News Story: Chinese intel-gathering ship spotted near US-Australia exercise

By: Mike Yeo

ROCKHAMPTON, Australia — The high-end warfare being practiced by U.S. and Australian forces at a major exercise in Australia has attracted an unwanted visitor in the form of a Chinese intelligence-gathering ship.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has reported that a People’s Liberation Army Navy, or PLAN, Type 815 (Dongdiao-class electronic surveillance ship) was sighted in waters off the Australian state of Queensland where Exercise Talisman Saber is being held. Australia’s Department of Defence subsequently confirmed that the ship, which it calls an auxiliary general intelligence vessel, “has remained outside Australia’s territorial waters but inside the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone in the Coral Sea.”

The agency added that “the vessel’s presence has not detracted from the Exercise objectives,” with senior officers at the exercise remaining equally sanguine about the vessel’s presence. The maritime component commander at the exercise, Royal Australian Navy Commodore Mal Wise, observed that “we subscribe as the U.S. does to the freedom of the global commons and rules-based global order, and as long as they’re operating within that construct,” Australia has no objections.

Talisman Saber is a biennial U.S. and Australian exercise designed to improve combat readiness and interoperability between both forces in planning and conducting combined task force operations. This year’s exercise saw 33,000 personnel participate, and included smaller contingents from New Zealand, Japan and Canada, with the bulk of activity taking place on and in the vicinity of the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in central Queensland.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

News Report: Australian Air Force Partners With US Navy for New Electronic Warfare Capability

RAAF E/A-18G Growler Electronic Warfare/Attack Aircraft

Australia is moving forward with US defense giant Raytheon for the next-generation jammer program, to ensure the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and its friends in the US Navy can engage all types of electronic warfare attacks in the South Pacific Theater and beyond.

The next-generation jammers will be attached to a fleet of a dozen Boeing EA-18G Growler aircraft the RAAF plans to operate from midway through 2018, according to IHS Jane’s. RAAF is partnering with the US Navy on interoperability, installation and likely training, according to the outlet.

Growlers are one of two types of planes operated by the Pentagon capable of operating in hostile or anti-access environments, a US Navy pilot who has flown EA-18Gs told Foxtrot Alpha in 2015.

Electronic warfare is crucial to how the US Navy operates, the airman said. 

AUS: Growler full fleet arrive in Australia

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, together with Air Vice Marshal Steven Roberton, Air Commander Australia; today welcomed the full fleet of EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft to RAAF Base Amberley.

Since the first two Growlers arrived in Australia in February 2017, the fleet has grown to the full twelve aircraft.

Minister Payne said the arrival of the Growler provides a potent and technologically advanced new capability for the Australian Defence Force (ADF). 

“We are the only country outside the United States operating the EA-18G Growler and the full fleet arrival represents a significant leap forward in joint electronic warfare capability,” Minister Payne said. 

“This is an amazing achievement for the ADF. These aircraft are able to support the full spectrum of Defence missions, including operations with coalition partners.

News Story: F-35 Drives Closer Integration With Allies - Aussie Air Chief

By COLIN CLARK

WASHINGTON: The F-35 Joint Strike fighter will drive deeper and more useful military connections between Australia, the United States and regional partners such as Japan and Malaysia, the head of Australia’s air force said today.

“This aircraft has redefined joint” for Australia, Air Marshal Leo Davies said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies this morning, accelerating policy and doctrine conversations between Australia’s services. “JSF also means we are more than friends and allies. We are now technology partners whose capability brings us shared futures.”

On a regional level, the F-35 provides “interoperability not only of Australian and US forces, but other regional and allied JSF operators.” Japan and South Korea are buying F-35As and Singapore is widely expected to buy F-35Bs.

Read the full story at Breaking Defense

USA: Possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia for Anti-Radiation Missiles

WASHINGTON, Apr. 28, 2017 - The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia for Anti-Radiation Missiles. The estimated cost is $137.6 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on April 27, 2017.

