On Trial Swagman, F-35A Lighting IIs and EA-18G Growlers used the vast Northern Territory airspace to test and advance their electronic warfare (EW) suite against a range of threats in advanced training scenarios.

Launching from RAAF Base Tindal, the simulated threat picture for this year’s training gave aviators the opportunity to practise tactics in scenarios that occur almost exclusively on US test ranges.

Trial Swagman featured aircraft from 75 Squadron and 6 Squadron and was coordinated by Joint Electronic Warfare Operational Support Unit (JEWOSU) and 80 Squadron.

Commanding Officer JEWOSU Wing Commander Keith McGrath said the activity provided a complex test environment where mission data and emerging EW capabilities could be optimised for use within an integrated flight package.

“Trial Swagman provides an opportunity for F-35A Lightning II and EA-18G Growler aircraft to employ their EW systems in order to develop and validate integrated EW tactics,” Wing Commander McGrath said.

“The activity follows JEWOSU’s motto of ‘Discern, Exploit, Prevail’ by enabling flying units to practise these three elements and increase combat proficiency.”

'The simulated threat picture provided for this year’s Trial Swagman allowed our aviators an opportunity to practice tactics in an array of scenarios normally only seen on US test ranges.'

Supported by RAAF Base Tindal and Delamere Air Weapons Range, the activity involved emulating intricate test scenarios and optimising tactical procedures against a range of threats.

Commanding Officer 75 Squadron Wing Commander Andrew Nilson said working with JEWOSU and 80 Squadron enabled 75 Squadron to increase F-35A survivability and mission data optimisation for Australia and the wider F-35A Joint Program Office.

“The trial successfully achieved a vast number of test objectives including the integration of the EA-18G Growler, which provided a significant amount of data that will benefit the broader F-35 enterprise,” Wing Commander Nilson said.

“The simulated threat picture provided for this year’s Trial Swagman allowed our aviators an opportunity to practise tactics in an array of scenarios normally only seen on US test ranges.”

80 Squadron and the United States Reprogramming Laboratory reported that the data collected during the trial far exceeded expectations.

Landon Anglin from the United States Reprogramming Laboratory said he gained access to flight test data and achieved trial objectives that he had not been able to in 10 years of attending F-35A flight trials.

The success of Trial Swagman was due to the ongoing support and collaboration of a broad range of stakeholders, including allied partner nations.