Page 22 - AirForces Monthly - Issue 381 (December 2019)

NEWS Australasia

First grey PC-21s arrive in Australia In Brief

RAAF Globemaster
repaired
A Royal Australian
Air Force C-17A has
been repaired in the
US under the Aircraft
Repair and Maintenance
Service – Implementing
Arrangement (ARMS-IA),
which allows technicians
from the RAAF and
USAF to work on each
other’s aircraft. The No 36
Squadron Globemaster
RAAF PC-21s A54-045/HB-HWS in ARDU markings and A54- had suffered a cracked
046/HB-HWT in No 4 Squadron colours at Adelaide on October engine inlet during a
27 during their delivery flight. Nathan Rundle mission to Elmendorf Air
Force Base, Alaska in late
PILATUS HAS delivered the Research and Development and as chase aircraft, while 27. After a night stop, they August and repairs took
first two grey-painted PC-21s Unit (ARDU) stationed at No 4 Squadron will employ continued on the last leg of place at McChord AFB,
to the Royal Australian Air RAAF Base Edinburgh, South the type in the forward their journey the following Washington, in September.
Force (RAAF), all previous Australia, plus A54-046/ air control training role. morning, flying to RAAF Base RNZAF Orion deployed
aircraft having been in HB-HWT in the markings After their ferry flight, East Sale, Victoria. The final The Royal New Zealand
bright red and white training of No 4 Squadron at RAAF which left Stans, Switzerland three aircraft were due to Air Force deployed a
colours. The new arrivals Base Williamtown, New on October 18, the aircraft follow around a month later, P-3K2 maritime patrol
comprised A54-045/ South Wales. The ARDU arrived at Adelaide Airport, completing the RAAF order aircraft to support the
HB-HWS for the Aircraft will use the aircraft for trials South Australia, on October for 49 aircraft. Dave Allport implementation of
UN Security Council
PC-9s RAAF Poseidon deployed to Middle East resolutions that imposed
sanctions against North
head for A ROYAL Australian Air the Poseidon employed the region, boost security Korea in an attempt to
persuade its government
and provide an advanced
Force (RAAF) P-8A maritime its surveillance and
disposal surveillance aircraft arrived intelligence-gathering maritime patrol and to denuclearise and
abandon its ballistic
capabilities to help maintain
at Al Minhad Air Base in
surveillance capability.”
WITH NEW PC-21 aircraft the United Arab Emirates the freedom of navigation Under Operation Accordion, missiles and other
arriving for the Royal – the Australian Defence through the strategically the P-8A was deployed for weapons programmes.
Australian Air Force’s Force’s main operating important Strait of Hormuz, one month within the ADF’s The Orion conducted
(RAAF’s) Aircraft Research base in the Middle East – which separates the Gulf Air Task Group – the first maritime surveillance from
and Development on October 15 to conduct of Oman and the Persian time an RAAF Poseidon Kadena Air Base, Japan,
Unit (ARDU) and No 4 operations in support of Gulf. Reynolds said: “The aircraft had operated from mid-October to
Squadron, both units have the International Maritime P-8A will work alongside in the Middle East. The November. New Zealand
retired their PC-9/As. Security Construct (IMSC). our coalition partners to RAAF previously deployed previously deployed a
The last pair of No 4 According to Minister for ensure the safe passage of AP-3C Orions to the region P-3 in support of the
Squadron PC-9/A(F) Defence Linda Reynolds, merchant vessels through between 2003 and 2012. sanctions from September
aircraft, A23-031 and A23- to October last year.
032, departed from RAAF RAAF to fit Super
Base Williamtown, New Hornets with IRST
South Wales on October The Royal Australian Air
21, making a formation Force is to equip its F/A-
flight over local landmarks 18Fs with the same AN/
before flying to RAAF ASG-34 podded infrared
Base Wagga, New South search and track (IRST)
Wales, where they were system as carried by US
formally retired. The ferry Navy Super Hornets.
flight started with a flyover The RAAF P-8A taxies after landing at Al Minhad AB. LSIS Craig Walton/Commonwealth of Australia A sources-sought
of Salt Ash Air Weapons notification issued by the
Range before heading Australian US Naval Air Systems
south along the coast Command on October
and overhead Sydney Army Black 2 calls for 12 IRST
Harbour and then across systems for installation
to the Blue Mountains on H awks on the RAAF’s fleet of
their way to RAAF Base 24 Super Hornets.
Wagga. Williamtown’s support Babcock bid to
No 4 Squadron used support Australian
the four modified PC-9/ counter- SOF helicopters
A(F) forward air control Babcock Australasia
variants for the training terrorism has confirmed it will bid
and development A 6th Aviation Regiment S-70A-9 Black Hawk flies low over to provide services for
the Sydney central business district in support of counter-
of Joint Terminal training terrorism training. Roy Choo the Australian Defence
Attack Controllers. Force’s special operations
in southwestern Sydney,
being transitioned to the
On October 25, ARDU’s S-70A-9 BLACK Hawk in southwestern Sydney, being transitioned to the helicopter (SOH) capability
three aircraft – A23-007, helicopters of the Australian New South Wales, the MRH90 Taipan. In efforts under the LAND 2097
A23-045 and A23-062 Army’s 6th Aviation regiment operates the to enhance special forces Phase 4 project, which
– made a final formation Regiment were involved in remaining fleet of fewer air assault capability, involves providing
flypast as they left RAAF counter-terrorism training than 20 Black Hawks in the Australian Defence acquisition, training and
Base Edinburgh, South over Sydney Harbour and support of the army’s Special Department is also seeking sustainment services at
Australia, for Avalon associated waterways Operations Command. 16 light special operations Holsworthy Barracks, New
Airport, Victoria, where from mid-September to The type is planned to be support helicopters likely South Wales, for a fleet of
they too were retired. early October 2019. Based retired by November 2021 for use with the 6th Aviation up to 16 light helicopters.
at Holsworthy Barracks and its role is currently Regiment. Roy Choo
22 // December 2019 #381 www.Key.Aero

22-23 News AFM Dec2019.indd 22 11/11/2019 13:58:46