Australia has requested a possible sale of up to seventy (70) AGM-88B High Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM) Tactical Missiles; up to forty (40) AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGM) Tactical Missiles; up to sixteen (16) CATM-88B HARM Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM); up to sixteen (16) CATM-88E AARGM CATM; up to twenty-five (25) AGM-88B Control Sections; up to twenty-five (25) AGM-88B Guidance Sections; up to twenty (20) AGM-88E Control Sections; up to twenty (20) AGM-88E Guidance Sections; up to forty eight (48) Telemetry/Flight Termination Systems; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other associated support equipment and services. The total estimated cost is $137.6 million.

News Story: Allies Can Help US Lower Weapons Costs, Build New Force

RAAF E-7A Wedgetail refueled by A RAAF KC-30A MRTT

By ROBBIN LAIRD

Shifting from a primary focus on counterinsurgency land wars to building a high intensity combat force able to prevail against peer competitors is a significant challenge for the United States and its closest allies after 15 years of COIN.

A key dynamic within this effort is the crucial opportunity the US and its closest allies have to learn from each other thanks to the number of core weapon systems being bought at the same time.

The F-35, P-8, Triton and Growler are all being bought by the United States and by some of our closest allies, notably Australia.

And when we see American F-35As going to RAF Lakenheath this month, what can be missed is that at RAF Marham — located less than 30 miles from RAF Lakenheath — the first British squadron of F-35s will be stood up BEFORE the US does so at RAF Lakenheath. One hopes the US plans to ensure it gets as much synergy as possible between the bases where F-35s will be based in the UK.

Norway is also drawing upon this interactive modernization process to stand up its own 21st century combat force.

At the same time, Australia’s Wedgetail command and control aircraft and its KC-30A airborne tanker have been deployed for some time and are cutting edge systems NOT found in the US inventory.

Additionally, the British RAF is modernizing its Typhoons with long-range strike systems that are complementary to the F-35Bs, and they are doing it before the US has made similar adjustments to its legacy aircraft.

Read the full story at Breaking Defense

News Story: Australia receives its first Boeing EA-18G Growler

by Richard Tomkins

The first of 12 EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft has been received by Australia, making the country the first non-U.S. customer to operate the Boeing fighter.

The aircraft, flown to the Avalon Airshow in Australia from U.S. Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington state, was welcomed by Australian Minister for Defense Marise Payne.

"The Growler can disrupt military electronic systems, such as radars, to protect personnel and improve situational awareness," Payne said in a press release.

"Australia is the only country outside the United States flying the EA-18G Growler and its arrival is a significant leap forward in Australia's joint electronic warfare capability and introduces a dedicated electronic attack option."

Read the full story at SpaceDaily

News Story: Australia cuts deal with US Navy for Next Generation Jammer

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) EA-18G Growler

By: Nigel Pittaway

AVALON, Australia — Australian Defence Minister Marise Payne announced Tuesday that Australia has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Navy to develop the Next Generation Jammer for the Boeing EA-18G Growler, an airborne electronic attack aircraft.

Payne announced the AUD $250 million (U.S. $192 million) investment during the opening day of the 2017 Australian International Airshow at Avalon, south of Melbourne.

“This is a $250 million investment by the Turnbull government that will [serve as] future proof [of[ the Growler’s capability,” she said. “As this is a rapidly evolving area, we will work in partnership with the United States Navy to develop the next-generation jamming capability, which will ensure that these aircraft remain at the technological forefront throughout their service life.”

The Next Generation Jammer will form a key component of Project Air 5439 Phase 6, a future phase of Australia’s Growler acquisition program, which will upgrade the EA-18G to what is known as the Advanced Growler configuration. The program will ensure commonality with U.S. Navy aircraft is maintained into the future and will develop a replacement for the Growler’s current ALQ-99 jamming pods. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

AUS: Air Force’s New Growlers Roar into Avalon

RAAF's 1st E/A-18G Growler at it's unveiling at Boeing (2016)

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, today welcomed the first EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft to the Royal Australian Air Force.

