On Sep 10, 3:39*pm, Andrew Chaplin wrote:
On Sep 10, 3:28*pm, "David E. Powell"
wrote:





I was wondeirng, given the NZ government having problems with
Skyhawks, what made them so put off about them? I know they are older,
but the Israelis really modified theirs and they seemed OK with
precision weapons.

Can the A-4 Skyhawk mount Harpoon missiles? If not I would guess that
Penguin or something like that would be doable. With a good mix of
fuel tanks and underwing missiles I could see the A-4 giving the New
Zealanders a good quick-reaction capability over a very good range.

Are the Kiwis planning to replace the A-4 with a new attack jet type
due to expense and maintenance or are they just making the decision
they don't need that type of craft for their defensive needs?

At any rate A-4s being used as aggressors for training today is still
pretty cool after about 50 or so years of Skyhawk service.

With the disposal of the A-4s and the Aermacchis, the RNZAF would
appear to have gone from an air force to an air service. However,
their Orions and Sea Sprites remain combat-capable. In 2007, I saw
RNZAF personnel working in the Persian Gulf supporting coalition
maritime patrol ops.

The patrol stuff allows crossover to search and rescue as well, and if
they aren't worried about fighters or other modern threats, the
helicopters and Orions can carry missiles and antisub stuff.

I agree it is kind of sad they are phasing out all the fast stuff.
Didn't they have some mutual force plan with Australia a few years
back for their air forces?

--
Andrew Chaplin
SIT MIHI GLADIUS SICUT SANCTO MARTINO