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A RAN commodore flew aboard a Super Hornet to help Australia’s Air Force and Navy work better together to attack enemy ships.
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Commodore Flotillas, Commodore Paul O’Grady hitched the ride while the aircraft was flying in formation alongside Growlers, a KC-30A Tanker and a P-8A Poseidon.
CDRE O’Grady has also recently visited 81 Wing, No 77 Squadron and the Air Warfare Centre Tactics and Training Directorate to build his knowledge.
Officer Commanding 82 Wing Group Captain Paul Jarvis said, “This live mission allowed for present and emerging capabilities of 82 Wing aircraft and RAN destroyer — and their respective missiles and networks — to be discussed.
Incoming Commander Air Combat Group Air Commodore Peter Robinson said he also flew in an EA-18G Growler to get a firsthand understanding of how the Growler contributes to the anti-surface warfare mission.
“It is really important that we continue to invest in strengthening the relationships between RAAF and RAN at the tactical execution and operational headquarters levels,” AIRCDRE Robinson said.
Australia originally bought the Super Hornet to act as a stopgap between the retirement of the RAAF’s Classic Hornets and the delayed arrival of their true successor, the fifth-generation F-35.
Today, the RAAF has 24 Super Hornets and 11 Growlers, which have also participated in Exercise Pitch Black in the Northern Territory and Exercise Bersama Shield on the Malaysian Peninsula.
Both models are operated out of RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland after arriving in 2010 and achieved final operational capability in 2012.
The US Navy has a fleet of more than 600 Super Hornets, and the aircraft were flown in the new Top Gun film.
The Headquarters Air Command Naval Air Liaison at Fleet Headquarters, HMAS Kuttabul, coordinated this hands-on learning opportunity to reinforce the commitment of Headquarters Air Command and RAN to regularly engage as a joint force in domestic and international exercises.
CDRE O’Grady thanked the 82 Wing team for the experience and noted that it aided his understanding of air combat operations in the maritime environment.
“The mission flown today highlights how critical our air-maritime integration efforts are, and how we must regularly train together to ensure success as a joint force,” CDRE O’Grady said.
“It was a special highlight to also be part of the final flight for Commanding Officer 1 Squadron, Wing Commander Stewart Seeney, as Commanding Officer 1 Squadron.”
