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AP-3C
patrols nation's north
One
of Maritime Patrol Group's AP-3C Orions has deployed to Darwin for
border protection duties, becoming the first of the recently updated
aircraft to be utilised for operations.
Crew Five of No. 10 Squadron is conducting surveillance to the north
of Australia as part of Operation RELEX.
With its enhanced Electronic Support Measures and new "imaging"
radar, the AP-3C is arguably the best maritime patrol aircraft in
the world.
The AP-3C's new EL/M-2022 radar, which is a leap forward in technology
and capability compared to the old APS-115 radar, can automatically
detect and track a large number of contacts.
Additionally, the radar has several classification modes, such as
Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar, which allows the operator to view
an image of a contact from a long range.
These capabilities are particularly beneficial when conducting surveillance
operations such as Operation RELEX.
Maritime Patrol Group aircrew and maintenance personnel continue
to play a significant part in Operation RELEX by conducting sorties
over the northern approaches to Australia every day.
The sorties are aimed at detecting boats carrying people trying
to enter Australia illegally.
The aircrew are also on the lookout for vessels polluting Australia's
waters, fishing illegally or of general interest in our economic
exclusion zone.
Commander Maritime Patrol Group Air Commodore Philip Byrne said
he was proud of his people and their performance during Operation
RELEX.
"The crews and aircraft of the Maritime Patrol Group have,
for the past 12 months, been involved in operations to the north
of Australia, protecting our borders," AIRCDRE Byrne said.
"Virtually every day, Orion aircrew have been flying in support
of joint operations.
"They work very closely with several organisations, in particularl
NORCOM, the Royal Australian Navy, Coastwatch and Customs, and are
doing an excellent job."
He said his group's maintenance and support personnel were also
working extremely hard to ensure aircraft were serviceable to continue
the operation.
"Of course, our aircrew's skills go far beyond surveillance.
They possess war-fighting skills, which include anti-submarine warfare,
intelligence collection and anti-shipping warfare," AIRCDRE
Byrne said.
"And we always have crews ready to deploy for Search and Survivor
Supply missions."
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