I can believe it.
Here is a more in depth take about the Euro Triangles.
A survey of AirPower developments to inform the TNI AU’s proposed aquistion of a new fighter type
1. In theory, Australia, Singapore and Indonesia need to work together it to stand a chance against the new hegemonic power that has appeared in the post COVID-19 world. But given current Indonesian attitude to regional cooperation, I am not sure if this cooperation can ever occur.
2. Let me survey some AirPower developments in Australia and Singapore to inform this TNI AU discussion on a proposed new platform acquisition — the Eurofighter Typhoon (and my preference is to see Tranche 4 capabilities installed).
(i) The RAAF with its E-7A as battle manager, MC-55As and Growlers has formidable capabilities to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum. They are also well advanced in their fleet renewal plan with the F-35A to hit IOC in Dec 2020.
(ii) By 2026, Singapore will make a start on operating 4 F-35Bs (with an option for 8 more). The RSAF as plans to slowly phase out, what I speculate to be between 24 to 36 of our F-16s by the late 2030s (to be replaced by F-35Bs, many of which will be based in the US). News appeared yesterday that Singapore’s 12 F-16s at Luke Airbase will be moving to another location.
(iii) By late 2030s, Singapore’s F-35Bs will operate forward in hostile airspace using its VLO characteristics to survive, while passing detailed targeting information back to the G550 AEW who as a battlespace manager will cue the fleet of 40 F-15SGs to fire their air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles at maximum range. This approach maximises the qualities of the different aircraft involved.
3. By the way, I have always been a fan of the Eurofighter Typhoon — really hope to see it at regional airshows in TNI AU colours.
4. TOT matters and will affect the sustainment of the selected platform. I would strongly prefer the Eurofighter Typhoon over any F-16V purchase. My preference is informed by the following facts:
(i) Singapore’s F-16s will eventually be retired in favour of 24 to 36 F-35Bs in the late 2030s. I see the RSAF’s F-16 fleet, first acquired in Feb 1988, as no longer regionally competitive in 2049.
(ii) Starting in 2026, Singapore’s 12 F-16s will operate along side its first four lot 15 (Block 4) F-35Bs, in a US base location to be selected. Singapore has an option for 8 more F-35Bs, which will be exercised if testing and/or technical discussions are satisfactory to DSTA as acquisition program manager. But the F-35Bs’ data links still need work to talk to our G550AEWs and money is going to be spent. But these nagging issues can’t be simply resolved in 1 to 2 years. This is why the defence minister talks about the need to do testing on the F-35Bs and these distributed lethality issues can easily take until 2028 to 2030 to resolve at an initial level with different IOC and FOC gates. With distributed lethality FOC taking place in the late 2030s, at the earliest, I suspect (and really to early to predict in 2020).
(iii) The UK’s Eurofighter Typhoons will continue to operate alongside their F-35Bs as part of their AirPower fleet renewal plans well into the 2040s.
(iv) Eurofighter Typhoons in production for Kuwait and Qatar are considered the most advanced. They will be equipped with the AESA Captor-E radar, produced by the Euroradar consortium, that is being tested in Germany aboard the Instrumented Production Aircraft (IPA)-8 and also tested aboard IPA-5 from Warton. Another sensor that will be tested in Warton in support of this purchase is the Lockheed Martin Sniper targeting pod. Deliveries of the 28 Kuwait aircraft start in 4Q 2020, while the 24 Qatar jets will be delivered from 2022.
(v) The first Qatari students have started their training in the UK, with 65 students taking English language training at the RAF Cosford base in 2019. The first of these students will eventually join the RAF and Qatar Amiri Air Force Typhoon Joint Squadron.
(vi) If the TNI AU is really interested in this platform, Indonesia’s ministry of defence will need to place an order (with contracts signed) by 2022 to take first deliver of new aircraft by 2028 — as there is a production queue (behind Kuwait and Qatar orders).
(vii) The TNI AU is not on the way to being a regionally competitive air force until it has AWACS and tankers in service. Until then, Indonesia will need support from all its allies and partners that the country can summon, to be competitive against the PLA(N).
5. Plus it would be good for TNI AU, RAAF and RSAF to operate the same tanker. So that if any of our airbases are bombed or if the aircraft suffers battle damage, we can divert the A330MRTTs to each other’s bases — esp RAAF Butterworth and TNI AU’s Natuna Besar which have limited air defence coverage with SAMs.
I agree with his take. Like or not in order to survive a hypothetical 'hot' war with
'you know who', we would need to work together closely with the Australian and Singaporean Air Forces; Least until external American help arrives. I think it's great if we procure the MRTT, Wedgetail, Poseidon, F-16V, and the F-35 since you would at least have a common pool of mechanics and facilities in the region that knows how to maintain and support them.
Having the Euro Triangle would at least satisfy a lot of parties in the country without deviating too far from what is compatible with our current inventory.
All in all a good plan today instead of a perfect plan 10 years from now.
Lihat Foto
