AF
Support Navy
(MPEG video 5.64 MB)
By
LT Chantal Llora
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No.
75 Squadron Hornets on the flightline at RAAF Base Pearce.
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No.
11 Squadron aircraft technicians CPL Michael Devlin and
LAC Bevan Leedham load sonobuoys into an Orion taking part
in the Navy’s Principle Warfare Officers Sea Assessment
Week.
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Photo
by CPL Craig Eager
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A
LARGE contingent of visiting aircraft and personnel has kept RAAF
Base Pearce bustling with activity over the past two weeks during
major joint maritime training exercises.
Nine F/A-18s from No. 75 Squadron have teamed up with two AP-3Cs
from No. 92 Wing and a Royal New Zealand Air Force P3K to provide
air support to the Navy’s Principle Warfare Officers Sea
Assessment Week and Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise between November
8-19.
The exercises, held off the coast of Western Australia, involve
Australian and New Zealand warships and submarines.
More than 200 Air Force personnel have taken part in the large-scale
activities, which have been split into two independent exercises
to test ADF personnel, equipment and platforms in realistic warlike
scenarios.
The aim of the training exercises is to stand up a Western Air
Component and deliver fleet support as well as practise maritime
strike, anti-surface, anti-submarine and air defence operations.
Officer Commanding 92WG Group Captain Warren Ludwig said the exercises
were important for keeping skills and expertise of the ADF at
the highest level.
“For any such exercise it is important for us to express
our appreciation to the local community for their ongoing support
of Air Forces essential training activities,” GPCAPT Ludwig
said.
CO 75SQN Wing Commander Steve Roberton said, “Our role here
is primarily one of defending naval ships and simulating attacks.”