Flying into the Australian International Airshow at Avalon from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in the United States, the Growlers are a potent and technologically advanced new capability for the Australian Defence Force.

Minister Payne said the Growler was a true force-multiplier.

“The Growler can disrupt military electronic systems, such as radars, to protect personnel and improve situational awareness,” Minister Payne said.

“Australia is the only country outside the United States flying the EA-18G Growler and its arrival is a significant leap forward in Australia’s joint electronic warfare capability and introduces a dedicated electronic attack option,” Minister Payne said.

AUS: F-22 Raptors and F/A-18A/B Hornets commence combined training

Image: © Commonwealth of Australia

This week the United States Air Force F-22 Raptors commenced training with the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) F/A 18 Hornets for the first enhanced air cooperation activity in Australia.

Enhanced air cooperation is part of the United States Force posture initiatives and builds on a range of air exercises and training activities already undertaken by the United States and Australia.

Wing Commander Andrew Tatnell, Commanding Officer 17 Squadron, said the F-22 Raptors from the 90th Fighter Squadron, 3rd Wing were visiting RAAF Base Tindal to conduct integrated training opportunities with the RAAF’s 75 Squadron F/A-18A/B Hornets along with ground assets and personnel.

“The F-22 is one of the world’s most advanced fifth generation fighter aircraft,” Wing Commander Tatnell said

“Combined training activity will vastly enhance the Royal Australian Air Force’s ability to integrate with the United States Air Force’s fifth generation aircraft while introducing fifth generation operations to RAAF Base Tindal.

AUS: Air Force wraps up Exercise Red Flag 17-1 in Nevada

After three weeks of high-intensity missions, Exercise Red Flag 17-1 has concluded.

A 200-strong contingent of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) personnel deployed to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada with colleagues from the United States and United Kingdom. This year, Exercise Red Flag 17-1, also witnessed the United States Air Force (USAF) debut its F-35A Lightning II in the exercise.

The training operates within the 31,000-square-kilometre Nevada Test and Training Range, which is turned into a simulation of a high-end threat battlespace.

RAAF deployed a range of capabilities during Exercise Red Flag 17-1, from a combat control team that parachuted in freezing conditions to a dry lake bed for an airfield survey; to air battlespace managers who controlled movements and datalinks for more than 70 friendly and ‘enemy’ aircraft.

Commander of the Australian contingent, Group Captain Stuart Bellingham, said RAAF C-130J Hercules transport and E-7A Wedgetail aircraft flew on missions in Exercise Red Flag 17-1.

AUS: Joint Strike Fighter to make Australian debut at the Australian International Airshow

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, and Minister for Defence Industry the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today announced that Australia’s two F-35A Joint Strike Fighters will make their first appearance in Australia at the Australian International Airshow.

Minister Payne said it was fitting the aircraft would make its first visit down under in time for the airshow, which comes one year after the Turnbull Government released the 2016 Defence White Paper that sets out a plan to create a more capable, agile and potent Australian Defence Force.

“The Joint Strike Fighter will be joined at the Airshow by Australia’s first EA-18G Growler,” Minister Payne said.

News Story: Red Flag gives F-35A its toughest test yet

By: Valerie Insinna

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — What happens when the F-35A goes to its very first Red Flag, the Air Force’s premier air-to-air training exercise? 

The answer, according to U.S. military and international participants, is that the event itself becomes more challenging than ever, with a greater number of more capable aggressors outfitted with advanced weaponry. 

Although the Marine Corps operated its short takeoff, vertical landing variant in the event last year, Red Flag 17-1 marks the debut of the conventional F-35A operated by the Air Force. After almost two weeks, 13 joint strike fighters from Hill Air Force Base in Utah have flown 110 sorties, said Lt. Col. George Watkins, 34th Fighter Squadron commander.  

