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Subject: NZ may finally be about to sell the A4s
albywan    10/15/2009 10:48:19 PM
After the previous govenrment's decision that NZ no longer requires a air combat wing, the Skyhawks and Aermacchi trainers were put on the market. Up to now the US has not authorised the sale of the A4s so these have been sitting in storage. Apparently the sale to a Arizona based training facility is now OK'd to go ahead. Given NZ's lack of defense budget, what do you think a alternative replacement should be? There was talk of F16s a couple of years back, IMHO this would still be a valid consideration but what else would you suggest? 2nd hand M2000-9s? Su-27s? MiG 29? 2nd hand F18s?
 
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gf0012-aust       10/16/2009 12:36:51 AM
doubt that they'd go out and buy a separate type.  there is a push for NZ and Aust to have common logistics - and aircraft are the biggest parasites in the budget.


 
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Aussie Diggermark 2       10/16/2009 3:36:15 AM
NZ's Skyhawks were removed from service years ago (around 2005 I think). They have been stored ever since, with the engines periodically started up and basic maintenance only to keep them in a sellable condition.
 
They are not going to be replaced by ANY fighter. Their MB-339C trainers have been withdrawn from service too. 
 
NZ has completely forgone any fast jet capacity and there is no sign on the horizon that it is or will ever look to reinstate such a capability.
 
The Kiwis are rapidly emasculating their own defence capability and this draw-down process shows little sign of abating...
 
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Volkodav       10/16/2009 4:52:57 AM
The RNZAF has been out of the fast jet game for too long to just intoduce a new type and carry on as if nothing had happened.  They would need to undertake a long term training program starting with inserting personnel into another airforce to relearn lost skills.
 
An option might be to insert personnel into 1 Sqn RAAF with the aim of buying the SH's at the end of our lease.
 
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Aussiegunneragain       10/16/2009 7:10:53 PM
Agree with AD. The NZ public just isn't interested in spending money on this sort of defence capability because they don't see a need for it. The National party is the only one which would be interested in reintroducing a fast jet capability but if they started a procurement process it would become the central election issue, Labour would win and it would be cancelled. It is going to take a major geo-strategic change like a move by other nations towards contesting New Zealand's Antartic claim, for NZ to ever get this sort of capability again.
 
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gf0012-aust       10/16/2009 8:03:32 PM
the kiwis are more interested in BAMs and the truck driving side of RNZAF than fighters..
 
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BLUIE006       10/16/2009 10:52:41 PM
UCAV/UAV
 
 
 
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Aussiegunneragain       10/17/2009 4:23:59 AM

UCAV/UAV

 

 


Not a bad idea for NZ. They basically need maritime surveillance, close air support, ASW and maritime strike capabilities and UAV's/UCAV's could provide such as BAM's and Reaper could provide a significant proportion of the first two services. Other than that they need up to date manned maritime patrollers with a credible anti-shipa and anti-submarine capability, and gunship helo's would be useful for CAS and helecopter escort as well.
 
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Aussiegunneragain       10/17/2009 4:33:13 AM
Back on A4's, I wonder if there is any prospect of these babies ending up in private hands? It would be awesome if the Temora Aviation Museum could get hold of one of the ex-RAN A-4G's and keep it in flying condition. Some of those private joy-ride companies might also like to consider a TA-4. I'm sure their customers would love to go in an aircraft that can roll at 720 degrees per second!
 
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Volkodav       10/17/2009 5:00:25 AM
Back on A4's, I wonder if there is any prospect of these babies ending up in private hands? It would be awesome if the Temora Aviation Museum could get hold of one of the ex-RAN A-4G's and keep it in flying condition. Some of those private joy-ride companies might also like to consider a TA-4. I'm sure their customers would love to go in an aircraft that can roll at 720 degrees per second!
 
Mmmm......I've got an old family member with lots of cash, a pilots licence from his time in the RAN FAA and a hobby buying and flying old aircraft....
 
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DropBear       10/17/2009 5:56:16 AM
2nd hand M2000-9s?
Su-27s?
MiG 29?
2nd hand F18s?
 
I think if you want to protect sperm whales and blue fin tuna, a better alternative is offshore patrol combatants for the Navy.
 
I guess you could wire F-16A to fire SNEB or LAU at naughty fishing trawlers but I'm not sure the Argies are that ibnterested in invading NZ airspace.  http://www.strategypage.com/CuteSoft_Client/CuteEditor/Images/emsmilep.gif" align="absMiddle" border="0" alt="" />
 
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