Look How Far We've Come

‘LOOK HOW FAR WE’VE COME’

The Royal Australian Air Force marked a special anniversary on 31 March, celebrating 100 years since its formation in 1921. Despite COVID interrupting some scheduled events, this year provided the chance to reflect and recognise the service and sacrifice the RAAF provides Australia in protecting and defending the national interest. Today’s highly capable force has come a long way and the value of air power provided by the RAAF is undisputed. Future strike and air combat capability will be characterised by acquisition of new platforms, technology and seamless integration of space, cyber and electronic systems in collaboration with Army, Navy and private industry. Whilst it’s been another busy year of commitments across a broad spectrum of regional and global operations in support of Australian Government objectives, the RAAF looks toward the future with optimism and infinite potential.

60 past and present aircraft shook the nation's capital on 31st March recognising the 350,000 people who have served in the Air Force. The Air Force was presented with a new New Queen's Colour, it replaced the previous Colour presented by the Queen in 1986. Jericho Disruptive Innovation program piloted virtual operation rooms on air bases across the country using Microsoft Hololens 2 headsets to project a hologram of the battlespace in front of the user.

Air Force Chief says RAAF will be faster, smarter and have longer reach in its next 100 years Royal Australian Air Force Victoria Cross recipients are honoured with their names being placed onto the PC-21 aircraft of No. 4 Squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown.

Gathered personnel forming the number 100 and one of each RAAF aircraft in service at RAAF Base Amberley. Operation Southern Discovery is the ADF contribution to the Whole-of-Government, Department of Environment and Energy-led activity in the Antarctic Region – the Australian Antarctic Program.

ADF personnel provided additional support to the COVID-19 crisis. Exercise Red Flag Alaska was the first time that RAAF F-35A Lightning II aircraft deployed overseas from Australia.

Air Vice-Marshall Catherine Roberts will lead the newly launched Military Space Command.

See you at Avalon 2023

Op Accordion-Afghanistan, over nine sweltering days in August, ADF personnel took part in the largest humanitarian airlift operation in recent history.

Talisman Sabre 2021 the largest bilateral combined training activity between the ADF US military

Held at RAAF Bases Darwin and Tindal, Exercise Rogue Ambush signalled the completion of the first F-35A operation conversion course to be run in Australia since the introduction of the aircraft

Air Traffic Control training celebrated its 75th year and the School of Air Traffic Control (SATC) its 40th year as an independent unit. SATC is a world class training facility delivering Air Traffic Controllers for Defence.

RAAF TIME LINE

1920-1929 Formation of the Australian Air Force First Air Force Non Technical Training course First around Australia aerial survey flight Aircraft production begins in Australia First RAAF Air Show Richard Williams appointed as first Chief of Air Staff

1930-1939 Formation of the Wireless section Proclamation of Cape Bruce, Antarctica Introduction of the Wirraway aircraft PM announces expeditionary forces to assist RAF

1940-1949 Air Force Nursing Service established Establishment of RAAF Bases Darwin, Amberley, Wagga Wagga, Williamtown, East Sale and Townsville Formation of the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force Bombing of Darwin Australia’s first Indigenous fighter pilot - Len Waters Introduction of helicopters to Air Force

1950-1959 War in Korea Women’s Royal Australian Air Force replaced Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force Sabre enters service RAAF Roundel adopted First use of Martin Baker ejector seat in combat End of the biplane era C-130 Hercules enters service

1960-1969 Caribou enters service Farewell Air Force’s aerobatic team - the Telstars First flight of the Mirage P-3B Orion enters service RAAF arrives in Vietnam Sir Frederick Scherger appointed first Air Chief Marshal

1970-1979 F-4E Phantom enters service F-111C arrives at Amberley Cyclone Tracy-Darwin 35 Squadron Caribou hijacked-East Timor WRAAF disbanded - personnel join RAAF United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) in Sinai

1980-1989 New Air Force Ensign adopted First F/A-18’s arrive Helicopter operations handed to the Army Death of the Father of the Air Force – Sir Richard Williams First female pilots Queen’s Colour awarded RAAF Base Tindal established Withdrawal of CH-47C Chinook

1990-1999 Launch of first Air Force hot air balloon Introduction of the Warrant Officer of the Air Force Bougainville conflict East Timor independence Gulf War Hostage relief Peacekeeping - Mogadishu, Somalia Female combat roles established

2000-2009 Commitment to Middle East Area of Operations Medical evacuation support to Bali bombings and tsunamis Operation Slipper and Highroad - Afghanistan Operation Resolute - Border protection Operation Astute - Timor Leste Air Vice-Marshal Julie Hammer-1st ADF female 2 Star rank Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston-Chief of Defence Force

2010-2019 F-111 retires from service First RAAF Indigenous Elder - Uncle Harry Allie General Purpose Uniforms introduced Humanitarian assistance - Pakistan floods, MRH370 search, national bushfires, COVID-19 response. First Spartan enters into service First two F-35A Lightnings arrive in Australia

2020-Present Operation Bushfire Assist Day COVID-19 Task Force established First uncrewed aircraft-Loyal Wingman-maiden flight ADF Space Command announced UNSW/ RAAF collaborate on CubeSat launch 10th Anniversary 33SQN KC-30A operations

Many Happy Returns

On September 16, 33 Squadron marked the 10th anniversary of its first KC-30A

Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) mission at RAAF Base Amberley. There to cut the celebratory cake was CO 33SQN Wing Commander Neil Bowen.

