From October 25 through November 7, 2018, four Mirage 2000s and 70 airmen participated in Trident Juncture 2018. “ This major exercise of NATO has allowed the French pilots to develop their expertise in a context of multilateral cooperation and in extreme climatic conditions.” [maxgallery id="122206"] “Located beyond the Arctic Circle,…
U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Robert F. Hedelund, the commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force speaks with Marines during Exercise Trident Juncture 18 at Vaernes Air Station, Norway, Nov. 7, 2018. [maxgallery id="122118"] Trident Juncture 18 enhances the U.S. and NATO Allies’ and partners’ abilities to work together collectively…
From 05-18 December 2018, the Royal Australian Air Force joined the United States Pacific Air Forces and Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) for Operation Christmas Drop, the Department of Defense’s longest-running humanitarian airlift operation. [maxgallery id="122143"] Launching from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, C-130J Hercules aircraft delivered donated…
The first two RAAF Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters to be based in Australia have been formally welcomed to their home base of RAAF Williamtown December 10, 2018. [maxgallery id="122262"] The two jets, A35-009 and -010 arrived at Williamtown at 10:20am on December 10 from RAAF Amberley Williamtown. The aircraft…
The ADF’s newly-created role of the Chief of Joint Capabilities has been upgraded to a three-star officer position to align it with the chiefs of the ADF’s three services and Joint Operations Command. The position, held by the newly-promoted AIRMSHL Warren McDonald since it was formed in July 2017, is…
On 28 November 2018, after more than 400 days out of the water, Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Arunta undocked to finalise her midlife capability assurance program upgrade at BAE Henderson Dockyard, Western Australia. [maxgallery id="121586"] The upgrade included significant improvements to major platform systems such as the communications centre,…
HMA Ships Stuart and Sirius have joined the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) corvettes RSS Valiant and Vigour for Exercise Singaroo, a two day maritime exercise in waters off Singapore. The biennial exercise aims to develop a better understanding and working relationship between the Royal Australian Navy and the RSN…
Australian Army soldiers from the Commando Amphibious Operations Course conducted a training activity from Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules aircraft into the waters off Manly, Sydney, in late-September 2018. [maxgallery id="120460"] The students parachuted into the ocean on a stormy day and were then required to fight the swell…
