Login
iscover
The Royal Australian Air Force’s pairing of a C-27J Spartan from No. 35 Squadron and a King Air 350 from No. 32 Squadron has proved their importance in the latest iteration of Operation Solania.
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Create free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
The two aircraft were deployed to the south-west Pacific last month to fly maritime surveillance and patrol missions, aiming to detect and deter illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing activity, and was co-ordinated by the Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).
Historically, AP-3C Orions and various Royal Australian Navy vessels have undertaken the periodic deployments of Operation Solania, with this just the second time the Spartan has supported the operation.
“The usual role of the C-27J is battlefield airlift, conducting tactical transport of personnel and stores around an area of operations,” Flight Lieutenant Oliver Kersnovski, the detachment commander for No. 35 Squadron, said.
“By default, this means we generally operate over or close to land."
The surveillance missions supported the economic development of Pacific island countries through the protection of fisheries and other resources.
For No. 35 Squadron, the maritime nature of Operation Solania was built on the foundation of support it provided to Operation Resolute along Australia’s coast in 2018.
“Operation Solania enabled No. 35 Squadron to prove our ability to independently operate the C-27J throughout the south-west Pacific,” FLTLT Kersnovski said.
“The C-27J is a multi-role aircraft that is adaptable to different environments. In this case we’re expanding the role of the Spartan outside of the traditional battlefield airlift domain.
“This year, the C-27J has had an almost continuous presence in the south-west Pacific. However, the Solania deployment enabled us to expand our operations to new countries – Nauru, Kiribati and the Republic of Marshall Islands."
