PETER LA FRANCHI / RAAF WILLIAMTOWN
The Australian Department of Defence has completed a major review of lessons learned from its participation in lead operations in Afghanistan and Iraq over the past two years. A public version of the report is not due to be released until late this year.
The study, performed by the Australian Defence Force Warfare Centre at RAAF Base Williamtown, was handed to defence minister Robert Hill last month.
The study is expected to influence Australia's revised defence capability plan, due to go before the cabinet's national security committee before the end of next month.
The study is understood to emphasise the need for ongoing upgrades of the Royal Australian Air Force's Boeing F-18A/B Hornets to allow them to be deployed alongside US forces. This includes replacing the fighters' electronic warfare self-protection (EWSP) equipment and acquiring an airborne jamming capability.
Australia plans to upgrade the Hornet's EWSP, but Air Cdre John Quaife, commander RAAF Air Combat Group, says: "We are trying to bring it forward." Quaife says Hornet operations over Iraq were planned to avoid EWSP shortfalls. "We were able to demonstrate that, despite the deficiencies, the aircraft were highly effective in the type of tasking we were employed in."
Quaife declines to comment on whether the RAAF deployed Elta EL/L-8222 jamming pods as part of the operation. Australia acquired sixpods in 2000 as an interim jammer for the General Dynamics F-111C, but has been flying them on Hornets for at least two years.
The report is also understood to underline the need to replace the Hornet's Lockheed Martin AAS-38 Nitehawk targeting pod.
RAAF pilots using the pod in Iraq found it regularly could not provide positive target identification, even at the optimal bomb- release point. The RAAF is considering using the Nitehawk replacement as the basis for reinvigorating its strike reconnaissance capability, now based on four RF-111s.
Source: Flight International
