iscover
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed military support aircraft will be deployed to the Middle East.
An E-7A Wedgetail aircraft will be sent to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to assist in the defence of Gulf states Iran has attacked, the PM revealed on Tuesday morning. It comes after Defence last week sent a C-17A Globemaster and a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport to support repatriation efforts.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
“We are not protagonists, what we are doing is providing for the defence of the UAE and of Australian citizens,” said Prime Minister Albanese.
“Helping Australians means also helping the UAE and other Gulf nations to defend themselves.”
Albanese continued on, saying that the deployment of the aircraft “will provide long-range reconnaissance capability, which will help to protect and secure the airspace above the Gulf”.
85 Australian Defence Force personnel will be sent to the region, however no ground troops will be deployed.
“We have already sent DFAT personnel to the region as part of Crisis Response Teams, they are on the ground providing consular support.”
The E-7A Wedgetail is a control and early warning aircraft that is primarily used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
It has an over 7,000km range to support its long-range surveillance radar capabilities.
“The E-7A Wedgetail and supporting Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel will be deployed for an initial four weeks in support of the collective self-defence of Gulf nations,” the Prime Minister added.
Last year Australia deployed the same E-7A on 45 separate occasions to support Ukraine in defence against Russia.
In addition to the surveillance aircraft, Australia is set to provide Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles to the UAE.
Albanese has reiterated that Australia is “not taking offensive action against Iran”, and these measures are primarily in support of Australians who may be stuck in the region.
“The United Arab Emirates (UAE) alone has been forced to shoot down over 1,500 rockets and drones,” said Albanese.
“This growing wave of dangerous and destabilising attacks from Iran puts civilian lives at risk, including Australian lives.”
Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Australian Aviation a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Australian Aviation as a preferred news source.
