Joint exercise between RAAF and US Airforce takes to Territory sky

In a joint exercise between Australia and US airforce one of the world’s most deadly fighter planes practices a refuelling exercise. WATCH THE VIDEO.

IN a dual training session, US Air Force bombers and RAAF aircraft took to Darwin’s sky.

The US Air force B-1 Lancer bombers left a military base in Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory to perform an air refuelling and joint surveillance exercise with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

The joint initiative used two specialised Australian aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon and KC-30A who refuelled the bomber while it circled in Territory airspace.

The training exercise follows recent AUSMIN agreements to enhance military co-operation between the two countries.

RAAF Wing Commander Andrew Anthony (pictured) said this particular drill was about crews understanding how the aircraft worked together at the same time.

“The Australian air force don’t have any of these particular bombers, the unique thing about them is their range and the capacity to carry weapons (payload),” he said.

“They are able to get basically from anywhere in the world without needing to ground to refuel.”

The B-1 Lancer is considered the backbone of the USAF long-range bomber aircraft. It carries the largest payload of guided and unguided weapons in the air force inventory.

Used throughout the world it can quickly deliver massive quantities of precision and non-precision weapons.

The US bomber performed a missed approach at Darwin Airport on Monday afternoon so pilots could familiarise themselves with the airfield. The breach means it came into land before taking off without grounding.

The refuelling exercise is part of the Covid mitigation strategy that means the aircraft no longer comes into contact with an international crew.