FOB MOB

A reader posted a comment in a previous post in regard to how important it is that there are more C-17s for the RAAF. The other part of that is, how could we reduce $10B off of the current annual Defence budget of $29B?

We have enough C-17s. They are not especially long range aircraft. C-17s are very useful, but if it is so important to spend more on airlift for worldwide needs, we don't need more of those.

Combi,pax-freighters 747 would be a better fit.

Here is a study (large PDF) for a 747 tanker/combi pax-freight that at the time made a lot of sense.

Today, having a small number of non-tanker 747s, that were rigged with air-refeuling recepticals for non-stop flight, would be very useful if the brainiacs see their justification to exist as trying to play big-boy on the other side of the world.

I don't agree with that mission need but this kind of aircraft would bring a lot.

Get lots of stuff there efficiently and C-17s, C-130s, C-27s etc can take it from a hub to a forward operating base.

This frees up C-17s to do what only they can do. Joint allies would also appreciate additional 747 combi capability.

But let us not do that. Let us instead do the bidding of Boeing lobbyists.

As for the $10B reduction in the annual Derfence budget?

Workable.

The M-1 does not work. The tankie unit and all that support it all the way to the DMO, go away.

The defective NRH-90 and Tiger helicopters? Disband them.

The obsolete Air Warfare Destroyer and LHD Canberra-class? Stop work and scrap the destroyers. Ditto with the LHDs. Maybe one of those can be a floating casino.

Quit the obscene F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program. Restart a competition that will replace the classic F-18 based on available, in-production aircraft. That will also replace the overly expensive to own Super Slow Hornet.

170 flag ranks, excessive amounts of SES and civilians will also go.

Well on the way toward reshaping the ADF where it contributes to our regional Defence.


This idea that Defence can somehow keep up its habit of impulse buys, needs to go away for good.

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-New Defence White Paper fails to address Australia's core security needs
-2009 Defence White Paper Fantasy
-Analysing "The ADF Air Combat Capability- On the Record"
-Find out who is responsible for the Air Warfare Destroyer mess
-Analysis of Defence Materiel Organisation Major Projects Management and What Needs to be Fixed
-New DMO Boss warns the staff that business as usual is over
-How dangerous is the Defence Material Organisation to our Defence Industry?
-Australia's Failing Defence Structure and Management Methodology
-More on the dud-jamming gear Defence wants to buy
-ADF cost per flying hour
-I will wipe out bullying vows new Defence chief (Houston 2005)
-Vacancy
-Put Vol 2 Report of DLA Piper Review into the light of day
-Rory and Jim
-Parasitism as an Abstraction for Organizational Dysfunctions
-Hobart-class "Air Warfare Destroyer" to be fielded with obsolete radar guidance technology
-The Decay Of Critical Military Thinking And Writing-With Particular Reference To The RAAF
-Newspaper guy gets it right about sub project.... big time
-The great M-1 tank myth
-*UPDATE* Fear and loathing in Canberra - Audit released on MRH-90 helicopter project 
-RAN bullies contractor over Collins sub replacement
-2014-15 ADF budget shocker - Star-ranks
-Air Warfare Destroyer -- Billions, not millions over budget
-Australia's M-1 tanks are... a downgrade compared to what it had
-Weak links put on rubber-stamp Defence panel
-Stop the nonsense (Collins-class submarine replacement)