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TS07 takes off
By CPL Andrew Hetherington
Volume 49, No. 11, June 28, 2007 |
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Inset: FLTLTs Damien Fairhurst and Brianna Connelly from 44WG scan their radar screens during the exercise, which is being run out of Queensland and the NT.
Photo by CPL Chris Moore |
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IN TUNE: CPL Roberto Barrios from 1CCS checks the tension of high frequency radio aerials at Samuel Hill Airfield at Shoalwater Bay Training Area on day 3 of the exercise.
Photo by CPL Chris Moore |
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ABUZZ: A 33SQN B707 conducts an air-to-air refuelling mission with four RAAF F/A-18s during Exercise Talisman Saber.
Photo by LACW Melina Mancuso |
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Air Force elements from around the country have taken off to deploy on Exercise Talisman Saber 2007 (TS07), contributing a significant number of personnel and aircraft to the joint US and Australian exercise.
More than 2000 RAAF personnel are taking part in the exercise held in the NT and Queensland, including supporting elements from NSW and the ACT.
AIRCDRE Kym Osley, Director of the Air Component Coordination element collocated with the Combined Taskforce Headquarters, said Air Force has deployed a comprehensive array of aircraft and capabilities.
“We have F/A-18, F-111, AP-3C, Caribou, C-130, B707 and C-17 aircraft participating in the exercise,” AIRCDRE Osley said.
“In addition, the US has contributed a variety of fighter, strike, electronic warfare, air-refuelling and surveillance aircraft, operating from the aircraft carrier ‘Kittyhawk’, other ships and RAAF bases in Queensland and NSW.
“However, the most important air weapon system in TS07 is the Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC), located in Canberra.
“The CAOC is a fully-integrated Australian/US organisation that exploits the concept of network-centric warfare in the planning, tasking and direction of TS07 air operations.
“A full array of communications and the ability to tap into space assets to obtain near real-time intelligence, allows CAOC staff to respond quickly to the rapidly-changing battlespace.”
In conjunction with US air assets, the RAAF has flown surveillance, air control, reconnaissance and strike missions to degrade the military capabilities of the fictitious enemy and prepare the battlespace for an amphibious landing by naval and land assets.
“Our first priority is to gain air superiority and then to provide ongoing protection and support for the land and naval forces conducting the amphibious assault,” AIRCDRE Osley said.
“At the same time, we will need to protect the sea lines of communication, ensuring that enemy maritime or air forces do not hit our ships standing by to support the landings.
“For the remainder of the exercise, we need to be ready to conduct strike and close air support missions against the enemy. Our fighters will be ready to engage the enemy and to destroy his air defence systems.”
The most exciting part of the exercise, he said, was how Air Force and US aircraft are being responsive by using dynamic targeting.
“In near real-time, the CAOC will direct air assets to find and identify valid enemy targets, and then track and destroy them.”
After the target has been attacked, the CAOC then conducts a bomb damage assessment and reports back to the Combined HQ.
“For troops on the ground who come into contact with the enemy, we will have orbiting aircraft and aircraft on the ground ready to launch at short notice to go in and support them. Our aim is to get air assets overhead in the shortest possible time,” AIRCDRE Osley said.
Full coverage of Exercise Talisman Saber will be featured in the next edition of AIR FORCE News. |
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