Orion eyes on patrol

By W02 Al Green

Ground crew Sergeant Paul McDonnell and Corporal John Anderson work on a P-3 Orion in the Middle East. Photo by WO2 Al Green

ON any given night over the Northern Arabian Gulf an Australian P-3 Orion can be found on patrol.

The deployment is in support of coalition efforts to fight terror and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the region.

The P-3’s imaging systems work to prevent shipping and smugglers slipping through the coalition security net.

To that end they integrate into a larger security web taking in land, sea and air surveillance aimed at giving the allies an accurate picture of enemy activity in the region in the ongoing war on terror.


After tremendous success helping prevent proliferation of arms in conventional shipping, the P-3’s are now active against a newly-evolving tactic used by smugglers.

The smuggler tactic involves running and trying to overwhelm the allied gauntlet with multiple small and extremely powerful craft.

In these situations the P3 becomes essential to real time tracking and interdiction of these craft with air and seagoing assets coordinated to round up the culprits, assisted by the imagery the P-3’s provide.

The asset all staff need to fight this type of conflict is teamwork, according to outgoing CO Wing Commander Terry Mackinnon.

“Teamwork is the most impressive aspect of this operation – it’s the key at all levels that leads to outstanding results,” he said.

WGCDR Mackinnon added that interoperability and the experience gained in these operations can only enhance the ability to better defend Australia and its interests against a range of threats.

“This is one team motivated to success,” he said.

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