Trainee air warfare instructors from the RAAF F-35A team are set to take part in the exercise for the first time.
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The Royal Australian Air Force’s Exercise Diamond Storm 22 is set to kick off in the Northern Territory on 30 May from RAAF Bases Darwin and Tindal, and at Timber Creek, Douglas Daly region and the Delamere Air Weapons Range.
The month-long exercise is the last of three activities which form part of the air warfare instructor course (AWIC), following Exercise Diamond Seas and Diamond Shield.
Over 1,400 Defence personnel are expected to participate alongside US counterparts based in the Top End, operating more than 60 aircraft.
The 2022 iteration is also set to involve trainee air warfare instructors from the F-35A Lightning II, P-8A Poseidon and combat controller communities.
Commander Air Warfare Centre, Air Commodore Ross Bender said Exercise Diamond Storm 22 would strengthen interoperability between the RAAF, Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and international partners.
“Diamond Seas and Diamond Shield brought together Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force elements in complex maritime and defensive counter air-focused scenarios, providing training opportunities to practise and consolidate integrated tactics,” AIRCDRE Bender said.
“As the culmination activity, Diamond Storm provides our candidates with the opportunity to apply their skills in high-end warfighting scenarios alongside international partners.
“We will conduct Exercise Diamond Storm throughout the Northern Territory to operate within some of the best training environments Australia has to offer.”
The exercise is scheduled to conclude on 24 June, after which the newly trained instructors would assume senior positions within the RAAF.
“On completion of the course, our air warfare instructors will be knowledgeable and approachable experts who can integrate people, systems and combat effects across the five warfare domains: air, land, maritime, space and cyber,” AIRCDRE Bender said.
[Related: Exercise Diamond Seas wraps up]