Over one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon crews collaborated with their Malaysian counterparts to enhance maritime domain awareness through Operation Gateway.

In late November, the RAAF deployed three P-8As to Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Base Butterworth near Penang, conducting missions over the northeast Indian Ocean and South China Sea.

Across two weeks, the RAAF P-8A crews joined forces with RMAF personnel on mission planning, carried Malaysian Armed Forces personnel on surveillance missions, and shared maritime surveillance information.

Operation Gateway is one of the Australian Defence Force’s longest-running operations, having first commenced in 1981.

Vice Admiral Justin Jones AO CSC RAN, Chief of Joint Operations Command, said Operation Gateway improved awareness of shipping and security risks in one of the world’s busiest waterways. 

“Operation Gateway is a leading example of our long-standing commitment to working with partners to ensure security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” Vice Admiral Jones said. 

“The Indian Ocean is now the globe’s busiest and most strategically significant shipping corridor, which includes half of the world’s shipping container traffic and two thirds of oil shipments transiting the region.

“Operation Gateway contributes maritime domain awareness in an area that is critical to Australia’s security and sea lines of communication.”

Operation Gateway is a key part of the Malaysia-Australia Joint Defence Program, with the recent deployment allowing for bilateral engagements between the RAAF and the Malaysian Armed Forces.

This included sharing expertise and information, designed to strengthen interoperability and mutual understanding.

Personnel from RAAF No. 92 Wing, based at RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia, regularly deploy to RMAF Base Butterworth as part of this long-standing mission.

Media note:
Media can access imagery of Operation Gateway at http://images.defence.gov.au/S20251239

Information about Operation Gateway is available at:https://www.defence.gov.au/defence-activities/operations/indo-pacific-operations/gateway