Australian Government, Department of Defence

Exercise Talisman Saber 2007 Gallery

20 June 2007
Joint Rapid Airfield Construction exercise

The Joint Rapid Airfield Construction (JRAC) exercise is taking place at the Bradshaw Field Training Area as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 07. The Bradshaw Field Training Area (BFTA) is 8700 square kilometres in size, 12 times the size of Singapore and 600km south-east of Darwin.

110 Australian personnel, from the Army and RAAF, and 105 US personnel, from the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force are taking part in the exercise which involves constructing a C17 capable airfield, with turning aprons, in less than 25 days.

Personnel involved in the exercise are using a number of new technologies to construct the airfield, including GPS location software, deployable communication systems and remote-controlled plant equipment such as bulldozers that can be operated from a distance of up to 300 metres away.

The airfield will be officially opened on the 29 June 2007, when a Royal Australian Air Force and US C17 aircraft will land on the airfield. The airfield will then be used for future exercises and activities in the BFTA.

During the JRAC exercise, US and Australian personnel exercise have also been given an introduction to survival techniques and Australian bushfoods. This training has been provided by senior local traditional landowners and local range control staff managing the BFTA. Personnel have learnt how to build a shelter, find water and have tasted bush tucker such as kangaroo tail, boab nut and barramundi.

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An aerial view of the progress of construction on day 16 for a C-17 capable airfield at the Bradshaw Field Training Area in the Northern Territory for the Joint Rapid Airfield Construction exercise (JRAC).

(Date taken: 16 June 2007)
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US Army's Sergeant Ramon Cardona checks GPS co-ordinates with Flying Officer Damian Johnson, a RAAF Airfield Engineer, during construction of a runway at Bradshaw Field Training Area in the Northern Territory for the Joint Rapid Airfield Construction exercise (JRAC).

(Date taken: 16 June 2007)
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US Defence personnel operate three rollers to compact the runway's soil during airfield construction for the Joint Rapid Airfield Construction (JRAC) exercise at the Bradshaw Field Training Area in the Northern Territory.

(Date taken: 16 June 2007)
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US Defence personnel operate three rollers to compact the runway's soil during airfield construction for the Joint Rapid Airfield Construction (JRAC) exercise at the Bradshaw Field Training Area in the Northern Territory.

(Date taken: 16 June 2007)
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Warrant Officer Class 2 Peter Watts from the local range control office helps Smiler Larcut, an indigenous local, prepare a kangaroo's tail for cooking, during an introduction to survival techniques and Australian bushfoods for Australian and US Defence personnel working on the Joint Rapid Airfield Construction (JRAC) exercise at the Bradshaw Field Training Area in the Northern Territory.

(Date taken: 17 June 2007)
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Media crews avidly observe US Army Staff Sergeant Ron Cardey's initial reaction to eating Australian aboriginal bush-tucker, a water lilly, during an exposure to bush survival training for Australian and US Defence personnel working on the Joint Rapid Airfield Construction (JRAC) exercise at Bradhsaw Training Area in the Northern Territory.

(Date taken: 17 June 2007)
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WO1 Michael Kerr from 6 CSR explains to the US Army's 1st Sergeant Robert Horton about the boab trees growing around Bradshaw Terrace during an exposure to traditional Australian bushfoods for Australian and US Defence personnel working on the Joint Rapid Airfield Construction exercise at Bradhsaw Training Area in the Northern Territory.

(Date taken: 17 June 2007)
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Sergeant PETER Dawes, a range control officer at the BFTA (centre) demonstrates how to draw moisture from the air through condensation, during an during an introduction to survival techniques and Australian bushfoods for Australian and US personnel working on the Joint Rapid Airfield Construction (JRAC) exercise at the Bradshaw Field Training Area in the Northern Territory.

(Date taken: 17 June 2007)
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