More than 150 Royal Australian Air Force personnel have travelled to the United States’ Anderson Air Force Base in Guam to participate in the Regional Presence Deployment from July 21 – August 2.
Along with strike and surveillance aircraft, the air task unit is part of a series of routine operations in South-East Asia announced by Defence Minister Linda Reynolds in early July, to strengthen longstanding security partnerships in the region.
These relationships are based on mutual respect, trust and a shared vision for a secure, open, prosperous and resilient Indo-Pacific.
The deployment will encompass a wide range of activities, including bilateral and multilateral naval manoeuvres, as well as the capacity to contribute to regional contingencies and humanitarian assistance missions that may arise.
Air task unit Commander, Wing Commander Jason Easthope, said interoperability with international partners and maritime integration were key training objectives in Guam.
“Training serials will include a RAAF E-7A Wedgetail working alongside the Royal Australian Navy air warfare destroyer HMAS Hobart to generate the overall air and sea picture,” Wing Commander Easthope said.
“Valuable raise, train and sustain exercises will also be conducted by our F/A-18A Classic Hornets, EA-18G Growlers and KC-30A multi-role tanker transport.”
The RAAF personnel deployed are primarily from RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland and RAAF Base Williamtown in NSW, and include medical and communications professionals, as well as security forces.
This article was published by the Australian Department of Defence on July 24, 2020.
