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The US Air Force (USAF) and Army have worked with the Australian Army on a December joint maritime strike exercise involving several RAAF and Navy bases.
Exercise Kenney Strikes Back saw USAF C-17 Globemaster IIIs, operated by 62nd Airlift Wing, loaded with high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) from 10th Brigade’s 14th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery alongside Australian Army Bushmasters and US Army MRZR all-terrain vehicles.
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Defence said the HIMARS and vehicles were flown from RAAF Amberley to RAAF Base Scherger in Far North Queensland and HMAS Albatross on the NSW South Coast before “rapidly establishing communications, simulating a fire mission and re-loading onto the C-17s for a quick exit”.
“Working with our American counterparts is always a rewarding activity. They come with a lot of experience, which is helpful for us as we’re a new unit and we still have a lot to learn,” said Battery Sergeant Major of 14 Regt’s 54th Siege Battery, Warrant Officer Class Two, Mick Krek.
“At the same time, the USAF also learns a lot from the Australian call signs, and I feel our training has postured us perfectly to execute missions such as this to deny avenues of approach to the north.”
Elements of the US Army’s 17th Field Artillery Battery worked alongside the 14th Regiment, and its commander, Captain Daniel Schell said it was “rewarding to demonstrate proof of concept for combined HIMARS rapid infiltration missions”.
“We were able to receive a mission during our flight window and then store that information. We hit the ground running and moved over to the firing point, then transferred the information from US forces to Australian forces, who then prosecuted the target.”
“One of the great things about this exercise has been the chance to see some of the similarities we have with Australian forces, share lessons learned and work through some of the new things that we’re doing as part of coalition and joint training.”
According to US Air Force Lt. Col. Bradley Wills, 4th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron Commander for the exercise, the exercise aimed to increase interoperability between US and Australian forces.
“Working with our Australian counterparts was another desired learning objective, just really finding better ways to partner with them,” he said.
“There was a lot of partnership building. We worked out some contingency plans, and developed tactics, techniques, and procedures on the fly. Having all those people together and talking about it, a lot of innovation and proficiency happened.”
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