23 July 2025
Exercising enhanced survivability, flexibility, lethality and reach were the primary objectives for a Forward Arming Refuelling Point (FARP) demonstration at an austere airfield in Western Australia during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025.
A Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster III from 36 Squadron conducted the serial, demonstrating its capability to refuel and rearm air combat assets.
Lead planner from 88 Squadron, Squadron Leader Alex Moulds, said exercising the FARP capability was a great example of Air Force’s preparedness and readiness to respond in crisis or conflict.
“It's a great example of how we can use austere and unsupported airfields to get our air combat assets back into the fight,” Squadron Leader Moulds said.
“It also allows us to have flexibility in how we refuel and rearm assets, and gives us much more reach.”
A FARP requires an integrated team from a variety of Air Force musterings across Air Warfare Centre, Combat Support Group, Air Combat Group and Air Mobility Group.
'The demonstration was a great example of Air Force's ability to respond rapidly with enhanced lethality in crisis or conflict.'
The integration of personnel ensures that the serial is completed as rapidly as possible.
“The general flow of a FARP serial involves offloading the rearmament and refuel equipment, and then it effectively is a production line where the jets are rolling to a refuel point and then a rearm point,” Squadron Leader Moulds said.
“During the serial, the refuel and rearm were conducted in an expeditious manner, enabling the air combat assets to resume their mission as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre.
“The demonstration was a great example of Air Force's ability to respond rapidly with enhanced lethality in crisis or conflict.”
The FARP serial further enabled Air Force personnel to develop their knowledge, skills and experience in a controlled, yet realistic environment – one of the key objectives of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025.
Now in its 11th iteration, Exercise Talisman Sabre provides an opportunity to exercise the ADF’s combined capabilities to conduct high-end, multi-domain warfare in order to build and affirm our military-to-military ties with partner nations and interoperability in the joint environment.
