Battle for sky supremacy

By Flying Officer Jen Harrison

Amberley’s LAC Benjamin Freeman refuels 75 Squadron F/A-18s during ECADEX.

Photo by CPL Errol Jones

COMBAT and support personnel were put through their paces during the East Coast Air Defence Exercise (ECADEX), held at RAAF Bases Amberley and Williamtown from October 26 to November 9.

The intense exercise pitted Amberley-based red forces against Williamtown’s blue forces in battles fought mostly off the coast of NSW, to give blue force participants practise in maintaining the integrity of Australian air space and protecting vital infrastructure.

The red forces launched more than 200 sorties during the course of the exercise, which had to be detected and countered by blue force air and ground assets.

About 5000 ADF personnel took part in the exercise, which included F-111s, F/A-18s, a B707 tanker, Hawk aircraft, Lear Jets and ground support staff, plus Air Traffic Controllers and elements of Health Services Wing, No. 3 Control and Reporting Unit and No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit.

A ground-based air defence battery was also provided by the Army’s 16 Air Defence Regiment.

A nine-day work-up phase preceded the exercise, which Commanding Officer No. 75 Squadron, Wing Commander Steve Roberton, said was vital to the success of the exercise.

“The work-up phase allows us to start slowly, focussing on the very basics of safe operations,” he said.
“We take a walk-run approach, so that by the time the exercise begins, we are familiar with the environment … and can concentrate on the tactical scenario.”

No. 75 Squadron operated from RAAF Base Amberley as part of the exercise red force.

The final phase of the exercise began on November 7 and was designed to test all participants in the skills they had been using for the past 10 days.

Officer Commanding No. 81 Wing and blue force commander, Group Captain Bill Henman, said the final phase was the toughest part of the exercise for both red and blue forces.

“The last week of intensive training [culminated] on November 7 and 8 when red force [staged] a surprise attack on blue force within a 48-hour window,” he said.

“This battle [was] designed to push both blue and red forces to their limits.”

Commander of the Amberley-based red forces, Officer Commanding No. 82 Wing Group Captain Leo Davies, said the exercise had been a great success, but was also very demanding.

“While the training conducted over the two weeks was very challenging, it also gave us a chance to test and hone valuable skills,” he said.

“It is important to remember that an exercise like this is not just about the pilots – it requires a tremendous effort to make all this happen.

Aircraft technicians, support staff, mission planners, air traffic controllers, fighter controllers, ground-based air defence staff and logistics staff all had a vital role to play in making ECADEX work.”

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