The Green Continent’s Air Shield: Per Ardua Ad Astra

Along with the Navy, the Air Force is a key Australian Defense Force (ADF) service. Both are tasked with defending the Green Continent from sea and air attack, guard sea lanes, project force in the South Pacific, and participate in global stability and security operations. To this end, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is emerging as a compact, well-equipped entity that is constantly being modernized.

Along with the Navy, the Air Force is a key Australian Defense Force (ADF) service. Both are tasked with defending the Green Continent from sea and air attack, guard sea lanes, project force in the South Pacific, and participate in global stability and security operations. To this end, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is emerging as a compact, well-equipped entity that is constantly being modernized.

Today

American Hornet-family fighters form the core of the RAAF, including 69 fourth-generation F/A-18A/Bs manufactured under license over the period 1985-1990 (data from Flightglobal’s World Air Forces 2014) and 24 state-of-the-art 4+ generation F/A-18F Super Hornets.

In the early 2000s, the F/A-18A/Bs were upgraded under the Hornet Upgrade Program giving them improved avionics and modern weapons support, extending their service life to 2020. As a result, the F/A-18As are fairly modern fighter bombers capable of countering most threats, while the 15 F/A-18Bs are sufficient for regular and advanced training purposes. The only aircraft that have taken part in combat are the 14 Hornet fighters in 75th Squadron, racking up 350 flights during the Second Gulf War. Their participation clearly reflects the Australian view of the conflict in question, as the history section about the two Gulf Wars on the official RAAF website described Australia’s role in maintaining order and reconstruction of the Iraqi armed forces, while not mentioning the combat aircraft, which in fact saw action for the first time since the Vietnam War.

Due to major delays in commissioning the fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II fighter, discarding the F-111C/G Aardvark tactical bombers, and the obsolescence of the F/A-18A/Bs, Australia had to support the combat-readiness of its Air Force by acquiring intermediate aircraft. The decision was no doubt catalyzed by Indonesia's purchase of Russian-made SU-27SKM and SU-30MK/MK2 fighters. Despite generally friendly, if at times tense, relations and similar stances on East Timor, Canberra is clearly worried by a neighbor that is gaining potential. Besides, Jakarta is becoming increasingly daring toward Canberra. Accustomed to unconditional dominance in the South Pacific and Southeast Asia, Australia is troubled by Indonesia’s qualitative edge in the air, since the SU-30MK/MK2 undoubtedly outperforms the F/A-18A.

In 2007, Australia signed a contract to buy 24 multirole F/A-18F Super Hornets, i.e. their latest version Block II with advanced avionics incorporating phased array radar. The first Super Hornet squadron reached immediate readiness in December 2010 and was declared fully ready in December 2012. All the aircraft are two-seaters optimized for extended patrol and strike missions. Thanks to this twin control, no training aircraft were needed. Although there are not many of them, the Super Hornets compensate for the F/A-18A/Bs’ obsolescence and are able to perform the full variety of tasks.

Photo: wikipedia.org
"Hornet" of Royal Australian Air Force during
international air exercise

Due to its geography, Australia has to focus on protecting sea-lanes and frontiers, which are covered by 18 AP-3C Orions upgraded in 1997-2002, i.e. American P-3C Orions manufactured in 1975-1980. Due to their efficient avionics, these aircraft are suitable for both patrol and reconnaissance missions, and in 2003-2012 they were used by coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Although their service life was extended and capabilities improved through upgrades, they are due to be replaced by 2019 when they reach the end of their maximum service life.

Australians pay a great deal of attention to air defense. Along with the Super Hornet, they have recently purchased E-7A Wedgetail early warning and control aircraft tailor-made for Australia on the basis of the Boeing 737-700 medium-range airliner. Six achieved immediate operational capability (IOC) in November 2012 and full capability in late 2013. These aircraft detect and intercept distant and low-flying targets. The E-7A is can be used to detect and track surface targets. Nevertheless, the Australian air defenses remain vulnerable due to the lack of land-based surface-to-air missile systems, with only ship-based complexes available to augment its aircraft capabilities. Construction work is underway on modern Hobart-Class air-defense destroyers, although the remoteness of densely populated areas in the continent’s south and east remains the main safeguard.

Aircraft operation at a significant distance from base remains key, and Australia uses five new KC-30A tankers converted by Airbus from A330 airliners and transferred to the RAAF in 2011-2012 to tackle this issue. Expeditionary capabilities – critical for Australia – are supported by the military transport fleet, which includes six strategic C-17 Globemaster III and 12 multirole C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. These are new and should not require replacement anytime soon. In order to optimize medium-range troop and cargo transport, the RAAF is purchasing 10 C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft which are due to be delivered from 2015.

Tomorrow

The RAAF is actively buying new airplanes, including state-of-the-art models (boasting early warning and control, tankers, transport aircraft) of the kind seen in any first-rate air force. Only two structural elements appear weak, but these are of critical importance.

Photo: australianaviation.com.au
The assembly of the first for Royal Australian
Air Force F-35A

Multirole fighters lie at the heart of any modern air force. Australia’s air force operates the F/A-18A Hornet, which will soon become obsolete. In 2002, the RAAF found a replacement, i.e. the U.S. multirole fifth-generation fighter F-35A Lightning II, and plans to purchase as many as 100. Australia seemed pleased with its stealth capability and advanced avionics, although some experts insisted on the F-22A Raptor in order to face future Chinese fighters (Carlo Kopp has been particularly eloquent on this issue). It was thought that, by 2011, the F-35 would achieve IOC within the US Air Force (USAF) and would be accepted by the RAAF in 2012. Australia could have scrapped its F-111C/G aircraft and replaced the Hornets.

