1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:03,680 Speaker 1: Hello, Katie Wolf and three point sixty online at Mix 2 00:00:03,760 --> 00:00:06,160 Speaker 1: one O four nine dot com. 3 00:00:06,240 --> 00:00:09,480 Speaker 2: Now we understand that the thirty five's are back in 4 00:00:09,600 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 2: the top end and joining us in the studio right 5 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 2: now to tell us a little bit more about Exercise 6 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 2: Row Gambush, which begins today. It is Andrew Anthony, who 7 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:23,640 Speaker 2: is the commanding officer of the RUBAF base here in Darwin. 8 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:24,759 Speaker 2: Good morning to you. 9 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: Good morning, Katie. Thanks very much for having me. 10 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, thank you so much for joining us this morning. Now, 11 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 2: tell us a little bit more about Exercise Row Ambush. 12 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 2: It sounds like an interesting one. I like the name 13 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 2: of this. 14 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 1: It is, so, Katie. 15 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 3: Exercise Rogue Ambush is the final phase of the conversion 16 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 3: course for our new f thirty five pilots. So it's 17 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 3: their their final phase of training. And basically once they 18 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 3: finish this exercise, they graduate and they then post into 19 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 3: an operational flying unit. 20 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 2: And so are the are these the new type of aircraft? 21 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 2: Is that what the goeyes? 22 00:00:57,560 --> 00:00:58,279 Speaker 1: They certainly are. 23 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 3: So before this exercise, our pilots were trained over in 24 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:07,480 Speaker 3: the United States. We're also converting previously qualified fighter pilots 25 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 3: onto the new platform. So there's a lot of first 26 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 3: for this one. It's the first time that we've done 27 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 3: a conversion course in Australia with Australian pilots training Australian pilots. 28 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 3: And it's also the first time that we've graduated pilots 29 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 3: on this new platform that have started their flying training, 30 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:26,320 Speaker 3: gone all the way through and are about to graduate 31 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:27,680 Speaker 3: onto the F thirty five. 32 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 2: How cool, and so is it the first time that 33 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:34,600 Speaker 2: it's happened in Australia because of COVID or is there 34 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 2: another reason for us? 35 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 3: No, they're just new aircraft type, so they were brought 36 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 3: into service slowly over the last couple of years and 37 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:44,160 Speaker 3: we've now got enough of them that we can run 38 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 3: our own training programs with our own crews. 39 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:49,919 Speaker 2: That's awesome. So how many people are here for this exercise? 40 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 3: So there's about three hundred people participating in the exercise 41 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 3: in total. Between between Tyndall and Darwin, there are about 42 00:01:57,320 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 3: twelve aircraft operating from raft based Darwen. We've got ten 43 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:02,480 Speaker 3: thirty fives and two wedge tails. So it's not just 44 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 3: about the fighter pilots, it's about those other aircrew who 45 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 3: also support that mission. So with our E seven, a 46 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 3: wedgetail aircraft we're going to be graduating I think three 47 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 3: co pilots and a number of our operators that work 48 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 3: in the back of the aircraft that help basically manage 49 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 3: the battlespace. 50 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, right now, tell us a little bit more about 51 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 2: these aircraft. You brought me in this little fly which 52 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 2: is awesome because, as you know, I don't know a 53 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:25,799 Speaker 2: lot about the aircraft, so I'm always reliant on you're 54 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 2: telling us a little bit more about them. But what 55 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 2: you tell me a bit more about these air thirty fives. 56 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 3: So the F thirty five is what we call a 57 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 3: fifth generation platform. So what it does is it is 58 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 3: more connected than our previous platforms. They integrate better. It's 59 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 3: like having a later model computer that just works faster 60 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,800 Speaker 3: and can provide information to the pilots that the otherwise 61 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 3: wouldn't have had when operating on an earlier platform. 62 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 1: Top. 63 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 2: Now, what about these wedge tails? 64 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 1: What the hey? 65 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:58,800 Speaker 3: So they're a airborne early warning and control aircraft. So 66 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 3: you see them that looks like they've got this massive 67 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 3: surfboard sitting on top of them. Yeah, and that's a 68 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 3: big radar. And what they do is you've got operators 69 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 3: at the back of the aircraft that get the full 70 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:11,920 Speaker 3: picture of who's in the area, and they provide information 71 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 3: through to the fighter pilots so they can see what's 72 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:15,360 Speaker 3: going on around them. 73 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 2: So tell us what exactly sort of happens when they 74 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 2: do these exercises. I mean, is it run as if 75 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:23,519 Speaker 2: they are, you know, in a conflict situation. 