patrol the South China Sea in a major military exercise commencing today.
Exercise BERSAMA SHIELD 2011 (BS11) will see six F/A-18 Super Hornets from No. 1 Squadron, the ANZAC class frigates HMA Ships Ballarat and Parramatta, and the Collins class submarine, HMAS Dechaineux, join other warships and combat aircraft from Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
The Commander of the Australian Contingent, Wing Commander Kenneth Robinson, said the exercise will be conducted by member countries of the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) in various locations on the Malaysian Peninsula and in the South China Sea between 2 and 13 May.
“The exercise aims to enhance the interoperability of the combined air, ground and naval forces of the FPDA countries to enhance regional security, including the defence of Singapore and Malaysia,” Wing Commander Robinson said.
“The FPDA continues to be an integral part of the regional security architecture, which helps develop greater interoperability among the armed forces of member nations.”
The exercise marks a significant milestone for the Air Force’s new F/A-18F Super Hornets, with this their first overseas deployment since arriving in 2010. The Super Hornet permits Australia to maintain a formidable air combat capability during the transition to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter over the next decade.
“BS11 will provide the F/A-18 Super Hornets with the opportunity to train with Royal Malaysian Air Force MiG-29s and Republic of Singapore F-16s,” Wing Commander Robinson said.
“The exercise’s maritime component involving the ANZAC class frigates, HMA Ships Ballarat and Parramatta, and the Collins class submarine, HMAS Dechaineux, will enhance high-end war-fighting skills in a highly complex maritime environment.”
BERSAMA SHIELD, marking its 40th anniversary this year, provides the ADF with the opportunity to develop relationships with important security partners while reinforcing Australia’s long-term commitment to regional stability.
–Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (33)
Another sound reason why we should get the Super Hornet - for interoperability and cross training - because one of closest defence partners operates it. From the 1960's Australia overtook Britain in having the most established defence ties with us. It is also the country we train the most with and has a permanent military presence in Butterworth.
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But if interoperability and cross training are the main reason for SH, one could argue for the case of the F16s with three other ASEAN countries operating the basically the same plane.
Such a gesture would go along way in reducing mistrust among our countries.
We could also pool our resources ala F16 users of NATO.
There is also the case of the UAE Vipers, described by many as the most advanced F16 around. Its development costs have been paid for and we could also persuade the UAE to waive us from paying the royalty for the development which could have made the aircraft cheaper.
Agreed, interoperability with existing units and our allies is important. SH is just better suited to our need compared to the Rafales and Eurofighter Typhoon. It can be easily integrated to our existing logistic and training programme. SH is combat proven and can used all the missile stocks that we have in store for the Hornets, Hawks and F5s. Although i would love to see the AESAs, JDAMs, AMRAAMs and the AIM-9Xs come along with the purchase, cost might be an issue. We can always purchase it later but i don't think those meddling southern neighbour of us to keep quite about it...
The Foreign Military Sales will also shut the opposition for any foul play in its purchase. Mayb this time they will go for "We had no war, why buy new fighter jets? Want it engines get stolen again, ka?". I can only see the SH deal coming through after the General Election that is expected this year...
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The funding for the MRCA programme is supposed to come at the second period of RMK10, ie 2013-2015
Since the USD 1 = RM 2.96, it's better to seal the deal during the coming LIMA, it's a golden opportunity to sign any future procurement during the LIMA 2011 or Najib want to wait until USD 1 = RM1? #lol
firstly i dont see any urgency to buy new MRCA in the new future. if this programme is really serious then sooner official contract deal will be around 2013. as marhalim said, to date we dont have any money to buy it. i believe the gossip about MRCA programme right now is only to fill in tarmac this year LIMA. hopefully all 'contender' will show up in langkawi and make it a bit happening.
*i m more towards LCS deal during this LIMA coz boustead have no more job to do right now after completing last unit of NGPV
Tend to agree with Scorpio, LCS deal and maybe additional heli deal should get more priority
There is also another aspect that people tend to overlook. Malaysia has already issued at least 2 RFP's in recent years for MRCA's only to later cancel the programme. If we were to do so again we might find that aircraft manufacturers might not be so keen to respond the next time around.
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They are looking into it whether or not we are really serious in looking for other planes apart from the Super Hornet. Otherwise they wont be bothered.
The latest announcement is that the Indonesian Air Force has accepted the offer by the US to provide them with 24 units of F-16 A &B but indonesia must upgrade them to block 50 standard and pay for the upgrade themselves. With these aircraft suddenly the Indonesians have more war fighting planes than we do and we would come in 3rd after Singapore and Indonesia.
The Dutch would be retiring many of their Cougars. Good time to pick them up cheap instead of getting new ones for the RMAF. Actually in a war its not just how good your planes are but also how many as no matter how good your planes are they will and still will get shot down.
Thus numbers also figure in for staying power.
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Mass has always been one of the main pillars of military strategy. As the Cougars, since we have paid for them, partially, there is no need to back out from the deal. As for the ex-Dutch Cougars they could be procured only if we get them at least for less than RM300 million. We need to spend another RM300 million for SLEP (unless it has been done recently) and new equipment for the sake of commonality with the new helos for a total figure of around RM600 million. Any higher, it will not be cost effective in the long term.
Ym Lee, in sheer numbers, Vietnam. The TNI-AU also has an airspace that is much bigger than ours to cover.
At this point, TNI only have 10 f16 A/B, 10 Su27/30 with another 6 coming and about 30 Hawk 209. The TA 50 about 16 will be coming by 2013 and about 16 Super Tucano by 2012
Mind you the Su27/30 came reportedly with only a dud bomb, not even missiles. Its good they add in the 24 F16, they need it. Even with that, it wont change much the status quo between them and us, it is actually a welcome development in my opinion.
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In November, last year, the Indon defence minister says they wanted 180 Sukhoi within a ten year time frame. Sounds familiar....
Coming back to the RMN procurement, I read that the Gowind class was rejected by Hungary for being too expensive. Can we actually afford it?
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Its Bulgarialah brother, and based on the original order signed in 2007, each cost around RM900 million.....