Posted on 02/28/2006 5:31:29 PM PST by Piefloater
AUSTRALIA'S F/A-18 fighters will be armed with the most lethal long-range cruise missiles in the region, a move likely to upset our Asian neighbours.
In a controversial decision, the federal Government announced yesterday that it had chosen to buy the most deadly of the three cruise missile types it was examining to help offset the looming retirement of the F-111 strike bombers.
The decision to choose the longer-range Joint Air-To-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) will be seen by Indonesia as provocative, given that Jakarta has previously warned that such missiles could trigger a regional arms race.
The Lockheed Martin JASSM was by far the most deadly of the three missiles being considered by Australia.
The 909kg missiles, which cost about $544,000 each, are described by the US Air Force as having a "kick-the-door-down capability".
With a range of more than 400km - four times that of any missile currently available to the RAAF - it will be the first self-guided land-attack stealth cruise missile in Southeast Asia when itis introduced from late 2009. The Government did not say how many missiles it would buy but the total cost is likely to be about $350million.
The RAAF also plans to use the missile on the new Joint Strike Fighter when it arrives from 2013.
With only one air-to-air refuel, a JSF armed with JASSM could hit targets as far north as Thailand. With repeated mid-air refuelling, it could strike anywhere in Asia.
The issue is a sensitive one with Jakarta, which has questioned the need for cruise missiles capable of striking any part of Indonesia.
In 2004, when The Australian broke news of the plan to buy cruise missiles, an Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman said the idea "may not be construed by some countries as defensive".
"Australia's Government has, until now, been against the proliferation of advanced missile technologies in the region. There is a risk that raising the level of sophistication could lead to some kind of counter response," the spokesman said at the time.
However, Defence Minister Brendan Nelson yesterday played down the impact of the new missiles.
"The acquisition of long-range missiles does not represent a change in Australia's defence posture and capability planning," Dr Nelson said.
The decision to fit cruise missiles on the RAAF's 71 F/A-18s has been forced on the Government by the looming retirement of the long-range F-111 strike bombers from 2010.
With the F-111's replacement - the JSF - not due to arrive until 2013, the Government is facing at least three years without a potent air-strike capability.
The fitting of JASSM to the shorter-range F/A-18 fighters is aimed at boosting their strike capabilities in the interim years.
"The introduction and fitting of the JASSM to the F/A-18 Hornet provides an important capability for Defence and forms a key part of the Government's plan to withdraw the F-111 aircraft," Dr Nelson said.
"The acquisition is a prudent decision to ensure Australia retains its strike capability so Australian objectives can be met whilst maintaining the safety of aircraft and crews."
The Government said it had abandoned plans to fit cruise missiles to the AP-3C Orion.
If you would have peace, be prepared for war."
More provacative than the bombing of the Australian night club in Bali ?
The question is: what does Indonesia have planned for Australia that it doesn't want Australia to be able to stop?
I don't think I knew that the hornet could launch cruise missiles. Seems rather inefficient, but I am sure someone here will correct me in a most caustic way ; )
Once the get the JSF, they will be hot. Look out China.
Big deal if asia gets mad. The aussies have a right to arm themselves to defend what is theirs.Jassm is brutal and they are really no way of detecting it before it is up on you. By then its to late.
Range 2400 miles. Full stealth.
See some strategy here? Closer ties with India. Better weapons for Australia, a watchful peace with Russia, bases in Afganistan, Iraq and the 'stans. One is curious if someones in our Govt is not smarter then we think. Sure looks like some cagey longer term positioning...
Huh?
The Indonesian Military is basically completely helpless. Think, say, the Iraqi regular Army in 1991, but a lot worse.
Australia confiscated many weapons just a few years ago after that crazy shot some tourists in Tasmania. Aussies are pretty much disarmed.
WOW, clarification? 2400 miles including the range of the f-16? or 2400 miles on their own? That seems like a freaking huge range that we could launch them land based from a base and hit about anywhere in the world.
But geography is not my strong point.
They can be nuclear equiped as well :)
They're still flying the F 111 ?
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