20 June 2007
Air Operations Centre
The Air Operations Centre (AOC) is a construct that allows the designated Air Component Commander to plan, control and execute air operations on behalf of a Joint Force Commander. It is a weapon system consisting of processes, procedures, systems, infrastructure and personnel brought together in five divisions. These divisions are: Strategy, Air Combat Plans, Air Combat Operations, Information Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Air Mobility.
The full organisation is only stood up with all divisions fully staffed when an air campaign is conducted for a major operation or exercise, as is the case with Talisman Saber 07, the largest Defence exercise in Australia this year.
To be conducted primarily in the Rockhampton and Townsville areas, Talisman Saber 07 will involve almost 2000 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) personnel and up to 30 aircraft.
The RAAF will participate alongside more than 200 US aircraft, operating from Australian and US bases and aircraft carriers. There will be a total of 30,000 participants in the exercise, which has already begun in Hawaii.
Air Vice-Marshal Mark Binskin will take the role of Combined Force Air Component Commander.
The RAAF's contribution to the exercise, while affected by deployments and other training, includes FA-18s, F-111s, AP-3Cs, Caribous, C130 Hercules, KB707 refuellers, the new C-17 Globemaster, air traffic, ground defence and combat support staff.
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