(This concept was inspired by the Greater Australia story line, and I asked GTX Admin would he mind if I did a project where I build models to match the storyline. You can see the models in Physical Models – Aerospace. Those posts generated some discussion, which is answered here I hope. Note that the options/opinions here are mine and mine alone. Also, there may be weapons loads etc that are not capable of being used - the Eagles carrying a mix of ASRAAM and AIM-9 for example - for the purpose of this exercise the technical issues and interfaces have been resolved.)
ALTERNATIVE AUSTRALASIAN AIR FORCES
In the 70’s, the RAAF ran an evaluation of aircraft to be considered as a Mirage replacement. I was a controller at Williamtown in 1976-79, and during that time we had a visit from an F-15 prototype as (then) McDonnell Douglas pushed the F-15 as an option. While history tells us the RAAF eventually selected the F/A-18A Hornet, what if the RAAF (and indeed the rest of the ADF) considered other options for a much larger (and more capable) ADF air fleet?
Units/Types (read as type, unit, role, establishment)
RAAF
Air Combat Group
82 Wing
F-15E Strike Eagle 1 SQN Strike 16
F-15E Strike Eagle 6 SQN Strike 16
F-111E 2 SQN Recce 8
EF-111 2 SQN EW 6
RQ-1 Predator 5 SQN Surveillance/Recce 10
5OTU Strike Eagle Conversion 10 F-15E
81 Wing
F-15C 75 SQN Fighter 16
F-15C 77 SQN Fighter 16
F-16CJ 3 SQN Multi-role/SEAD 16
F-16C 76 SQN Multi-role 16
F-16C 79 SQN Multi-role 16
78 Wing
A-37B 4 SQN FAC – expanded 4 Flight 14
F-16D/F-15D 2OCU Fighter Conversion 10 x F15D, 16 x F-16D
Hawk 100 25 SQN Lead-In Fighter Training 40
F-16A ROULETTES Air Display team 7 (6 x A and 1 x B)
Air Lift Group
86 Wing
32 SQN - AAR - 12 x KC-135 – to be replaced by 10 KC-46 Pegasus from 2020
33 SQN – AAR - 12 x KC-767
36 SQN - Strategic Transport – 10 x C17
37 SQN – Transport 20 x C130J
84 Wing
34 SQN – VIP Transport - 2 x B737 BBJ’s, 6 x Canadair Challenger
35 SQN – Tactical Transport – 15 x C27 Spartan
38 SQN – Light Transport/Liaison – 8 x B200 Super King Air
Maritime Surveillance Group
92 Wing
10 SQN – 10 x P-3C – to be replaced by 7 x MQ-4C Triton from 2020
11 SQN – 10 x P-3C being replaced by 15 x P-8 Poseidon
Surveillance and Electronic Warfare Group
9 SQN
7 x E-7 Wedgetail AEW
5 x Gulfstream G550 – ISREW
Pilot Training
Hawk 2 FTS Training 90
RAN
CAW-1 HMAS AUSTRALIA
F-14 Tomcat VF-805 Fighter, Recce 24
A-7E VA-850 Strike 20
A-6E VA-851 Strike 16
EA-6B Prowler VAQ-852 Electronic Warfare 6
E-2 Hawkeye VAW-808 Air Surveillance 6
S-3A Viking VS-809 ASW, Anti-Ship 6
S-70B, MH-60R Sea Hawk HS-723 ASW, utility 6/6
AW-2 Ashore/LHD’s
Sea Harrier FRS-1 VF- 816 Fighter 12
AV-8B Harrier VF-817 Strike, CAIRS 12
NH-90 HS-722 Utility Transport 12
Training Wing
VC-724 SQN (Fighter) 6 x F-14, 4 x Sea Harrier, 6 x AV-8B
VC-725 SQN (Strike) 4 x A-7, 3 x A-6, 2 x EA-6B
ARMY
1 AVN Regiment
OV-1 Mohawk 172 SQN Surveillance 8
OV-10D Bronco 173 SQN FAC, Recce 20
5 AVN Regiment
S-70A Black Hawk A SQN SF Transport/Support 30
NH-90 B SQN Transport 50
CH-47F CHINOOK C SQN Transport 20
6 AVN Regiment
AH-1S 161 SQN ARH 24
AH-64D 162 SQN Firepower 20
ADF Helicopter School
Army Helicopter Training Contractor supplied Aircraft
RNZAF
1 Wing
F-20 Tigershark 26 SQN Multi-role 16
F-5E 16 SQN Light Fighter 20
RF-5E 15 SQN Recce 10
2 Wing
F-18 2 SQN Fighter 16
F-18 75 SQN Fighter 16
3 Wing (Fast Jet Training)
Operational Conversion (1SQN) 4 x F-18A, 4 x F-18B, 4 x F-20B, 2 x F-5E, 2 x F-5F
4 Wing
3 SQN – AAR/Strat Transport – 5 x KC-767, 2 x B757
40 SQN – Transport – 8 x C130J
42 SQN – Transport – 6 x C27 Spartan
5 SQN – P-3K to be replaced by 5 x P-8 Poseidon
5 Wing
6 SQN - Lift -10 x NH-90 (replacing UH-1H)
7 SQN
Recce – 6 x AH-1S Cobra
Firepower – 6 x AH-64
THE REVISED AUSTRALASIAN DEFENCE FORCE AIR CAPABILITY
PILOT TRAINING
With the significant number of jet aircraft entering the ADF inventory, instead of the proposed PC-9 to replace the Macchi, the decision was taken to acquire the Bae Hawk, to provide an all-through jet pilot training course (previously trialled by the ADF on the Macchi). 2FTS also provided pilot training to the RNZAF by way of the RNZAF “purchasing” sufficient hours for their needs from the ADF and supplying instructors to the combined effort.
