Pacific Perspective:Exercise RIMPAC | P-8A Poseidon Harpoon Load - YouTube - Royal Australian Air Force

Both the P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft and the AGM-84J Harpoon anti-ship missile are manufactured by Boeing Defense,Space and Security (BA)*Here Royal Australian Air Force personnel attach Harpoon missiles to their Poseidon aircraft at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay,Hawaii in the course of Exercise RIMPAC 2024.

Pacific Perspective:Exercise Pitch Black 24 | Hot Shots Week Three 🔥🎥 - YouTube

Exercise Pitch Black 24,led by the Royal Australian Air Force,runs from 12 July-2 August 2024.It features the Eurofighter Typhoon;Italian Air Force Sukhoi-30 MKI Flanker fighter;Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle;Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter;Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor;and the Dassault Aviation French Mirage fighter.*Boeing (BA),Lockheed Martin (LMT),Dassault Aviation SA (OTCM:DUAVF)

Pacific Perspective:US,Philippines and Australia Initiate Joint Patrols

On 21 November 2023,the US Navy,the Philippines Navy and Philippines Air Force began joint patrols of the South China Sea both by air and sea.The joint patrols lasted through 23 November and,separately,the Australian Defence Force and the Philippines Navy and Air Force conducted joint patrols a few days later.The US State Department has ascertained in a report that China's claims to most of the South China Sea are not in accord with international law.Hence the patrols were undertaken to assert a free and open Indo-Pacific Region.The US-Philippines patrols began at Movalis Island,the Philippines' northernmost point,100 km/62 mi from Taiwan.They ended in the West Philippine Sea,part of the South China Sea within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).*The Philippine Air Force sent two FA-50 light combat fighter jets and an A29B Super Tucano light attack plane on patrol,while the Philippine Navy sent three unspecified warships.The US Navy sent a Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft,armed with torpedoes and Harpoon anti-ship missiles for anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare missions,respectively;and a littoral combat ship.The littoral combat ships,after being criticised for being lightly armed,are now heavily armed with a number of deck guns,air-to-air and air to surface missiles,including US Army Hellfire missiles and Naval Strike Missiles.Indeed,some LCS's are now also armed with Lockheed Martin laser weapons.*Said Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos,Jr.:Unfortunately,I cannot report that the situation (in the South China Sea) is improved.The situation has become more dire than it was before.Through collaborative efforts,we aim to enhance regional security and foster a seamless partnership with the United States in safeguarding our shared interests.*In February 2023,President Marcos added four new US bases to the five extant ones,bringing them into the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.*The Philippines Navy and Air Force later staged patrols with the Royal Australian Navy and Air Force from 25-27 November 2023.Said Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos,Jr.:We endeavor to have bilateral interoperability in maritime security and domain awareness;test doctrines,existing protocols;and enhance efficiency;and foster closer cooperation between our countries' armed forces.This inaugural Maritime Cooperative Activity and those that follow are a practical manifestation of the growing and deepening strategic and defense partnership between our countries.*The Phiippine Navy sent two warships on patrol.BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PS-15) is a former US Coast Guard Hamilton-class offshore cutter,currently armed with various deck cannons,including one by BAE Systems.The Devao del Sur (LD-6) is a Dock Landing-class amphibious warfare ship for Philippine Marines based on an Indonesian model.It is currently armed with eight heavy machine guns and carries two helicopters with hangar space for a third.The Philippine Air Force sent five surveillance aircraft.*The Royal Australian Navy sent the Anzac-class frigate HMAS Toowoomba (FFH-156).Its armament features a 5" deck gun;Sea Sparrow and Evolved Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missiles;Harpoon anti-ship missiles;two triple torpedo tubes;and two heavy machine guns for extreme close-in defence.The Royal Australian Air Force sent a Boeing P-8A Poseidon on patrol.*For its part,China's Foreign Ministry said:Since November 21,the Chinese People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command Navy Ship Yuenchung has conducted routine patrols in the South China Sea.During this period,the Philippines enlisted foreign forces to patrol the South China Sea,stir up trouble,and hype up regional peace and security,violating the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.* BAE Systems Plc (LSE:BA),Boeing (BA),Lockheed Martin (LMT)

