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The RAAF and Royal Malaysian Air Force have marked 45 years of Operation Gateway.
Hosted at RMAF Base Butterworth in Malaysia, the deployment involved more than 75 personnel from 92 Wing and three Poseidon P-8A aircraft, as well as supporting elements from across the Air Force, including from 19 Squadron at Butterworth.
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“The detachment conducted maritime domain awareness patrols across the North Indian Ocean and South China Sea, supporting a shared understanding of maritime activity in the Indo‑Pacific,” said Defence in a statement.
“Operation Gateway is Australia’s longest continuous bilateral operation in ADF history and remains a key element of the Australia-Malaysia defence relationship.
“This year’s deployment also marks the operation’s 45th year, highlighting a partnership that has evolved alongside changing regional security challenges while maintaining a consistent focus on maritime domain awareness and regional stability.”
Detachment Commander Squadron Leader Justin McCoy said Operation Gateway “represents 45 years of collaborative operations” and provides valuable situational awareness for both nations.
“We’ve gone on a journey not only within Australia, but with Malaysia in lockstep with those changes,” he said.
“Everyone who has deployed here and [supported] us locally have worked really hard, and I’m very proud of the outcome.
“Being based at Butterworth gives us proximity to our patrol areas. The situational awareness we gain from these missions is important for understanding the security environment.”
According to Defence, Gateway aircraft have “accumulated more than 30,000 flying hours and conducted more than 3500 sorties, providing an enduring contribution to regional security” since the operation began.
“While the P-8A Poseidon has replaced earlier maritime patrol aircraft, the mission remains unchanged,” Defence said.
“Each patrol contributes to a layered understanding of activity across critical maritime approaches and supports informed decision-making for both nations.”
Operation Gateway was originally established as part of the wider Malaysia-Australia Joint Defence Program.
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