Exercise Trojan Compass brought the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) together at RAAF Base Richmond, NSW, from February 2 to March 5, reinforcing their long-standing trans-Tasman partnership.

The primary aim of Exercise Trojan Compass was to enhance collaboration. Personnel from RNZAF’s 40 Squadron and RAAF’s 37 Squadron operated side by side, refining their ability to work together.

Squadron Leader Adam Palmer deployed to Australia as the New Zealand Detachment Commander, overseeing the deployed elements. 

“A key highlight was deploying the New Zealand C-130J internationally under an Australian national call sign to complete international tasking for the Australian Defence Force,” he said. 

The deployment of RNZAF’s 40 Squadron personnel and a C-130J aircraft to Richmond allowed both forces to integrate across airlift operations, maintenance, logistics and support functions. By embedding RNZAF personnel within 37 Squadron, they were able to align procedures and deepen understanding of how each operates in a real-world environment.

New Zealand Logistics Officer Flight Lieutenant Kelsey May has been working alongside her Australian counterpart, Flight Lieutenant Riley Kennedy.

“It has been a good learning opportunity for all of us. What has been working really well is that we have similar machinery and similar aircraft. It makes it easy for us to prepare freight and load as we have the same processes and procedures,” Flight Lieutenant May said. 

Working from the same flight lines and hangars, RNZAF and RAAF personnel exchanged best practice and learnt from each other’s experiences. This cooperation supports integration when responding to future operations.

“Interoperability was the key outcome of this exercise. Working with a foreign nation has been excellent and we have learnt a lot from each other along the way,” Flight Lieutenant Kennedy said.

The partnership also highlighted the importance of professional connections. For many, the opportunity to work alongside close allies was a highlight. Daily interaction fostered trust and professional respect, reinforcing the relationship between Australia and New Zealand. 

“Deploying on Exercise Trojan Compass has been a great opportunity for aviators of the Royal New Zealand Air Force to deploy to an unfamiliar environment. It allowed us to practise our skills so if we need them in the wider region or around the globe, we are ready to respond to as required,” Squadron Leader Palmer said.