“The 10th anniversary of 33SQN KC-30A operations is a significant milestone,” WGCDR Bowen said. “The platform has matured over the past 10 years, and this year 33SQN operations are really showcasing the versatility of the MRTT, shifting seamlessly between air-to-air refuelling and air logistics support missions, both at home and deployed.

“Our successes in 2021 are the result of the dedicated, professional aviators of the squadron over the past decade, supported by the entire KC-30A enterprise.”

If you were to board the KC-30A, you might find yourself speaking to an air refuelling operator or an Air Force crew attendant. Over the past decade, many Air Force members have found a home at 33SQN and with the KC-30A.

“We thank each member who has been involved in 33SQN and the KC-30A capability. Together we have an impressive list of achievements, only due to the exceptional professionalism and service provided by many,” WGCDR Bowen said. 33SQN has transported thousands of passengers across the nation and the globe. Due to its impressive load capacity, as many as 270 passengers and up to 34 tonnes of cargo, the squadron has been involved in significant airlift tasks including supporting volunteer firefighters and transporting international UN forces into the Middle East. With a fuel capacity of more than 100 tonnes, the KC-30A has also supported missions across the Air Force with its refuelling capability. The squadron has participated in Air Force exercises and operations across the globe including Operations Okra, Accordion and APEC Assist. The KC-30A has even refuelled aircraft from foreign militaries. The KC-30A is a heavily modified variant of the Airbus A330-200 commercial airliner. In fact, it is the largest aircraft in the Air Force at 59m long with a 60.3m wingspan. Advanced mission systems are also fitted to the aircraft, enhancing its multidimension capability. 33SQN now operates seven KC-30As and will continue to provide air-toair refuelling and strategic airlift to Australia well into the next decade.

Flying Officer Lily Lancaster

CO 33SQN WGCDR Neil Bowen. on the Amberley flightline with a MRTT on the 10th anniversary of the first aircraft mission with 33SQN. Defence image.

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Ruling the Battlespace

Number 2 Squadron’s E-7A Wedgetail proved commanding in the air as its advanced communication and surveillance systems came to the fore high above the rugged Alaskan terrain, Flying Officer Bronwyn Marchant writes. Operating out of Joint Base ElmendorfRichardson, Alaska, United States, RAAF’s 2SQN E-7A Wedgetail provided advanced battlespace management within a multinational environment during Exercise Red Flag Alaska. The E-7A used advanced communication and surveillance systems to coordinate both fourth and fifth-generation combat aircraft from the USAF and the RAAF. 2SQN Detachment Commander Squadron Leader John Thornton said the E-7A Wedgetail provided longrange early detection of simulated adversary aircraft within the airspace, increasing the situational awareness of air combat operations. “Exercise Red Flag Alaska was a bilateral exercise where we integrated different platforms from both the United States Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force,” SQNLDR Thornton said. “The mission profiles included both defensive and offensive counter air mission sets against a simulated adversary, to ensure we were fully integrated and can operate effectively as international partners.” The E-7A Wedgetail significantly increases the effectiveness of all assets operating within the combat environment, an advantage that Red Flag Alaska seeks to further develop in an effort to enhance Air Force’s air combat capability. SQNLDR Thornton said the exercise not only strengthened the relationships and interoperability with the USAF, but also provided critical training for 2SQN crews. “The airspace in Alaska is unlike any other in the world. It allows us to test our capabilities and conduct upgrades and category assessments on our crews,” he said. “The training that we achieved during the exercise is essential in ensuring that we can execute the command and control function that an airborne early warning and control platform would be expected to deliver in a real-life scenario.” Upgrading from domestic to international captaincy, Red Flag Alaska provided 2SQN E-7A Wedgetail pilot Flight Lieutenant Jayden Lee with essential training as part of the captaincy upgrade program. “Red Flag Alaska gave me the opportunity to conduct an international trainer and transit, as well as experience participating in an international largeforce employment exercise,” FLTLT Lee said. “Training in Australia is fantastic, but the opportunity to travel overseas and train in a multinational exercise really develops the skillset of our personnel and ultimately what the squadron is capable of achieving.”

A RAAF E-7A Wedgetail aircraft from No.2 Squadron takes off from Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, USA. Defence image.