Media Room: Defence Alert

Australia is about to host a major international Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) exercise - Exercise Pacific Protector 06.

Exercise Pacific Protector 06 will further demonstrate the resolve of Australia and its international PSI partners to deter and prevent the illicit transfer of Weapons of Mass Destruction and related materials.

Pacific Protector 06 will involve an air interception scenario, together with ground based activities, around Darwin.

The air component of the exercise will include Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) FA-18 Hornets, a Royal New Zealand Air Force Boeing 757, RAAF C130 Hercules and a US KC135 refueling aircraft.

Ground based activities at RAAF Base Darwin will include a Customs team from Australia and specialist response personnel from Singapore, the UK and US, plus the ADF’s Incident Response Regiment. Japan is contributing a joint team comprising Customs and Police personnel.

What: Exercise Pacific Protector 06 media interview and picture opportunities will include a keynote address by the Minister for Defence, aircraft and ground activity at RAAF Base Darwin, and interviews with Australian response team leaders.

Where: The live exercise activity will centre on RAAF Base Darwin

When: Media should plan to arrive in Darwin for a pre-exercise background briefing at 5 pm on Wednesday 5 April. (Final details about the background briefing and venue will be provided to media who have registered for the exercise). The live exercise and media opportunities will be held on Thursday 6 April.

Important media note: Media who wish to attend the exercise must register by 6pm Canberra time, Thursday 30 March. Late registrations will not be accepted.

Media can register by calling Defence Public Affairs on 0408 498 664 (from outside Australia +61 408 498 664), or by emailing: mediaops@defence.gov.au

Further information: about Exercise Pacific Protector 06 and the Proliferation Security Initiative is available at: