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For the first time, U.S. and Australian fleet aviation maintainers worked together on the newest Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA) weapons system during a recent logistics demonstration conducted at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. Five U.S. Navy Sailors and two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) airmen participated in a six-week training event in February and March with the AN/ALQ-249 Next…
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A mid-air ‘top up’ has kept United States Navy (USN) P-8A Poseidon crews on mission while training in Australia. In March, a series of air-to-air refueling missions were flown between a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport and the visiting USN P-8A over western New South Wales and Victoria. Connected in close formation at more than 800…
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India’s Navy will deploy a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to Darwin from 11-15 April to conduct coordinated exercises with a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft. This is the first time an Indian Navy P-8I aircraft has deployed to Australia outside of a routine military exercise and reflects the strength of the India-Australia defense and security partnership. Acting Chief…
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The Morrison Government has approved the accelerated acquisition of improved weapon capabilities for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) at a total cost of $3.5 billion. Minister for Defence the Hon Peter Dutton MP today announced that Defence will accelerate the acquisition of: The Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Extended Range (JASSM-ER) for the Royal Australian Air Force; The Naval Strike Missile…
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A U.S. Navy P-8A from Patrol Squadron 47 (VP-47) and one KC-30A from Royal Australian Air Force No. 33 Squadron (RAAF 33) conducted the first ever operational Air-To-Air Refueling (AAR) between a U.S. Navy P-8A and a RAAF KC-30A on March 20. Earlier in the month, the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance aircraft (MPRA) with VP-47, traveled to Edinburgh to support…
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This year’s Diamond series kicked off with the successful completion of the first exercise, Diamond Seas 2022 in February. The Diamond series is part of the six-month air warfare instructors course (AWIC) focused on producing expert and approachable air warfare instructors capable of harnessing the combat potential of integrated air, space and cyber capabilities in support of the joint force.…
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Air Force has been gifted the only remaining World War II RAAF rescue launch for the Air Force Heritage Collection. The boat was transported in February by road from Lakes Entrance, Victoria, to the History and Heritage facility at Spotswood, Victoria. Senior Air Force Curator, History and Heritage – Air Force, David Gardner, accepted the donation from its owner, Howard…
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The Chinese PLA naval vessel maintained safe, normative and professional operations all along in the whole process when encountering the aircraft attached to the Australian Defence Force (ADF), which conforms to the International Law and related international practices, said Spokesperson Senior Colonel Tan Kefei of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MND) on Monday. The spokesperson made the remarks in…
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Defence can confirm that on 17 February 2022, a P-8A Poseidon detected a laser illuminating the aircraft while in flight over Australia’s northern approaches. The laser was detected as emanating from a People’s Liberation Army – Navy (PLA-N) vessel. Illumination of the aircraft by the Chinese vessel is a serious safety incident. Acts like this have the potential to endanger…
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In the spirit of strengthening partnerships, the RAAF last month participated with elements from the Indonesian Air Force in the annual bilateral maritime patrol training, Exercise Albatross Ausindo 21. The exercise wrapped up on September 22. A RAAF P-8A Poseidon aircraft and crew from No. 11 Squadron based at RAAF Base Edinburgh, near Adelaide, took part in the exercise held…
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