Watch out, Pigs fly north

By Andrew Stackpool

LAC Paul Lockyer perfoms post-flight checks on a 6SQN F-111 as part of Exercise Northern Challenge.

Photo by LAC Allan Cooper

NO. 6 Squadron is being challenged in the north.

The squadron has deployed four F-111C, two F-111G and 130 personnel to RAAF Base Darwin from its home at RAAF Base Amberley for Exercise Northern Challenge, which began on May 16 and ends on June 4.

Squadron assets deployed to Darwin during the first week of Northern Challenge. Flying operations from Darwin started on May 23.

6SQN CO Wing Commander Ken Quinn said Northern Challenge tested the squadron’s capability to deploy away from home base.

“The exercise is designed to practice our expeditionary capability, in this case operating from a simulated forward mounting base, including exercising the logistics chain,” he said.

“We deploy the squadron, practising the processes thereto and all the aspects thereof, including broader consideration of EW aspects, with the ultimate aim of delivering the bombs. This is about getting them off the truck and delivering them to the target.”

WGCDR Quinn said that while the squadron often deployed to Townsville, the choice of exercise area was predicated by the time of year, prevailing weather and range restrictions.

“At Shoalwater Bay and [the Army] High Range areas out of Townsville, there are some complications with using the air-weapons ranges. Delamere has a permanent staff and this simplifies our activities. At the other ranges we have to organise range safety staff and that can provide further logistics issues,” he said.

“Also, with the F-111 we need the guys and girls to practice using the aircraft’s electronic sensor suite to deliver the ordnance. On the coast there is not the challenge an inland range offers, while High Range offers great visual opportunities (excellent for Hornets) but limited electronic sensor opportunities.

“The deployment facilities at Darwin are great and having No. 75 Squadron down the road at [RAAF Base] Tindal to work with helps us achieve our objectives as well. Delamere is a very good all round range, it is inland and has great weather this time of year.

“Darwin and Townsville offer fine facilities and we shall continue to use both areas depending on the sort of exercise we are conducting at the time. The ‘wet’ weather in Darwin at the end of the year means that we shall probably prefer to return to Townsville.”

WGCDR Quinn said Exercise Northern Challenge provided a superb opportunity for the squadron to practise its expeditionary capability away from Amberley and operate in the Top End. In particular, the squadron’s junior members gained significant experience in deployments of this kind.

“This is the direction in which Air Force is moving,” he said.

With Northern Challenge behind it, 6SQN will prepare to deploy to Butterworth to participate in the Five Power Defence Arrangement joint exercise Bersama Lima in September.

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