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Over 150 RAAF personnel, as well as a host of service aircraft, have deployed to the US territory of Guam to take part in joint exercises involving the RAN and the US.
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The Air Task Unit is comprised of some of the service's most valuable and high-tech assets: F/A-18A Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, an E-7A Wedgetail and a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport.
The aircraft will conduct advanced air-sea integration drills in co-ordination with five Royal Australian Navy warships – HMA Ships Canberra, Hobart, Stuart, Arunta and Sirius – providing an important step forward for the joint force capability.
“Some of our most advanced capabilities including the EA-18G Growler and the Guided Missile Destroyer, HMAS Hobart, will be able to integrate in a combined air and sea environment,” said Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds.
“This deployment demonstrates Defence as a capable force, with an ability to conduct complex and extended deployments at sea and in the air organically and with our regional partners."
The RAN contingent has been deployed to the Indo-Pacific as part of a Joint Task Group conducting a regional deployment through south-east Asia, before participating in exercise RIMPAC in Hawaii. In recent days, this has taken the form of a trilateral passage exercise off the coast of the Philippines, operated in concert with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and the United States Navy.
On arrival at RIMPAC, training scheduled includes the operation of an E-7A Wedgetail aircraft alongside the maritime elements, to generate an overall air and sea picture – as well as maritime air defence and air combat exercises with US Air Force partners and the Australian JTG.
The Air Task Unit will return to Australia in late July 2020.
