Chapter 4
UPDATE ON OPERATIONS
| SIGNIFICANT ADF RESOURCES ADD MUSCLE TO THE GOVERNMENT'S CO-ORDINATED EFFORT TO PROTECT OUR OFFSHORE ASSETS AND DETER AND RESPOND TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. SMUGGLING, FISHING AND OTHER THREATES. |
MARITIME ENFORCEMENTAND BORDER PROTECTION OPERATION RESOLUTE:
Defence contributes some 4501 personnel to the whole-of-government operation protecting our borders. Operation Resolute provides greater flexibility in using assets such as ships and aircraft without reducing the number of ADF platforms on the operation or the hours they spend on task.
Under Operation Resolute the ADF supports the Government's Civil Maritime Surveillance Programme, which protects Australian fisheries (including in the Southern Ocean) and provides quarantine, customs and environmental security. This effort aims to deter and prevent unauthorised boat arrivals and provides an offshore maritime security response against maritime terrorism.
Operation Resolute is controlled by the Border Protection Command (BPC), which has assumed responsibility for operational co-ordination and control of both civil and military maritime enforcement activities within Australia's Exclusive Economic zone (EEZ). The BPC is staffed by military and civilian officials from Defence, Customs, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) and the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS). Significant ADF resources add muscle to the Government's co-ordinated effort to protect our offshore assets and deter and respond to illegal immigration, smuggling, fishing and other threats.
Our assets in Operation Resolute now include a standing maritime force comprising a major naval vessel, five (increasing to seven) patrol boats, a coastal minehunter, a heavy landing craft, elements from Army regional force surveillance units and a PC-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft.
EAST TIMOR/TIMOR-LESTE: OPERATION ASTUTE AND OPERATION TOWER
Operation Astute is the ADF's stabilisation operation supporting the Government of East Timor and the UN Integrated Mission in East Timor (UNMIT). Police from Australia and 20 other nations provide security as part of the UN Police Force. Under Operation Astute, Defence provides support to these police operations as required. The Australian-led International Security Force (ISF) supported the UN Police and the East Timorese Government during the May 2007 presidential election period, and the 30 June parliamentary elections.
At its peak in June 2006, the Australian contingent numbered some 3,200 personnel. Earlier this year, the Australian deployment included approximately 1,100 personnel drawn from throughout the ADF. The ISF includes Australian Army Black Hawk helicopters and an Army Light Observation Troop with Kiowa helicopters.
Since first deploying in 1999 as part of the International Force in East Timor (INTERFET), the ADF has maintained a strong commitment to the government and people of East Timor. Operation Tower comprises the ADF's support to the current UN mission, UNMIT. The ADF has three personnel deployed as part of the Military Liaison Group (MLG) and the Joint Military Analysis Cell in the UNMIT Headquarters.
SOLOMON ISLANDS: OPERATION ANODE
Operation Anode is the ADF's contribution to the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI). RAMSI is a multi-lateral grouping, which includes military, police and civilian advisers working on initiatives to restore security, law and justice, provide better economic management, and improve the machinery of government. The initial 2003 deployment was at the request of the Solomon Islands Government.
The military component of RAMSI comprises personnel from four nations: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. The military component's main task is to provide security for RAMSI's multinational Participating Police Force (PPF).
Approximately 140 ADF troops are now deployed in Solomon Islands. Deployments reached a high in April 2006, following riots in Honiara, when almost 400 ADF personnel deployed, including two infantry companies, two Iroquois helicopters, two patrol boats, logistics and headquarters staff.
IRAQ: OPERATION CATALYST
Operation Catalyst, the successor to Operations Falconer and Bastille, began in July 2003. It is the ADF's contribution to the international efforts to reconstruct and rehabilitate Iraq. In February 2007, the Government announced an enhanced ADF commitment to Operation Catalyst through an increased training effort. That raised the number of personnel assigned to Operation Catalyst to some 1,575 personnel. Operation Catalyst includes a number of elements, some of which are assigned to both Operation Catalyst and Operation Slipper in Afghanistan. The dual assignments include a major fleet unit, the AP-3C Orion Detachment, the C-130 Hercules Detachment and various elements of the National Headquarters.