However, the schedule was a long way off the reality, as the USAF’s F-35A is set to meet immediate operational requirements in (2016, with Australia potentially acquiring them in (2019, and IOC achieved by the end of 2020 . For the fairness's sake, it it worth noting that the assembly of two initial aircraft for the RAAF is virtually complete and they are set to be delivered in summer 2014. However, they will stay in the United States for several years so that the Australian pilots can be trained alongside their American colleagues.

Because of these delays, Australia had to buy 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets to serve as an intermediate aircraft. The higher price of the F-35A and its delayed IOC have prompted Canberra to consider buying more Super Hornets and decreasing their Lightning II aircraft purchases to deliver a mixed fleet. There were plans to refit some Super Hornets as electronic warfare (EW) and air defense suppression aircraft EA-18G Growler (the RAAF has none of this crucial type) and purchase more standard F/A-18Fs. But today a more rational plan is in place: purchasing 12 EA-18G Growlers in the United States and not modernizing the available planes. If needed, 12 more F/A-18Fs will be purchased.

The EA-18G Growlers should bring the RAAF to a qualitatively new level, and help maintain this level jointly with the upgraded F/A-18As and new F/A-18Fs until the F-35As come online. Officially, the government maintains that the planned purchase of 100 Lightning II aircraft will go ahead, however – given the potential acquisition of the F/A-18Fs, one can be relatively confident about plans for 72 new aircraft that will form three squadrons. The final decision on the massive purchase of aircraft to gradually replace the Super Hornet fleet is expected in the 2030s.

Photo: wikipedia.org
Marine patrol aircraft P-8A "Poseidon"

Construction of two Canberra-Class amphibious assault ships might offer the Lightning II an innovative option. Based on the design of the Spanish assault ship Juan Carlos I, they are equipped with a takeoff ramp for STOL aircraft, such as the F-35B, a modification of the Lightening II. In fact, adapting the ship to the F-35b had initially been an Australian requirement and France had suggested its Mistral Class with a takeoff ramp. However, discussions of a possible F-35B purchase seems premature, since the Royal Australian Navy is interested in basing aircraft on the Canberra Class only for joint operations with the U.S. Marine Corps.

Replacement is also required for naval patrol aviation, which is crucial for Australia because of its dependence on ensuring border and sea-lane security. To this end, the RAAF is provided with the Orions, which will be replaced within five years. Canberra has already identified a new type, the P-8A Poseidon, as the best patrol aircraft available now, and plans to buy eight of them in 2017–2018. Due to the Poseidon’s high price, Australia is not likely to use them to replace all 18 Orions\, and seems likely to compensate for the shortfall with the MQ-4C Triton, heavy UAVs designed for the U.S. Navy on the basis of the RQ-4 Global Hawk reconnaissance UAV, for joint operation with the Poseidon.

The RAAF’s Niche in the Australian Defense Force

The 2013 Defense White Paper tasks the Australian Defense Force with:

• containing and repelling possible aggression,
• strengthening stability and security in the South Pacific and East Timor,
• cooperating in the Indian-Pacific Region, primarily in Southeast Asia, for better security,
• cooperating to deliver global security.

To accomplish these missions, the ADF is actively rearming and maintains a high level of personnel training. Replacing outdated systems is a costly but vital process required to ensure Australia retains its positions in the region. With a stronger Indonesia and Asia Pacific becoming a key theater for potential U.S.-China confrontation, Australia can no longer rely on geography alone to ensure its security. At the same time, a direct clash with China is not likely, while neighborly relations with Indonesia may be founded on the possession of modern and mission-ready armed forces.

Although an attack against Australia is a remote possibility, its participation in peacemaking and interventions in smaller Asia Pacific states, which Canberra regards as its sphere of influence, seems much more probable. These countries are far from stable, meaning that Australia is very likely to use force to protect its interests, especially as it has had positive experience in East Timor and the Solomon Islands. Practice shows that aviation is the key in such operations, with transport aircraft swiftly projecting the forces and strikers providing the attacker and its allies with the critical edge over the enemy. And the focus on up-to-date transport indicates that Australia is following the prevailing trend.

The Australia-U.S.A. allied relationship is gaining ground, with an American contingent deployed in the Green Continent. Canberra buys almost all its military assets in the United States and its personnel are trained alongside Americans, as with the first group of Australian pilots and technicians for the F-35A. The RAAF regularly participates in USAF drills, for example in Red Flag 14-1, January 27-February 14, 2014, to which it contributed several F/A-18A fighter bombers and an E-7 early warning and control aircraft. In addition to certain preferences, this close alliance involves significant obligations, as the RAAF could be engaged in a conflict as happened in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In conclusion, instability in certain neighbor countries and mounting confrontation between the superpowers in the Asia Pacific region are bringing Australia’s period of serenity to an end. The RAAF is very likely to swing into action in the not too distant future, either as a U.S. ally or independently, and is already preparing for combat – unhurriedly, actively and in good faith. 1.

1. Per аrdua ad аstra (Latin) has been the RAAF motto since 1912, inheriting it from the Royal Flying Corps of the British Empire.