Fixed-wing SAR replacement: C-27J vs. C-295 and US
A couple of interesting comments at Army.ca--US trying to influence, via Joint Cargo Aircraft competition (more here), Canadian and Aussie aircraft selections.
Meanwhile, a replacement for our Buffaloes and C-130E Hercs for fixed-wing SAR may be up in the air. Money.
Meanwhile, a replacement for our Buffaloes and C-130E Hercs for fixed-wing SAR may be up in the air. Money.
posted by Mark, Ottawa at 8:28 a.m.
1 Comments:
I doubt very much that the US is overtly trying to influence the Australian government in its choice of the Caribou replacement. Rather it is a matter of the Australian government waiting until the US makes a decision and then factoring that in to its own. Unlike Canada, Australia doesn't have any hangups about US kit, so any decision on the US versus European aircraft will be devoid of political posturing. European helicopters, US fixed wing transport aircraft -- each has been chosen on their merits recently. For a small fleet operator, commonality is a big thing in Australian purchases, but any large group of users will do.
That said, the C27J certainly seems the favourite. The C295 got a look in in the late 1990s when the C27J was still very much a developmental aeroplane and significantly more expensive than its rival. The C295 was an unpleasant choice (it's nothing like a Caribou -- nothing is) and no one was particularly unhappy to see the decision deferred a few years when more would be known about its competitor. Now Australia is in the happy position of being able to make a choice with the US's own selection in mind. Training, spares and supportability will be much cheaper should they choose the same aircraft, and they probably will. I'd reckon most people would be betting on the C27J.
Australia is taking its time making a decision. Up for grabs at the same time are planned decisions on more CH-47s and C-130Js as well as the Caribou replacement. Chief of Air Force was quoted last year as saying that, now that each end of the airlift spectrum has been decided upon (battlefield helicopters and strategic airlift), the ADF can go ahead and present options for the middle bits to government. Apparently they did that in the middle of last year, but obviously final decisions will be contingent upon important data such as the choice for the JCA by the US. When that's decided, I expect we'll hear a bunch of announcements from the Australian government.
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