“It’s a much more difficult adversary that we are fighting against here as a team than we would have fought against a year and a half ago, when I was here last,” Watkins said, referencing his previous Red Flag event, which he flew in as an F-16 pilot. 

“They have stepped up the number of red air that we’re fighting — the number of aggressor aircraft that are fighting against us — the amount of jamming and stuff that they’re providing against us, the skill level of the adversary that they are trying to replicate, as well as the surface-to-air missile threat.” 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

AUS: Air Force deploys to Nevada for Exercise Red Flag 17-1

RAAF E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) personnel have deployed to Nevada for Exercise Red Flag 17-1, where they will train in the world’s most complex air combat environment.

Alongside counterparts from United States and United Kingdom, approximately 200 RAAF personnel will support and participate in missions involving up to 100 aircraft, flying over 31,000 square kilometres of the Nevada desert.

RAAF Contingent Commander and Director of the Exercise Red Flag 17-1 Combined Air and Space Operations Centre, Group Captain Stuart Bellingham said the Red Flag training environment was unmatched in its complexity and realism.

“Since RAAF personnel first participated in Exercise Red Flag in 1980, this exercise has informed both how we train our people and develop our air power,” Group Captain Bellingham said.

News Story: Northrop Grumman Predicts Growth in Australia-Pacific Business

By: Nigel Pittaway

MELBOURNE, Australia, and WASHINGTON — A senior Northrop Grumman executive has forecast that the company’s footprint in Australia is set to double over the next three years, as it ramps up a major regional F-35 component repair and overhaul center and seeks further Australian Defence Force contracts. 

Speaking at the company’s information systems headquarters in McLean, Virginia, Chief Executive of Northrop Grumman Australia Ian Irving said the company sees significant near-term opportunities in a number of major Australian defense acquisition projects, which are expected to progress this year.  

“This is going to be a tremendous year for us; it really is the year for Australia. There are five major projects in which we are likely to participate in the first eight months of the year, in addition to assisting the commonwealth with their Triton cooperation program with the US Navy,” Irving said. “We should also be in a position to sign two big, new contracts by the end of the year as well.” 

The programs are the Defence Enterprise Resource Plan (ERP); Defence ISR Integration Backbone (DIIP, Joint Project (JP) 2096); Core Simulation Capability (CSimC, JP9711); Ground-Based Air and Missile Defence (Land 19 Phase 7B); Joint Battle Management System (Air 6500); and the already-announced acquisition of at least seven MQ-4C Triton unmanned maritime surveillance platforms (Air 7000 Phase 1B). 

The 2016 Australian Defence White Paper forecast the acquisition of Triton around the turn of the decade. Australia is also seeking to partner with the US Navy on the development of the Triton Multi-INT version, which is due to enter service in 2021.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

USA: Boeing award for automated maintenance environment of the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G in support of US Navy and the government of Australia

The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is being awarded $21,031,225 for firm-fixed-price delivery order 0011 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-16-G-0001) for the automated maintenance environment of the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft in support of the Navy and the government of Australia.

Work will be performed in St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed in December 2019.

Fiscal 2017 aircraft procurement (Navy); and foreign military sales funds in the amount of $21,031,225 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the fiscal year. 

This contract combines purchases for the Navy ($19,667,784, 93.5 percent) and the government of Australia ($1,363,441; 6.5 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales program. 

The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. 

US DoD

News Story: Australia seeks to influence US jammer

Australia's 1st EA-18G Growler at the Boeing handover to the RAAF

by Nigel Pittaway

Australia is looking at options to influence development of Raytheon's Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) by possibly entering into a cooperative agreement with the US Navy (USN), a senior Australian official revealed.

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) director general of capability planning at Air Force Headquarters, Air Cdre Mike Kitcher, said the NGJ will be a key component of Project Air 5439 Phase 6, a further step in Australia’s Boeing EA-18G Growler airborne electronic attack acquisition programme.

