호주 공군의 F/A-18F Super Hornet 실전배치 및 장기 운용계획...

 

호주 공군이 도입하는 Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet 의 1차분에 대한 미국 현지에서의 인수식 및 적응시험비행 소식을 전한 바

있습니다.  --->  The RAAF Super Hornet Acceptance Flight

 

이와 관련, AW&ST 3월 22일字 기사를 소개합니다. 관심이 가는 부분은 호주 공군이 도입하고자 하는 F-35 JSF 의 개발지연으로

인한 도입시기의 지연, 이로 인해 발생되는 전력 공백을 기존 F/A-18 Hornet 의 성능개량과 현재 도입이 진행되고 있는 F/A-18F

Super Honret 의 운용기간 연장등을 통해 메운다는 내용입니다.

 

 

  The RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets heading to RAAF Base Amerley on March 20, 2010. ⓒ Australian Gov. DoD

 

Hornet’s Nest

RAAF Super Hornets readied for Pacific ferry flight as questions mount over widening F-35 delivery gap

Aviation Week & Space Technology, 03/22/2010

Author : Guy Norris

 

Royal Australian Air Force officials say they will bridge the widening gap until the arrival of the delayed Joint Strike Fighter by keeping the Boeing F/A-18F fleet in lockstep with U.S. Navy upgrades as well as continuing updates to its “classic” Hornet fleet.

 

“We have the Super Hornet coming in as a bridging capability and, with significant upgrades to the current F-18 fleet, Australia is uniquely placed to get into the Joint Strike Fighter at a time of our choosing,” says Group Capt. Steve Roberton, commanding officer of the planned Super Hornet wing at Amberley, Queensland. The RAAF remains “fully committed to the JSF” in the longer term, he adds.

 

The F/A-18F is on track for initial operational capability in December 2010, around the same time as the final F-111 strike aircraft are retired from service. However, with the ongoing delays to the expected delivery of the first Australian F-35s, the looming question being asked by the RAAF is how to sustain the larger fleet of F/A-18A/Bs for longer than first anticipated. As an additional precaution, the Australians are thought to be reviewing options for extending the service life of its new F/A-18F fleet beyond its currently planned phase-out around 2020.

 

Although firmly committed to the JSF, questions are also being asked about the final numbers that will be bought, particularly if the RAAF F/A-18F extension study options include acquiring an additional batch of up to 24 aircraft and converting 12 of the original fleet to the EA-18G Growler electronic attack configuration. The aircraft were built with the wiring installed for this upgrade “in case the Australian government chooses to exercise that. So it’s a decision that will be taken in coming years,” says Roberton.

 

The current program of record calls for acquisition of 75 F-35As to replace the existing 71 classic Hornets, with a later decision pending for another 25 to replace the F/A-18Fs. However, the RAAF has so far only ordered 14 low-rate initial production aircraft, deferring the decision to buy more until 2012. RAAF procurement sources indicate the decision will include assessments of the cost and maturity of the Block 3 F-35, part of which will hinge on U.S. Air Force progress toward initial operational clearance. Other factors influencing cost will be the smoothness of Lockheed Martin’s ramp-up to full-rate production. Under the latest schedule this is now 2015 for the conventional takeoff and landing variant slated for Australia.

 

The RAAF originally planned for delivery of the first pair of F-35As to the Willamtown operational conversion unit in New South Wales in late 2013, leading to service entry in 2014. However, given the latest slide in the program, the RAAF is now believed to be pushing this date as far back as 2017. As a result, additional emphasis is likely to be placed on further extensions to the Hornet upgrade (HUG) program beyond the ongoing Phase 2.3 which adds a new countermeasures dispenser, data recorder and software. one airframe life-extension option is to revisit the center fuselage barrel replacement program, a structural renewal effort originally aimed at 49 aircraft. This was ultimately reduced in scope after full-scale fatigue tests showed that 10% of fuselage life remains, two years longer than originally certified.

 

RAAF crews are practicing air-refueling exercises at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif, in readiness for ferrying the first batch of F/A-18Fs across the Pacific by the end of the month. The first group, consisting of up to five aircraft, is expected to depart from Lemoore around March 19 and travel via Hawaii and Auckland, New Zealand, on their way to Amberley.

 

“This is a defining moment as we move forward in our transition to the next generation of fighter capability,” says Air Commo. Mel Hupfeld, commander of the RAAF Air Combat Group. “The Super Hornet will allow us to prepare for the Joint Strike Fighter, and will allow us to understand the capabilities [the JSF] will provide for us such as the electronically scanned radar.” The data-networking performance of the F/A-18F will also make it a “key multiplier” in the future force alongside the classic F/A-18s and Wedgetail airborne early-warning aircraft, he adds.

 

Two back-to-back ferry flights around mid-year will complete deliveries of the initial complement of 12 aircraft, enabling the RAAF to stay on track for initial operational capability by the end of December. The next 12 F/A-18Fs will be ferried in three waves of four aircraft in 2011. Full operational capability for 1 and 6 Squadrons is expected by the end of 2011.

 

The work-up toward the initial deliveries follows the completion of the rigorous Australian airworthiness board approval process in late February, which gave the green light for deliveries to begin. “This week we commenced flying Australian aircraft, flown by Australians and maintained by Australians,” says Roberton. Until this transition point on March 1, many support tasks were still conducted by the U.S. Navy’s VFA-122 squadron which is backing the RAAF F/A-18F introduction through air and ground crew training, facilities and logistics support.

 

Eleven pilots and weapon systems operators, plus ground crews, have now been trained and will be involved in the upcoming ferry mission. This will be supported by hose-and-drogue-equipped U.S. Air Force tankers as well as a leased Boeing 707 operated by Omega Tanker — a commercial air-to-air refueling service previously used by the RAAF during an F/A-18 deployment. “We’ll do up to six refueling contacts on each leg, and we’ll keep the fuel topped up so if we need to divert we can do it without tankers,” says Wing Cdr. Glen Braz, commanding officer of 1 Squadron. For the ferry flight, aircraft will carry three drop tanks for a fuel load of 23,500 lb. at start-up.

 

  The RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet, A44-202 (BuNo. 167958). ⓒ Australian Gov. DoD

 

  The RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet, A44-203 (BuNo. 167959). ⓒ Australian Gov. DoD

 

  The RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets, A44-202 & A44-203. ⓒ Australian Gov. DoD

 

  The RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets, A44-202 & A44-203. ⓒ Australian Gov. DoD

 

  The RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet, A44-202 (BuNo. 167958). ⓒ Australian Gov. DoD

 

  The RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet, A44-202 (BuNo. 167958). ⓒ Australian Gov. DoD

 

  The RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets, A44-202 & A44-203. ⓒ Australian Gov. DoD

 

  The RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet, A44-205 (BuNo. 167961). ⓒ Australian Gov. DoD

 

  The RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet. ⓒ Australian Gov. DoD

 

  The RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets. ⓒ Australian Gov. DoD

 

  The RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets heading to RAAF Base Amerley on March 20, 2010. ⓒ Australian Gov. DoD