ASRAAM
Missle Firing
(MPEG Video 1.54 MB)
By
Andrew Stackpool
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Leading
Aircraftmen Craig Mawhinney and Ben Spelt, of No. 2 Operational
Conversion Unit, admire the paintwork on the tailfin of
a Hornet commemorating the 50th anniversary of Fighter Combat
Instructors courses run by 2OCU.
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Photo
by LACW Veronica McKenna
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NO.
2 Operational Conversion Unit celebrated the 50th anniversary
of its Fighter Combat Instructors (FCI) courses with a unique
fireworks display – a missile firing exercise on April 15.
The Unit is running the 28th FCI Course at RAAF Base Williamtown.
As part of the course, three AMRAAM and an ASRAAM were fi red
at two towed targets and a drone off Jervis Bay with good results.
Seventeen students are on the intensive course – seven F/A-18
and four F-111 aircrew, five combat controllers and an intelligence
officer.
Squadron Leader Paul Simmons, 2OCU B Flight Commander, said the
five-month course aimed to produce weapons officers expert in
the planning and employment of tactical weapons systems across
the full range of operations in which the ADF might be involved.
“On completion of the course these weapons offi cers will go back
to their squadrons and units tasked with maintaining and improving
the combat capability of the unit,” SQNLDR Simmons said.
“They are already all experienced pilots and controllers, all
above average.
They are essentially high-fl yers who have gone through an extensive
nomination and selection process through their chain of command.”
Running until the end of June the course comprises four phases.
The first is the seven-week instructors phase, which teaches the
students to become qualifi ed platform instructors.
The second is the air-to-air phase in which students are given
increasingly complex exercises in air combat.
The culmination of this was the air defence exercise Aces South.
Phase three is the air-to-ground phase, conducted from RAAF Base
Amberley.
It trains the students in all aspects of planning and execution
of strike missions, including defence of strike F-111 aircraft
by Hornets.
This phase prepares the students for Exercise Aces North, which
will run from May 21 to June 18 and involve about 60 aircraft,
including 14 US Air Force F-15s.
Exercise Aces North will bring all of the lessons and forces together
with a four-week deployment to RAAF Bases Tindal and Darwin.
The scenarios will include offensive, counter-air, interdiction
and offensive air support operations.
“At the end of the day we are aiming to develop future leaders
who are capable of effective leadership regardless of the situation,
tasked mission or personal stress levels,” SQNLDR Simmonds said.
The FCI is the Australian equivalent of the USAF’s Fighter Weapons
Instructors’ Course.
The 2004 course marks the 50th anniversary of FCI courses. They
started with Vampires and Sabres before moving into the supersonic
age with Mirages and now Hornets.