‘Phase 6 is looking at upgrading the current Growler capability to the US Navy-common Advanced Growler capability, and one of the key components of that is the NGJ suite of jamming pods to replace the existing ALQ-99 pods,’ Kitcher said. 

‘We’re working hard with the US Navy, looking at options as to how we might enter into a co-development programme with elements of the Advanced Growler capability as well,’ he continued.

Read the full story at Shephard

News Story: (US) Navy investigation - Canopy explosion led to grounding of Growlers, Super Hornets

A US Navy E/A-18G Growler Electronic Attack Aircraft

by Allen Cone

The U.S. Navy temporarily grounded all Super Hornet and Growler squadrons because a canopy exploded off a jet earlier this month (Dec 2016), according to a Naval Safety Center summary of the incident.

At the time the Navy said an "on-deck emergency" involved the aircraft's canopy but the military did not give details. The Growler's pilot and electronic warfare officer were hurt Dec. 16 as the Boeing E/A-18G Growler assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 132 prepared for a training flight at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station in Washington state.

Several factors likely contributed to the incident, including a combination of frigid and soggy weather, and routine aircraft washing, according to the Navy.

The Navy suspended flight operations for the planes for three days as it investigated. Super Hornets and Growlers share certain common aircraft systems.

Read the full story at SpaceWar

News Story: Trump Tells Twitter He Wants A Super Hornet With F-35 Capabilities

Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning Fighter

By: Valerie Insinna

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump may have had his meetings with the Lockheed Martin chief executive officer, but he’s not ready to play nice, tweeting on Thursday evening that he could look to Boeing’s Super Hornet as an alternative to the F-35. 

“Based on the tremendous cost and cost overruns of the Lockheed Martin F-35, I have asked Boeing to price-out a comparable F-18 Super Hornet!” he tweeted at 5:26 p.m. EST. 

Lockheed Martin stock, which had closed at $252.80 a share, tumbled down to $247.75 at about 7 p.m. EST, a 2 percent decline. At the same time, Boeing stock shot up by about 1.49 percent, increasing from $157.46 to $158.95 a share. 

Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet Fighter

What this means for Lockheed Martin and its top competitor Boeing in the long term is not exactly clear. Although the F-35 has been plagued with its share of cost overruns and technical issues, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a fourth-generation plane that lacks many of the capabilities that define a fifth-generation plane, such as stealth and sensor fusion. Redesigning a Super Hornet that meets the same requirements as the F-35 would require years of development and engineering time and probably billions of dollars. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

Think Tank: Sea, air, land and space updates (20-Dec-2016)

RAAF C-27J Spartan Cargo Aircraft

Christopher Cowan, Elisabeth Buchan and Alexander Vipond

Sea State

The US Navy released its much-anticipated 2016 Force Structure Assessment (FSA) last week and the results are sure to please proponents of a large USN The FSA advocates a 355 ship navy, which is a significant increase from the 308 ships advocated by the 2014 FSA. The 47-hull boost comes most prominently from one more aircraft carrier, 18 more nuclear attack submarines and 16 more large surface combatants (cruisers and destroyers). But achieving the 355-ship goal won’t be easy, as analysts are predicting it will take decades (and billions of dollars) to come to fruition. ASPI’s Andrew Davies says that history tells us it probably won’t happen—especially if the emphasis is on big ships.

China’s new (and only) aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, conducted its first ever live-fire exercise last week. According to the People’s Liberation Army Navy, the goal of the exercise was to enhance the Liaoning’s ability to operate as a part of a carrier battle group, as well as verify the capabilities of its sailors and airmen. This video, courtesy of CCTV, shows the Liaoning’s carrier-borne J-15 aircraft participating in the exercise.

After months of speculation, the US Navy’s new class of ballistic missile submarines officially has its new name. Secretary of the Navy Roy Mabus announced last week that the submarines would be called the Columbia-class—named after the District of Columbia.