Special Reports

Avalon 2025

Royal Australian Air Force contingent at Exercise Red Flag Nellis 25-1. *** Local Caption *** The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) joined counterparts from the United States and United Kingdom from 27 January to 14 February 2025 for Exercises Red Flag Nellis 25-1 and Bamboo Eagle 25-1 in the United States. RAAF participation involved 429 aviators and up to 18 aircraft including six F-35A Lightning II, six F/A-18F Super Hornets, four EA-18G Growlers, two E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, along with a No. 41 Wing Tactical Command and Control team. Led by the USAF's Air Combat Command, Exercise Red Flag Nellis 25-1 focussed on Large Force Employment across a variety of scenarios in the Nevada Test and Training Range. Exercise Bamboo Eagle 25-1 involved long-range missions to training ranges across the western United States. Exercise Red Flag Nellis is regarded as one of the world's pre-eminent air combat exercises, providing essential training experience for aviators and allowing Air Force to meet the objectives of the National Defence Strategy.

AVALON 2025Special reports

Developing air power in the age of uncertainty

We must face a future in which the US nay no longer be our reliable friend.

Marcus Hellyer

A Royal Australian Air Force No. 6 Squadron EA-18G Growler Aircraft on the Nellis Air Force Base flightline during Exercise Bamboo Eagle 25-1. *** Local Caption *** The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) joined counterparts from the United States and United Kingdom from 27 January to 14 February 2025 for Exercises Red Flag Nellis 25-1 and Bamboo Eagle 25-1 in the United States. RAAF participation involved 429 aviators and up to 18 aircraft including six F-35A Lightning II, six F/A-18F Super Hornets, four EA-18G Growlers, two E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, along with a No. 41 Wing Tactical Command and Control team. Led by the USAF's Air Combat Command, Exercise Red Flag Nellis 25-1 focussed on Large Force Employment across a variety of scenarios in the Nevada Test and Training Range. Exercise Bamboo Eagle 25-1 involved long-range missions to training ranges across the western United States. Exercise Red Flag Nellis is regarded as one of the world's pre-eminent air combat exercises, providing essential training experience for aviators and allowing Air Force to meet the objectives of the National Defence Strategy.

AVALON 2025Special reports

Australia is a proud – and powerful – aviation nation

We are increasingly seeing long-established international rules and norms being contested. Defence aims to deter conflict, prevent an adversary from coercing Australia, support regional security and prosperity, and uphold a favourable regional strategic balance.

STEPHEN CHAPPELL

AVALON 2025Special reports

There’s something in the air … for all

Australia’s largest aerospace and defence industry event – Avalon Australian International Airshow – returns to Avalon Airport today in a six-day program showcasing the spectrum of civil and military aviation, aerospace and space.

The first Royal Australian Air Force MQ-4C Triton Remotely Piloted Aircraft System arrives in its new hangar at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory. *** Local Caption *** Australia’s first MQ-4C Triton Remotely Piloted Aircraft System arrived on home soil today at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory. The MQ-4C Triton is a high altitude, long endurance, remotely piloted aircraft system, which will provide long-range, persistent surveillance across Australia’s maritime approaches and its broader areas of interest. The MQ-4C Triton fleet will be based at RAAF Base Tindal, Northern Territory, and operated by Royal Australian Air Force Aircrew of the reformed Number 9 Squadron at RAAF Base Edinburgh, South Australia. Once in service, the MQ-4C Triton and the P-8A Poseidon aircraft will operate as a ‘family of systems’ to provide Defence’s Maritime Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capability. Defence will continue to work with industry to support our workforces, to deliver the priorities and capabilities our nation requires to protect Australia and its national interests.

AVALON 2025Special reports

Solving problems Northrop Grumman Australia’s mission: Denney

NGA is much more than just a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) organisation. They are also building up local industry to be part of that sustainment link.

