2016-08-18 By Robbin Laird When I last visited Amberley airbase two years ago, the KC-30A was a project of concern. Now it has become a key combat asset within the RAAF contribution to current Australian and allied Middle East operations. This time with those operations ongoing, Pitch Black 2016 ramping…
2016-08-19 During the Pitch Black 2016 exercise, a KC-30A refueled US F-16s coming from Japan to the exercise in Australia. On July 19, a RAAF KC-30A flew non-stop with six F-16Cs from Kadena Air Base, Japan to RAAF Base Darwin in just over six hours. RAAF Group Captain (GPCAPT) Adam…
2016-08-11 According to a story by the Royal Australian Navy, the MRH-90 operating off an Australian LHD has done its first replenishment of a US Navy ship. In a story by Leut. Andrew Ragless entitled the “MRH-90 Carries Her Share of the load and published on July 28, 2016: The first…
2016-08-11 Making its debut in a multi-national exercise, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has deployed its KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport to RAAF Base Townsville for Exercise Pitch Black 12. Measuring 58 metres in length and with a wingspan of 60 metres, the KC-30A is a heavily modified Airbus A330…
2016-08-11 RAAF BASE DARWIN, Australia For the first time, U.S. Air Force F-16C aircraft have deployed to Exercise PITCH BLACK 16 (PB16) in partnership with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport. On July 19, a RAAF KC-30A flew non-stop with six F-16Cs from Kadena Air Base, Japan…
2016-07-29 By Robbin Laird An insertion force is characterized by strike, defense, lift, tanking and air battle management that can be effectively integrated to get to an objective area, and then to operate over and within until mission success. Sustainable reach is a fundamental operational objective. This means that lift…
2016-07-14 By Robbin Laird The P-8, which is a Maritime Domain Awareness Strike capability, is coming to RAF Lossiemouth. This is part of the transition for the base becoming a 21st century air base positioned in the North of the United Kingdom and positioned in a key area for the…
2016-07-07 By Robbin Laird When I visited Williamtown Air Base in Australia last March, I was given a tour to the bed down of the F-35 at the airbase and the shaping really of a fifth generation infrastructure for the evolution of the Royal Australian Air Force. The challenge put…
