2014-15 ADF budget shocker - cost per flying hour over the last budget year

ADF still has some expensive to own and ineffective aircraft. Looking at last years 2013-14 budget allowances for sustainment against this years 2014-15 ADF budget announcement which shows 2013-14 flying hours (out to June 2014 ...which means it is a projection) ...are you with me so far?... we have alarming cost per flying hour figures for the following sample of military aircraft.

The two helicopters mentioned have sustainment issues with hair on them. For example, aircraft sit while waiting on parts from Europe. Both are essentially, failed projects. The MRH-90 is on the DMO project of concern list. Maybe permanently. The ADF may need new helicopters, but not at any price and not at such poor metrics.

The Classic Hornet is almost half the cost per flying hour of the Super. Which means that if you were to replace all the classic Hornets with Super Hornets, a reasonable sustainment budget could only afford to fly 36 Supers per year.

ADF cost per flying hour 2013-2014

Aircraft / Cost per aircraft / Cost per flight hour

Classic Hornet / $2.22M / $13,620
Super Hornet / $5.12M / $26,739
C-17 / $9.66M / $11,153
C-130J / $7.9M / $12,925
E-7A / $27.16M / $54,333
MRH-90 / ? / $30250 (1)
ARH Tiger / ? / $33548 (2)

2014-2015 budget notes:

(1) A recent Deed of Agreement (Deed 2) between Australian Aerospace and the Commonwealth of Australia has revised the aircraft delivery and retrofit schedule, reducing fleet numbers and projected growth rates.

(2) ARH Rate of Effort continues to be impacted by poor sustainment support resulting in reduced aircraft availability and aircrew numbers at 1 Aviation Regiment.

Question marks, because noone really knows how many airframes are available to fly as a total, current fleet.

Previous cost per flying hour estimates from last year.


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