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RAAF F-35s, Super Hornets, and Growlers have conducted training missions alongside the Navy off the east coast of Australia for Exercise Tasman Shield.
The aircraft, from RAAF Bases Edinburgh, Amberley, and Williamtown, cooperated with HMA Ships Hobart and Sydney in the exercise from 17 March to 3 April.
Other aircraft involved include the E-7A Wedgetail, P-8A Poseidon, KC-30A multi-role tanker transport, and Hawk 127 lead-in fighter.
Air Commodore Peter Robinson, Commander Air Combat Group and Officer Conducting the Exercise, said Tasman Shield was an important opportunity for the RAAF and Navy to enhance their joint effectiveness.
“Exercise Tasman Shield 23 provided both complex and realistic scenarios in order to challenge and develop understanding of air-maritime integration,” AIRCDRE Robinson said.
“The involvement of the Royal Australian Navy’s HMA Ships Hobart and Sydney were critical for developing and validating air-maritime integrated tactics, techniques, and procedures.
“The complexity of the flying was an excellent opportunity for our people to further develop their skills in providing air power as part of the joint force — critical to our Air Force mission.”
Navy’s Commodore Flotillas, Commodore Paul O’Grady, said the exercise was a valuable opportunity to practise and refine Navy-Air Force integration. “Our ability to work together as a joint force, both in the air and on the waves, is critical to our ability to fight and win at sea,” CDRE O’Grady said.
“HMA Ships Sydney and Hobart delivered significant air warfare capabilities to the exercise, including forward deployed command and control effects for airborne assets.
“Tasman Shield has progressed our ability to provide a counter air capability at sea, as well as expanding our understanding of how to best use our integrated Navy and Air Force assets to jointly control the battlespace.”
The F-35 is the country’s newest fighter, purchased to replace the RAAF’s F/A-18A/B Classic Hornets that were in service since 1985 and retired in late 2021.
Over the coming years, Australia will buy 72 as part of the $17 billion AIR 6000 Phase 2A/B program, with all expected to be fully operational by the end of this year.
The aircraft comes in three variants: the F-35A — purchased by Australia — is a conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) version; the F-35B is a short take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) variant, and the final F-35C is the carrier type (CV).
The first F-35A was delivered in December 2018, and the finished fleet will be based at RAAF Base Williamtown and RAAF Base Tindal. So far, 59 have landed on Australian soil.
