While most of the attention was focussed on the amount of money the Albanese Government is spending on defence in the recent budget, from an air capability perspective there were some interesting snippets in the margins.
First of all, the Defence Portfolio Budget Statement revealed that the Royal Australian Air Force is to get two new Boeing 737-BBJ VIP aircraft, to replace the existing pair which have been in service since 2002.
The new aircraft will be based in Canberra with 34 Squadron, the RAAF’s special purpose (VIP) squadron and will join three recently-acquired Dassault Falcon 7X business jets.
The document also reveals that the Beechcraft King Air 350 will remain in service until the 2024-2025 financial year, after which the fleet will begin to be drawn down in anticipation of replacement by as yet unknown capability.
The aircraft are currently based at East Sale in Victoria and are operated by 32 Sqn in support of Air Force Air Combat Officer (ACO) and Navy Aviation Warfare Officer (AvWO) training at No.1 Flying Training School.
The two Lockheed AP-3C(EW) Orion signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft with 10 Sqn at RAAF Edinburgh will begin to be replaced by the first of four MC-55A Peregrine ISREW aircraft being acquired under Air 555 in the 2023-2024 financial year.
The Defence PBS also reveals that the first Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton high altitude long endurance (HALE) UAS will not enter service until the 2024-2025 financial year.
From an Army standpoint, the document confirms that the Airbus Helicopters Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) will remain in service until at least 2026, at which point the new Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters being acquired under Land 4503 will enter service. According to the PBS, the first of 29 Apaches will be delivered in the third quarter of 2025.
Finally, the portfolio statement records that the Navy ceased flying the NHI MRH 90 Taipan in April 2022 apparently without an immediate replacement.
The RAN is acquiring 12 more Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk under Sea 9100 Phase 1 (Embarked Logistics Support Helicopter Capability) to replace the MRH 90s currently in service and Army is seeking final approval for 40 Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to replace its Taipans.