Northrop completes first flight of Australia's Triton maritime surveillance drone, ahead of 2024 delivery - Avionics International

Northrop completes first flight of Australia's Triton maritime surveillance drone, ahead of 2024 delivery - Avionics International: Northrop Grumman recently completed the first flight of Australia’s multi-intelligence MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance maritime surveillance aircraft. The aircraft took off just before noon on Nov. 9, at Northrop’s Palmdale, […] Northrop Grumman (NOC)

Exercise Diamond Storm 2022 | No. 1 Squadron F/A-18F Super Hornet cockpit video - raw footage - Royal Australian Air Force

Pacific Perspective:USMC Develops Aviation Combat Skills With Australian Allies

The Aviation Combat Element (ACE) of Marine Rotational Force-Darwin (MRD-F) conducted Exercises RAPTOR'S STRIKE 22 and DIAMOND STORM 22 with Australian Defence Force (ADF) counterparts from 2 May-24 June in Adelaide,South Australia,MRF-D reported.RAPTOR'S STRIKE enhanced low altitude air defence (LAAD) interoperability as LAAD Marines from Marine Air Combat Group 38 Detachment (MACG 38) integrated with ADF personnel.MRD-F Marines worked closely with 100 Air Defence Battery to improve integrated air and missile defence,thus demonstrating a primary feature of Force Design 2030 concepts and expeditionary advanced base operations.In the current Indo-Pacific Region environment,with a militarily assertive China and Russia causing concern from Japan to Taiwan and beyond,air defence assets are critical as they enable manoeuvring.Integrating these Marine Corps assets with Allied air defence capabilities further increases the ability to maintain freedom to manoeuvre.* Next,the MRD-F ACE moved on to DIAMOND STORM 22,providing aviation coordination and battlespace awareness to the Allied exercise force.Working beside Royal Australian Air Force counterparts,they developed key relationships;Anti-Air Warfare Tactics,Techniques and Procedures (TTP);and enhanced MRF-D battlespace awareness.While supporting real-world contingencies,the drills were also critical enablers of Exercises KOOLENDONG 22 and PITCH BLACK 22,which is led by the ADF.DIAMOND STORM was an Air Warfare Instructor Course incorporating top Australian pilots and Special Operations Forces. MACG 38 provided battlespace awareness and MRD-F Marines also supported the drills with MV-22 Osprey lift,transportation and manoeuvre.The ADF Air Warfare Centre and 88 Squadron focused on detailed integration of offensive air support;offensive counter-air;suppression of enemy air defences;fixed wing-delivered close air support;and Airborne Command and Control.The participants operated force-on-force against a thinking adversary with a comprehensive and modern integrated air defence system,within a contested electromagnetic spectrum environment and during the conduct of long-range combat assault transport missions.

Exercise Pitch Black 16:Air Combat in Australia's Northern Territory - some NATO countries invited

The Royal Australian Air Force's massive,biannual air combat exercise Pitch Black 16 continues on this week.The multinational drills are focusing on offensive and defensive air combat in a simulated war environment.With up to 115 aircraft and more than 2500 personnel,Pitch Black is running from 29 July to 19 August in the vast open skies of the sparsely populated Northern Territory,based at RAAF Darwin and RAAF Tindal about 300 kilometers to the south,and utilising both the Delamere Range Facility and Bradshaw Field Training Area.*
Participating besides the host nation are the US,Canada,Germany,Singapore,Indonesia,New Zealand,Caledonia,Thailand,France and the Netherlands.It was Germany's first participation in Australia's largest air exercise.The UK is not participating this time because of other obligations at the Farnborough Air Show.*
Besides several US Air Force,Thai and Indonesian F-16 and Singaporean F-15 fighters,as well as Australian F-18 Hornets and Superhornets,many transport aircraft and tankers are involved in the war games as well,such as the US Marine Corps KC-130 tanker and the Australian KC-30A tanker/transport.In the Pitch Black scenario,the Red Force from Tindal is the aggressor against the Darwin Blue force with increasing complexity as the drills progress.Air defence systems will be tested and allied forces will develop how they operate together.Air to air combat;air to ground attack;command and control;and tactical air transport will be tested by large formations of aircraft practising challenging air operations.In today's air war,it's more about integrating into a complex and joint environment than achieving mission goals as an individual,providing immediate and responsive military options across the spectrum of operations.Air-land integration is also a new emphasis,as the US Army's 5th Battlefield Coordination Detachment works with Australian Army counterparts to develop a joint approach to enable ground forces to communicate in real time with aircraft.
Troop transport and forward air controller drills are also being incorporated in Pitch Black 16 as part of the air-ground integration package.*
Such mutually beneficial tactics and procedures will build an effective coalition,as a larger team needs to operate cohesively in order to achieve success as well as stabilise and secure the Asia-Pacific region.

