Holding all the aces

Two F/A-18s silhouetted against the sky during Exercise Aces South

Photo by CPL Mark Eaton

Some 30 fighter aircraft streamed from RAAF Base Williamtown in two 90-minute windows on April 6-7, their afterburners forming a spectacular river of fire in the evening skies.

The aircraft from Williamtown and Amberley were participating in a three-day air defence exercise, Aces South, the fi nal test of the air-to-air combat phase of the 28th Fighter Combat Instructors Course.

The air-to-air combat phase, which included Aces South, started on March 15 and continued until April 9.

The students were tasked with the defence of a fictitious ship off the local coast.

They were provided with 14 F/A-18, two F-111 aircraft, a P-3C, No. 3 Control and Reporting Unit and radar sites as Blue force.

the Eaton Red asserts comprised 25 aircraft – F/A-18s from Nos 3 and 77 Squadrons, Hawks from No. 76 Squadron, F-111s from No. 6 Squadron and Learjets from Pelair providing electronic warfare and missile simulation support.

On April 6-7 waves of aircraft carried out day and night sorties to attack and defend the hapless vessel.

Squadron Leader Paul Simmons said the students flew two or three times a day.

“Normally they were outnumbered three or four to one against a sophisticated and capable adversary,” he said.

The Fighter Combat Controllers participated as Tactical Directors while the Hornet pilots assumed the duties of Mission Commander.

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