Defence Update

Raaf Proposing to Buy Tlffiee Surplus Us Navy Lockheed P-3B Orions

The Royal Australian Air Force’s major P-3 Update project which aims to keep its maritime reconnaissance/anti-submarine warfare patrol planes operational well into the next century,includes a proposal to acquire three surplus United States

Navy P-3B models. The P-3B buy proposal is seen as a bargain basement “window of opportunity” as surplus US defence equipment becomes available due to substantial cuts in manpower and equipment now programmed to be mothballed, “graveyarded” or sold. Australian Defence Force proposals to acquire a surplus guided missile DDG destroyer for in-harbour training and spares for andsparesforthe RAN’s current three DDGs, and for the RAAF to gain up to an extra 18 F-llls to extend the life of the current fleet of 22 strike and reconnaissance aircraft based at Amberley, are in the same category of cheap but useful buys. The extra P-3 Orlons would be used simply for aircrew training so that the fatigue life of the current 19 P-3Cs flying normal operations could be extended. The P-3Bs would have their surveillance and ASW equipment removed.

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