Exercise Red Flag:RAAF Arrives at Nellis AFB,Nevada

A robust contingent of Royal Australian Air Force aircraft and personnel have arrived at Nellis Air Force Base,Nevada for the multinational Exercise Red Flag 14-1.They are mainly from RAAF Base Williamstown.Participating are about 250 personnel from Number 77 and Number 2 Squadrons,with 7 F/A-18A Hornet fighters and an E7A Wedgetail airborne warning and control aircraft for the complex air combat missions.*
Commander Air Combat Group Air Commadore Tom Grady praised the exercise as being the most advanced international combat air training activity in the world,providing pilots,combat controllers and intelligence officers with the most realistic and demanding tactical training available.It tests and teaches through a rigorous program of day and night missions against a large number of ground threats and adversary air.It provides a level of operational simulation not available in Australia or the region,and regular participation in this Red Flag series of exercises is a major contributor to Australia's high standard of air combat capability.
RAAF Group Captain Robert Chipman is leading the deployment.*
Participating air forces will fly strike,electronic warfare,tactical transport,fighter escort,airborne warning and control,and air to air refueling missions against an extensive range of simulated surface to air threats.It is the premier air-to-air combat exercise,giving pilots the experience of multiple,intensive combat air sorties in the safety of a training environment.*
Also participating in Exercise Red Flag 14-1 are US Air Force F-22 Raptors,F-16 Fighting Falcons,F-15 Eagles,B-2 Spirit bombers and KC-135 tankers.The UK Royal Air Force is represented by Typhoon and Tornado fighters.*
The exercise continues through 14 February.It is especially relevant in light of the recent unrecognised Chinese claims to airspace in the Asia Pacific region.

Australia Moves Ahead With F-35 Program,EA-18G

The Australian government has reaffirmed its plan to purchase up to 100 F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters under its long term defence strategy.Australia intends to have the advanced technology fighter in service by 2020.
Lead F-35 contractor Lockheed Martin said it was honoured by Canberra's trust and confidence.The first two of its stealthy warplanes are in production and slated for delivery in mid-2014.Lockheed will work closely with the government to support the purchase of their remaining 100 F-35 aircraft.
In contrast,Italy,Canada and Denmark are reducing their F-35 purchases.Costly delays and reworking have marred the transformative Joint Strike Fighter program to this point.More than 3,000 of the aircraft are to be produced over the life of the program,the bulk of them for the US armed forces.
Australia also said it would buy 12 Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force.They had initially planned to modify 12 of their 24 F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters with EA-18G technology;but have now decided to purchase the new Growlers instead,fearing any future delays in the F-35 program.They will keep their two dozen Super Hornets as they are.
Australia is the only other country besides the US to acquire the EA-18G,which are fully in production and qualified for immediate service.The Growlers are used to detect,identify,locate and suppress hostile emitters;the F-35s will project power over long distances from any point on the globe,integrating advanced payloads today and beyond,Lockheed says.
Australia's advanced aircraft purchases reflect growing unease in Asia over China's ongoing military buildup.
Lockheed Martin(LMT),Boeing(BA)