Australia’s Maritime Task Group arrives in Pearl Harbor for RIMPAC 16

Posted on | by Caroline Teames
07/09/2016

07/09/2016: The Australian Defence Force is deploying three ships, three aircraft and more than 1650 personnel to take part in Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016 off the coast of Hawaii and California.

The multinational activity held from 30 June to 4 August 2016 is the world’s largest maritime exercise and includes more than 25, 000 personnel from 26 countries.

RIMPAC seeks to enhance interoperability between Pacific Rim armed forces, ostensibly as a means of promoting stability in the region to the benefit of all participating nations.

The exercise helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans.

Credit: Australian Ministry of Defense:7/4/16

Autonomous Systems for Military Ops

Posted on | by Caroline Teames
07/08/2016

07/08/2016: The Defence Science and Technology Group (DST) is staging open days at its Melbourne laboratory for industry and academia to showcase innovative technologies being developed to give the Australian Defence Force a capability edge.

The Partnerships Week event (6 to 10 June) is part of DST’s outreach campaign for closer ties with companies, universities and public research organisations to undertake collaborative research projects for Defence capability.

Credit: Australian Ministry of Defense:6/10/16

Air Commando Special Forces

Posted on | by Caroline Teames

07/08/2016: CV-22 Ospreys with the 20th Special Operations Squadron trail behind an MC-130 Commando II during the Air Commando Capabilities Demonstration at the Air Commandos on the High Plains.

The 2016 Cannon AFB Airshow is an opportunity to celebrate the long-standing relationship between the 27th Special Operations Wing and the High Plains community.

Credit:27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs:5/28/16

Arrival of New Aussie Amphibious Ship in Pearl Harbor

Posted on | by Caroline Teames
07/07/2016

07/07/2016: Task Group 659.1, including HMA Ships Canberra, Warramunga, Ballarat and HMNZS Te Kaha arrive in Pearl Harbour, Hawaii for the commencement of the world’s largest maritime warfare exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016.

The Australian Defence Force is deploying three ships, three aircraft and more than 1,650 personnel to take part in Exercise Rim of the Pacific 16 (RIMPAC 16) off the coast of Hawaii and California.

The multinational activity held from30 June to 4 August 2016 is the world’s largest maritime exercise and includes more than 25,000 personnel from 27 countries.

The exercise aims to strengthen international maritime partnerships, enhance interoperability and improve the readiness of participating forces for a wide range of potential operations.

Credit: Australian Ministry of Defense:6/30/16

RAAF Air Task Group Armament Technicians

Posted on | by Caroline Teames
07/06/2016

07/06/2016: The ordering, assembling, and loading munitions is a full time job at Australia’s main air operating base in the Middle East region.

The assembly and loading of weapons is undertaken by Armament Technicians using the necessary ground support equipment.

This activity is usually conducted at night to avoid the high daytime temperatures.

The Air Task Group (ATG) of Operation OKRA is operating at the request of the Iraqi Government within a US-led international coalition assembled to disrupt and degrade Daesh operations in the Middle East Region (MER).

The ATG comprises six RAAF F/A-18A Hornet fighter aircraft, an E-7A Wedgetail airborne command and control aircraft, and a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport air-to-air refuelling aircraft. Additionally, the ATG has personnel working in the Combined Air and Space Operations Centre, and embedded with the ‘Kingpin’ US tactical Command and Control Unit.

The ATG is directly supported by elements of Operation ACCORDION including the Theatre Communications Group, Air Mobility Task Group, and the Combat Support Unit, whose mission is to provide airbase and aviation operational support to sustain air operations in the MER.

There are up to 350 personnel deployed, at any one time, as part of, or in direct support of the ATG.

Credit: Australian Ministry of Defense:6/23/16

Training for Expeditionary Ops

Posted on | by Caroline Teames
07/05/2016

07/05/2016: Bulk Fuel Specialist Marines and Marine aviation crew chiefs with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (Reinforced), 11th MEU fuel aircraft at a Forward Armament and Refueling Point (FARP) aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 11, 2016. 

The mission of a FARP is to provide fuel and ordnance necessary for highly mobile and flexible helicopter and fixed-wing operations.

 Credit:11th Marine Expeditionary Unit:5/11/16