Deputy PM visits RAAF Wedgetail crew in Middle East

“If we can find these things in time, we can pass that information onto the DCA [defensive counter-air assets] and they can go and prosecute those targets to make sure that they’re protecting those Gulf states,” said Task Unit Commander Squadron Leader H.

“We are protecting people in their homes full stop. So for me, I’m very proud to be leading a team that has this positive impact.”

The mission’s first rotation is now handing over to its second. According to Minister Marles, who visited the base in May, a Wedgetail will be committed to an “independent and defensive multinational military mission” once it is established.

“The multinational military mission is a coalition of 40 nations that’s been convened by the United Kingdom and France,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

“Its mission is opening the Strait of Hormuz to ensure there is freedom of navigation through that body of water. Clearly that is fundamental to Australia’s national interests, but it’s fundamental to the world.

“When conditions allow, we’ve committed the E-7A as a capability to this and we’ll look at other ways in talking with France and the UK around how else we can contribute.”

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Squadron Leader H, who flew the initial E-7A Wedgetail contingent into the Middle East with “very little notice”, said the early days of the deployment were “hectic and confronting” but that he is proud of how the missions have gone.

“Definitely a sight I never really thought I would see, but the job over here was to protect those Gulf nations and part of that was flying the skies over the Gulf states and detecting some of those threats,” he said.

“Trying to manage and understand how all that worked while keeping our people safe in that environment was one of the toughest things about this.

“I could not be prouder of the people here. We deployed on very short notice to a relatively high-risk environment to do a mission directed by the Government that is genuinely saving lives here in the Gulf nations.”

Deputy PM Marles has also praised the crew for “making an impact [and] saving lives”.

“You’re really struck by their sense of mission, their sense of professionalism, the pride they have in wearing the nation’s uniform, the pride they have in making a difference – which they definitely are in terms of the protection of the UAE and other countries of the Gulf,” he said.

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.