Orions to aid war on terrorism

TWO Australian Air Force P-3C maritime patrol aircraft will be deployed at the beginning of next year to support the international coalition against terrorism.

Defence Minister Robert Hill said the Australian Government had committed aircraft from the P-3C fleet to Operation Slipper when it first announced its contribution to the war on terrorism last year.

He said while the Orions were not initially required, Australia’s coalition partners had now requested the P-3Cs be deployed.

They will be required to conduct patrols and missions in the Persian Gulf in support of aircraft carrier and maritime operations and al Qaeda and Taliban leadership interdiction operations.

Senator Hill said the deployment of the Orions would ensure that Australia continued to make a valuable an effective contribution.

The Air Force’s two 707 air-to-air refuelling aircraft on deployment at Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan are due to return home soon.

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