Mission Success for Air-maritime Partners

08 April 2023

A Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft conducts a flypast over HMAS Sydney during Exercise Tasman Shield (photo : Aus DoD)

A major exercise that tested the ability of Air Force and Navy to work together has concluded off the east coast of Australia.

The two services conducted simulated air-maritime integrated missions as part of Exercise Tasman Shield, from March 17 to April 3.

Aircraft from RAAF Bases Edinburgh, Amberley and Williamtown worked closely with Navy’s HMA Ships Hobart and Sydney to enhance and promote interoperability.

Air Force’s contribution included the F-35A Lightning II, F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, E-7A Wedgetail, P-8A Poseidon, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, Hawk 127 Lead-in Fighter and No. 3 Control and Reporting Unit.

Air Commodore Peter Robinson, Commander Air Combat Group and Officer Conducting the Exercise, said Tasman Shield was an important opportunity for Air Force 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,” Air Commodore Robinson said.

An F-35A Lightning II takes off from RAAF Base Williamtown for a sortie (photo : Aus DoD)

“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,” Commodore 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.”

(Aus DoD)