Given the nature of aircraft selected, RAN Pilots continued to complete the RAAF 2 Flying Training School (2FTS) syllabus along with their RAAF colleagues, while Army Pilots completed the initial flying training assessment at Tamworth before commencing rotary-wing training at the ADF Helicopter School (utilising contractor provided aircraft) while those selected for the OV-10 and OV-1AU complete conversion training with the relevant Squadron.
On completion of 2FTS, graduates for Multi-engined aircraft (C-130, C-17, P-3, Wedgetail etc.) are posted to their squadron for conversion training, while those selected for fast jet (including Navy pilots) remained in Pearce for Lead-In Fighter Training (LIFT) with 25 SQN on Hawk 100 aircraft. Navy pilots selected for rotary wing are posted to the ADF Helicopter School for rotary wing training then direct to their selected unit for conversion training. The advantage of this co-location of flying training and LIFT places all Hawk maintenance at one location.
On completion of LIFT, RAAF fast jet pilots selected for fighters are then posted to 2 Operation Conversion Unit (2OCU) for training on the F-16 or F-15 depending on their selection/ADF requirements. Attack pilots and Air Combat Officers for the Strike Eagle Squadrons are posted to 5 Operational Conversion Unit (5OCU – remembering 5 Operational Training Unit that trained Beaufighter, Boston and Mosquito crews in WW2 and Mustang and Sabre pilots later) for conversion onto the Strike Eagle. RNZAF fast jet pilots are posted to the NZ Operational Conversion Squadron (No 1 Shadow Squadron) for training on their type.
Royal Australian Air Force
THE STRIKE FORCE
Given 5 OTU is tasked with Strike Eagle conversion training, both 1 and 6 Squadrons are operational in deep strike and interdiction in both the land and maritime environment. The reconnaissance role initially envisaged for 6 Squadron was indeed undertaken by F-111 aircraft, but by a re-roled 2 Squadron (who rather than take on the AWACS role – picked up their earlier tasking from Canberra days) who, in addition to reconnaissance with modified ex-USAF F-111E aircraft, also took on the Electronic Warfare (EW) role for the RAAF utilising several ex-USAF EF-111 aircraft. Aircrew for the F-111 fleets have normally completed a tour on the Strike Eagle, and conversion to their F-111 type is managed by 5OTU “borrowing” F-111 airframes as required. Lastly, 5 Squadron was raised to operate the Remotely piloted RQ-1 Predators, which only have a surveillance/reconnaissance role, and do NOT carry Hellfire missiles.
THE FIGHTER FORCE
The RAAF decided to create a HI-LO mix of fighter units, with two HI units (75 and 77 SQNs) operating the F-15 in pure fighter roles, while the LO units (3, 76 and 79 SQNs) operate the F-16 in multi-role tasking, with the Squadrons operating in both fighter and strike/ground attack roles as required. The F-15 squadrons concentrate on air-to-air tactics, while 3 Squadron picks up the specialised role of SEAD thanks to their F-16CJ aircraft.
Training for the fighter squadrons is conducted by 2 Operational Conversion unit, which trains both F-15 and F-16 pilots.
To support the F-16 Squadrons in their close air support role, a dedicated squadron (4 SQN) was raised, equipped with A-37B aircraft. The squadron took on predominately the Forward Air Control (FAC) role, while the squadron is also capable of providing close air support to ground units. Given the role of 4 Squadron, pilots selected for this squadron have previously completed a tour on F-16 (or in some cases Strike Eagle) prior to their posting to this unit.
The Roulettes: For a long period, the RAAF display team had utilised aircraft from the training system to provide an aerobatic display team. With the increased capability of the ADF, a higher profile was considered appropriate, so a specific display team was developed, based within 78 Wing and utilising F-16 aircraft. Pilots for the display team have completed a tour on F-16, F-15 or F-15E prior to selection for a 2-year posting to the display team.
AIRLIFT
The significant increase in fast jets meant that the ADF needed to bolster the air refueling capability to provide the jets strategic reach. While 33 SQN used the B707 aircraft purchased in the late 70's to develop ADF AAR and strategic lift doctrine, the more immediate need for AAR Capability was filled by 32 SQN operating 12 ex-USAF KC-135 aircraft. These are due to be replaced by KC-46 Pegasus aircraft from 2020. In 2000, 33 SQN commenced re-equipping with 12 KC-767 tankers which doubled the RAAF's AAR offload capability, while 6 additional aircraft were part of the order for 3 SQN RNZAF to give the Kiwi's and AAR capability to support their Hornets.
The KC-46 Pegasus differs from the KC-767s in that it is based on the 767-200, but uses a modified boom from the USAF KC-10 and will have B787 cockpit displays.
There were also few changes to the RAAF Airlift Group as a result of the finding from the ADF Lift Study conducted in 2000. 37 SQN had already begun to retire their C-130E and replace them with C-130J. The initial order of 12 C-130J had options for an additional 27 aircraft. Only 16 options were taken up, and additional 8 for 37 SQN with 8 going to the RNZAF for 40 SQN.
The RAAF looked closely at the A-400M as well as C-17's. Openings from the C-17 production line with aircraft not being taken up by the USAF allowed the RAAF to purchase a batch of 10 for 36 SQN to provide real strategic reach.
Replacement of the aging Caribou fleet was more difficult. Despite several suggestions, the only aircraft that could match the STOL capability of the RAAF's Caribous was the Caribou! However, age and support issues (the Caribou was the only AVGAS user in the ADF) saw these aircraft retired, with 15 C-27 Spartans being selected as an additional lift capability to supplement the C-130 fleet while providing commonality. Again, the RNZAF was part of the deal with 6 additional aircraft in the order going to 42 SQN RNZAF.