Australia also has an ADF officer assigned to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), whose primary responsibilities include providing military advice to the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) and co-ordination of Multi National Force Iraq (MNF-I) support to UNAMI.
AFGHANISTAN: OPERATION SLIPPER AND OPERATION PALATE II
Operation Slipper is the ADF's contribution to the international coalition against terrorism. In February 2006, the Prime Minister announced the deployment of a Reconstruction Task Force (RTF) to Afghanistan to support coalition operations for a period of two years. In September 2006, the RTF commenced its deployment as part of the Netherlands-led Taskforce in Tarin Kowt, the capital of Oruzgan Province in the south of Afghanistan. The RTF consists of a mix of security and reconstruction personnel of approximately 385 ADF members.
The RTF is reconstructing and improving the province's infrastructure and providing community-based projects to help the Afghan Government build a stable and secure future for its people. To date, projects have been completed or are under way at the Tarin Kowt Provincial Hospital, the Tarin Kowt High School, a major causeway over the Garmab Mandah River, the Yaklengah Health Centre, and the Tamai School Compound Wall. These projects are developed in consultation with local authorities. The RTF has established a Trade Training School (TTS) where the local civilian population is taught basic engineering and mechanical skills. The TTS also provides military engineering training for the Afghan National Army.
| THE RTF IS RECONSTRUCTING AND IMPROVING THE PROVINCE'S INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROVIDING COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS TO HELP THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT BUILD A STABLE AND SECURE FUTURE FOR ITS PEOPLE. |
After comprehensive consultations with the government of Afghanistan and our key coalition partners, the Prime Minister announced in April 2007 that additional ADF elements would be sent to Afghanistan. These include a Special Operations Task Group to enhance force protection to the RTF; a Royal Australian Air Force air surveillance radar capability deploying to Kandahar Airfield; an additional C-130J Hercules aircraft and associated aircrew and support elements; and an increased command and logistics element to support the larger ADF force. These forces are now in place.
Australia also has an ADF officer deployed to Afghanistan under Operation Palate II, supporting the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
The total Australian commitment in Afghanistan following the additional deployment will be about 970 personnel by mid-2007, peaking at about 1,000 personnel in mid-2008 when the combined force in the Middle East will total around 2,500 personnel.
ISRAEL/LEBANON: OPERATION PALADIN
Operation Paladin is Australia's contribution to the UN Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO), established in 1948 to supervise the truce agreed at the conclusion of the first Arab-Israeli War. Australia has supported this operation since 1956, with people working in Israel, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. Members of the Australian contingent - currently 12 personnel - may be employed as staff officers in the UNTSO Headquarters in Jerusalem and as military observers.
SINAI: OPERATION MAZURKA
Operation Mazurka is Australia's contribution to the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai. The MFO is a non-UN organisation established in 1981 to oversee the Camp David Accords of 1978 and the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty of 1979. Today, the MFO is maintained by 11 participating nations including Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, Fiji and France. ADF members support the peace process by monitoring the border between Egypt and Israel and supporting the MFO headquarters. Twenty-five personnel are deployed on the operation.
SUDAN: OPERATION AZURE
Under Operation Azure, the Government has deployed 15 ADF personnel to the United Nations peacekeeping operation in Sudan (UNMIS). Of the Australian contribution, six are military observers and nine support the Headquarters of the Peacekeeping Force as specialists in operations, aviation and logistics.
UNMIS was established in March 2005 under UN Security Council Resolution 1590, after the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement agreed to end a civil war that had lasted for more than 20 years.
Summary
Over 4,000 personnel are engaged in 10 operations, including Operation Resolute, in the pursuit of Australia's regional and global security interests.
1 Numbers actually deployed on all operations listed at any one time may vary depending on timings of deployments, the size of naval units and other factors.