Nigel Pittaway

A Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II flies over Guam during Exercise Cope North. *** Local Caption *** For the first time, F-35 Lightning II aircraft from Japan, the United States and Australia have conducted trilateral training together with their F-35 Lightning II aircraft at Exercise Cope North 25. Held at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam from 3-21 February 2025, the exercise involved a Royal Australian Air Force contingent of 275 aviators and eight F-35A Lightning IIs, as well as a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, and a E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft. Exercise Cope North 25 is the first activity to be conducted under the trilateral Memorandum of Intent for air cooperation. Signed in July 2024 between the RAAF, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, and United States Pacific Air Forces, it is focused on conducting a series of trilateral exercises with fifth generation air warfare capabilities and whole-of-force integration as its focus.

AVALON 2025Special reports

The most lethal fighter gets deadlier all the time

The last three F-35A Lightning II fighters for the RAAF arrived shortly before Christmas, exactly six years after the first pair touched down at RAAF Base Williamtown, north of Sydney.

NIGEL PITTAWAY

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 28: U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office at the White House on February 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump and Zelensky are meeting today to negotiate a preliminary agreement on sharing UkraineÃ¢â¬â¢s mineral resources that Trump says will allow America to recoup aid provided to Kyiv while supporting UkraineÃ¢â¬â¢s economy. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

AVALON 2025Special reports

Looking away is not an option: facing the reality of Trumpian caprice

US leadership and primacy have been key stabilisers in the post-World War II institutions and rules-based global system. However, the new world disorder enveloping us since Donald Trump’s second inauguration on January 20 is deeply disturbing.

Peter Tesch

File photos of MQ-4C Triton. Courtesy of Northrop Grumman. Image has been manipulated.

AVALON 2025Special reports

Triton to give massive boost to surveillance

News of Chinese navy warships circumnavigating Australia is a reminder of the importance of surveillance capabilities. We will be better prepared once our new MQ-4C Triton high altitude long endurance (HALE) uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) are operational.

Kym Bergmann

HMA Ships Adelaide and Canberra sail into Jervis Bay. *** Local Caption *** The Canberra Class Amphibious Assault Ship (LHD), also known as a Landing Helicopter Dock, project will provide the Australian Defence Force with one of the most capable and sophisticated air-land-sea amphibious deployment systems in the world. These 27,000 tonne ships will be able to land a force of over 1,000 personnel by helicopter and water craft, along with all their weapons, ammunition, vehicles and stores.

AVALON 2025Special reports

Turning LHDs into aircraft carriers is a wise option

The only impediment to Australia upgrading the Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Docks and using them as aircraft carriers is the dismissive attitude of the RAN leadership, coupled with political indifference.

Kym Bergmann

Australian Army soldiers and aviators conduct helicopter insertion and extraction training as part of UH-60M Black Hawk introduction into service activities. *** Local Caption *** In early 2023, Defence announced the Australian Government’s decision to replace the Taipan Multi Role Helicopter (MRH90) with a fleet of 40 UH-60M Black Hawk Utility Helicopters. Currently, 10 Black Hawks have been delivered to Australia, with all 40 aircraft expected by 2030. The UH-60M Black Hawk provides Army with the modern, credible and sustainable Aviation capability it needs to meet the contemporary challenges of warfare. The UH-60M Black Hawk fleet is being initially established in Holsworthy, New South Wales and is planned to expand into Oakey, Queensland next year.

AVALON 2025Special reports

First of new Black Hawks are already operational

The Australian Army has declared Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for its first 12 Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters, just 15 months after the purchase was announced.

GREGOR FEGUSON

Boeing builds the Apache in Mesa, Ariz. Deliveries of the “E” model began in October 2011. Seven customers outside the U.S. have ordered this variant. Including this latest version, the U.S. and 15 other countries have relied on the Apache during the past three decades. Mesa_8/8/2017_RMS#305097_MCF17-0058 Series

AVALON 2025Special reports

Apache attack helicopters on the way to replace Tigers

Deliveries of new attack helicopters are on schedule with four AH-64E Apaches due to arrive before the end of the year.

KYM BERGMANN

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/special-reports

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