The Various Roles of RAAF (1971) Page 2

For some time now our strike force has consisted of Canberra aircraft, but their ability to survive in a hostile environment is now questionable. By contrast, the F-111C has the aids successfully to penetrate this type of environment unescorted, accurately deliver its weapons on to the target at low level and in all weather, and defeat attacks by enemy ground and air We are presently using F-4E Phantom aircraft to maintain proficiency in this form of attack and are confident that the F-111C will eventually be proven structurally and enter service with the RAAF.

It is hardly necessary to stress the necessity for effective strategic and tactical reconnaissance. Strategic reconnaissance is required to indicate the enemy's intentions and his plans. In operations, reconnaissance before and after air strikes is essential if economy of effort is to be achieved.

Tactical reconnaissance is naturally of supreme importance in the land battle. We plan to acquire a reconnaissance capability with the F-111C aircraft and our Mirage tactical fighter has been modified for tactical reconnaissance.

Again, the strategic air transport role would not require any great substantiation. For many years now we have been maintaining a military air transport service to South-East Asia - initially to Malaysia for the maintenance of our commitments in that country, and of course on an increasing scale to Vietnam since our involvement in the operations there. We are now maintaining something of the order of twenty-four scheduled services a month to South-East Asia, and from time to time
special flights are added.

Within Australia and its territories we also need the capability of rapid reinforcement and, initially, the brunt of this must be borne by our strategic air transport force. The strategic transport force presently consists of two squadrons of C130 aircraft; these include C130As which are now in their twelfth year of operation and which must shortly be reconsidered for replacement, and C13oEs which are relatively new and which we estimate will remain in service until into the early 1980s.

In dealing with close support, it is necessary to define classical close support as the air support given in attacking targets which are in contact with our own forces and to their immediate front. Beyond this there lies a somewhat grey area, which I would define as ranging from close support to tactical interdiction. In the main, the tactical interdiction targets would be somewhat remote from the immediate battle area.

In the jungle terrain in which so much of our recent land fighting has been carried out, the armed helicopter makes an effective contribution to our close support capability. It has the advantages of being immediately available and on call by the ground Commander, and because of its flying characteristics it has the capacity to attack targets very close to our own forces and in the jungle environment. For the other target system I have described, the Mirage, in the fighter-bomber configuration and operating under the control of an airborne Forward Air Controller who understands fully the flying characteristics of the Mirage, provides a very adequate close support tactical interceptor system.

In the environment again in which Australian land forces have operated recently, tactical air transport support can only effectively be provided by rotary wing or STOL (short take-off and landing) aircraft. This has been provided, and I believe with a very high level of success, with the rotary wing aircraft operating under the direct control of the Task Force Commander, and the required availability being provided by the STOL aircraft operating tinder the overall control of an Air Component Commander.

Rotary wing aircraft provided as gun ships have been armed versions of the UH-1 helicopters. These have proved to be effective in the situations under which Australian land forces have been operating, but it is now proposed to augment this commitment and augment this force by the acquisition of additional gun ships of a more capable performance.

I must emphasize here, however, that helicopters in any role, but particularly in the gun ship role, are vulnerable to ground fire, and so vulnerable to air attack that they can only operate with freedom in a permissive air environment. It is proposed that, for the time being, additional offensive air support and tactical interdiction will continue to be provided by the Mirage III aircraft operating in the tactical role.

In the tactical transport sphere, the aircraft provided are the UH-1 helicopters and the Caribou STOL aircraft. These aircraft have proved effective, but it is now accepted that the lift provided is inadequate in the rotary wing field and it is now planned to acquire a medium lift rotary wing capability, and additional UH-1 helicopters to enable our land forces to provide a more ready response to given situations.

The anti-submarine role is, in the main, the responsibility of the Royal Australian Navy, but for many years now the RAAF has provided a land-based maritime force to augment the resources of the RAN. The ability of the long range anti-submarine aircraft to deploy quickly and to sweep rapidly wide areas of the ocean is a decided advantage.

In the maritime surveillance role, the land-based long range maritime aircraft plays an essential part. These aircraft are equipped with radar and other sensors, and have a capability for detecting, observing and shadowing surface forces. It will be obvious that in the defence of Australia and its territories these aircraft would play a vital part.

The RAAF maintains two squadrons of maritime surveillance and anti-submarine aircraft. Their equipment consists of the Lockheed SP2H and the more recent Lockheed P311; in other words, the latest model of the Neptune and the current version of the Orion. These aircraft have a similar capability for detecting submarines both on the surface and submerged, and for carrying out long range ocean surveillance. The more recent P313 Orion possesses better tactical display and management facilities, a much higher speed and much greater time on task.

In summary it may be said that the RAAF today is a well trained and adequately equipped force capable of performing all assigned roles in the air defence of Australia.