Orions seven years away

Warrant Officer Dave Dyer tracks a contact of interest from an AP-3C Orion's radar console. (Dept of Defence)

The RAAF’s AP-3C Orion maritime reconnaissance fleet celebrated seven years of continuous operations in the Middle East in late January.

“This milestone is a great tribute to the men and women of Air Force’s Surveillance and Response Group who have worked long hours flying and maintaining the Orions. Maintenance staff have often worked in 50C plus temperatures to achieve a very high aircraft availability rate,” Chief of Air Force AIRMSHL Binskin said. “The support provided by members of Air Force’s Combat Support Group, Maritime Patrol Systems Program Office and Aerospace Operational Support Group have been vital to the Orions’ achievements in the Middle East.”

The RAAF says the aircraft, three of which are rotated from their home base at RAAF Edinburgh to the Middle East every six months or so, have completed more than 1750 missions and 16,500 flight hours as part of Operations Bastille, Falconer, Catalyst and Slipper.