76 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 3: So arnam Thunder was more about that where we work 77 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 3: in a contestant environment, and that's about taking those previously 78 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 3: qualified pilots and getting them to work with other platforms, 79 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 3: work together as a team, essentially in a contestant environment. 80 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 3: This is more about graduating those pilots that are coming 81 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 3: through the system. They will be challenged through different scenarios, 82 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:47,200 Speaker 3: but not to the level that we were doing in 83 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 3: arm Thunder. 84 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 2: And so how many are you expecting to graduate after 85 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 2: this training? 86 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: So there'll be four fighter pilots. 87 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, we'll have three co pilots from the E seven 88 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 3: A and eight crews from that were working the back 89 00:03:59,880 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 3: end of the aircraft. 90 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:05,119 Speaker 2: Now with Exercise roy Gambush, how long is it going for? 91 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 2: And I know that one of the complaints that we 92 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 2: hear a little bit is the noise and people concerned 93 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 2: about the noise, I reckon. It's so if you've got 94 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 2: a baby that you're trying to get to go to sleep, 95 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 2: what is the situation, how long is it going for 96 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:19,479 Speaker 2: and can we expect a bit of noise? 97 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 1: Thanks Hottie. 98 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 3: So unfortunately, that is one thing that is comes part 99 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:25,720 Speaker 3: and passable with operating fast jets is they do make 100 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 3: a lot of noise, but we try our best to 101 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:30,799 Speaker 3: minimize that around the community. For this exercise, it's Monday 102 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:34,360 Speaker 3: to Friday flying only and from about eight thirty through 103 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 3: to five o'clock in the afternoon, so no night flying 104 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 3: on the section. Allis yes, although babies do sleep throughout 105 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 3: the days. 106 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 1: As a dad, I'm well aware of that. 107 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 3: So we do appreciate the support that we do get 108 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 3: from the community and your patients. 109 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 1: But the jets will be flying up until the thirtieth. 110 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 3: Of June and they'll then start departing for their trip 111 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:57,720 Speaker 3: back to Newcastle on the first of July and the 112 00:04:57,760 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 3: second of July. They'll be all out of town by 113 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 3: the end of second and July. 114 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 2: And exercise Row Gambullship follows on from Arnham Thunder and 115 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 2: I know that there was plenty happening with Arham Thunder 116 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 2: as well, wasn't there? 117 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 3: There certainly was, and that there was a lot of 118 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 3: first with Arnham Thunder, the first time we've deployed the 119 00:05:12,920 --> 00:05:15,920 Speaker 3: F thirty five, the first time that number of different 120 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 3: platforms have operated together, and it was a great success. Again, 121 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 3: appreciate the support we had from the community for that. 122 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 3: The aircraft had very high mission success rates. It was 123 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:27,159 Speaker 3: a great opportunity for the air Force. 124 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:29,839 Speaker 2: Yeah, and it sounds like it's a busy time for 125 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 2: you guys. Any other exercises planned in the next couple 126 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:33,920 Speaker 2: of weeks or is this it for a little while. 127 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:36,720 Speaker 3: Not for the next couple of weeks. There's always some 128 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 3: surprises that are being planned that we find out about. 129 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:42,719 Speaker 3: I don't I can't offer I guess an exact answer 130 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 3: on what might be coming down an auge later in 131 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:46,240 Speaker 3: the year. But there is a lot going on. As 132 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 3: you say, We've still got the repatriation flights coming in. 133 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:51,839 Speaker 3: We'll still got the Marines operating their aircraft, their helicopters 134 00:05:51,880 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 3: and their ospreys, so there's a fair bit going on. 135 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, there most certainly is well, Andrew. It is always 136 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 2: good to catch up with you. We really appreciate you 137 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 2: coming into the studio and having a chat with us. 138 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 1: Thanks so much, katieways a pleasure, Thank you. 139 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 2: That is the well Rowe Ambush Commanding Officer of the 140 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 2: r a F bahis Darwin Wing Commander Andrew Anthony and 141 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 2: and it's always good to catch up with him and 142 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:15,280 Speaker 2: find out exactly what is going on with these different 143 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 2: with these different training exercises and for us, I think 144 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,160 Speaker 2: as a community to find out a little bit more 145 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 2: about the work that is happening around the place.