"Ian B MacLure" wrote in message
.. .
" Sunny" wrote in
:


"Ian B MacLure" wrote in message
.. .
" Sunny" wrote in news:xXhpn.14133$pv.11282
@news-server.bigpond.net.au:

[snip]

Here in Australia our stupid Govt. has not yet cancelled orders for
the thing.
As for artillery, you have to get the tubes and ammo close enough
first,
to support the Infantry. (Ex Grunt with 36 years service.)
We should have bought F15s to replace our F111 :-)

As to artillery, things have changed recently. First round hits
from 30+ km for tube artillery and 75km for MLRS are not uncommon.
A single MLRS or truck mounted version thereof can cover an area
150km in diameter.
What JSF does is give you longer range strike capacity and H hour
ability to take out high value targets undetected until things are
supposed to go pear shaped.

IBM

Close Air Support/Close Arty Support?
The old 8 inch were considered to be accurate, but we could never call
the first round closer than 1000 metres, even when we knew our

Yeah that would be peacetime. In A'stan NATO I think has 700m or
so but when push came to shove it was "Danger Close" and folks
were known to call in fire on their own position in extremsis.
US forces in A'stan routinely call in to 200m IIRC.

IBM

Not talking about peacetime, but SVN 69/70.
I have called in Kiwi 105, US 155 and 8inch, plus RAN 4.7inch.
The only time "first round on the ground", distance from observer target
was not questioned was when guns were in direct support of unit calling it
in (Locstats were continually updated when moving)

But, getting back to CAS, The JSF cannot cut it when "pop smoke" is
called.
The most important part of CAS is not hitting your own, and you cannot
identify friendly forces from 50km away.
IMHO the Australian Govt. should cancel orders for the JSF and look
elsewhere for our needs.
(Any A10s for sale) :-)