Australia's Super Hornets Launching on Their 1st Overseas Mission

[Someoneforyou]

Australia's Super Hornets Launching on Their 1st Overseas Mission
9 may 2011

F/A-18F Super Hornets soared through the Malaysian skies today on their first mission during Exercise Bersama Shield 2011.

The Super Hornets, also known as Rhinos, have commenced the Force Integration Training phase which sees the aircrew practice basic fighter manoeuvres alongside military aircraft from the Malaysian and Singaporean defence forces.

Six of the Rhinos from No 1 Squadron touched down at the Royal Malaysian Air Force Base in Butterworth on Friday 29 April to participate in their first overseas deployment since delivery of the multi-role fighter jets in March last year.

Commanding Officer No 1 Squadron, Wing Commander Glen Braz, said this is a significant milestone for the ADF and more specifically the Super Hornet capability, especially as we recognise 40 years of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) this year.

"Participating in Exercise Bersama Shield provides our air and ground crews, as well as support staff, the valuable opportunity to train alongside our regional partners.

"This level of training also aims to enhance and further develop air combat capability and high-end warfighting skills in a complex mutli-national environment."

The Super Hornets are now participating in the Force Integration Training exercise phase before launching into the Live Exercise phase between 10 - 13 May.

"The inclusion of the highly capable, multi-role Super Hornet in Bersama Shield is another example of the technological evolution and enhanced support Australia provides to the region," Wing Commander Braz said.

"This exercise also provides the vital opportunity to train alongside our regional partners, as well as the planning and execution of new tactics and procedures for combined air operations with the FPDA nations."

The Australian contribution for Bersama Shield is spearheaded by the Super Hornets, along with the Navy's Collins class submarine HMAS Dechaineux and two Anzac class guided missile frigates, HMA Ships Ballarat and Parramatta.

Commander of the Australian Contingent for the exercise, Wing Commander Ken Robinson, said the aim of Bersama Shield is to cultivate regional ties and seeks to enhance Australia's interoperability with the armed forces of Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom and strengthen the professional relationships between those nation's forces.

"Australia's membership of FPDA is a strong affirmation of our commitment to regional security," he said.

"It provides Australia with a strategically important presence in Southeast Asia, augmenting our bilateral engagement activities and helping to promote greater levels of interoperability in the region."

Bersama Shield is an annual field training exercise hosted by HQ Integrated Area Defence System (HQIADS) on the Malaysian peninsula and the South China Sea. It is a tactical exercise focused on providing quality training in integrated air defence, air operations and maritime operations.

Opportunities for the five nations to work closely together are undertaken during other FPDA activities, including Bersama Lima, Bersama Padu, Suman Protector and Suman Warrior.

Training in exercises such as Bersama Shield 2011 is important for Air Force personnel to hone key skills, work as a combined force and build regional relationships with participating nations.

Exercise Bersama Shield 11 represents the first overseas deployment for the F/A-18F Super Hornets and brings the project another step closer to declaring Final Operational Capability anticipated in 2012.

Exercise Bersama Shield concludes on 13 May 2011.

Source: MoD Australia

 

[Someoneforyou]

F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

Both the Super Hornet single seat E and two-seat F models convert quickly from one mission type to the next with the flip of a switch to provide consistent air dominance:

*Day/night strikes with precision-guided weapons
*Anti-air warfare
*Fighter escort
*Close air support
*Suppression of enemy air defense
*Maritime strike
*Reconnaissance
*Forward air control
*Tanker
*Payload Flexibility

The Super Hornet's versatility applies to its weapon stations and payload types:

*11 weapon stations
*Supports a full complement of smart weapons, including laser-guided bombs
*Carries a full spectrum mix of air-to-air and air-to-ground ordnance

The Super Hornet is powered by two General Electric F414-GE-400 engines:

*Distinctive caret-shaped inlet to provide increased airflow and reduced
radar signature
*22,000 pounds (98 Kn) of thrust per engine, 44,000 pounds (196 Kn) per
aircraft

Flight qualities:

*Highly departure resistant through its operational flight envelope.
*Unlimited angle-of-attack and carefree flying qualities for highly effective
combat capability and ease of training.
*Reconfigurable digital flight-control system detects and corrects for battle
damage.
*Upgradeability
*Long-term designed in versatility ensures the Super Hornet's investment
value.

Current upgrades delivered in the Block Two configuration include:

*Active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar
*Advanced targeting forward-looking infrared (ATFLIR) system
*Joint-helmet mounted cueing system (JHMCS)
*Multifunctional information distribution system (MIDS)
*Advanced aft crew station
*Fibre channel switch for increased data processing capability
*Fully integrated weapons systems and sensors for reduced crew workload
and increased capability.

 

[Someoneforyou]

Exercise Bersama Shield 2011

Exercise Bersama Shield 2011 is an annual Five Powers Defence Arrangement (FPDA) exercise to conduct combined and joint operations in a multi-threat limited conflict scenario.

Bersama Shield 2011 aims to cultivate regional ties and seeks to enhance Australia's interoperability with the defence forces of the other FPDA member countries, being Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

Bersama Shield 11 aims to enhance the interoperability of the combined air, ground and naval forces of the FPDA countries to enhance regional security including the defence of Singapore and Malaysia,

Bersama Shield 2011 will be conducted between 2 – 13 May in the South China Sea and on the Malaysian Peninsula.

The exercise scenario challenges the Australian Defence Force (ADF) assets and the other FPDA member countries to apply escalating levels of force in accordance with international law to defend the Malaysia/Singapore Peninsula.

This annual joint training activity is designed to exercise FPDA nations' armies, navies and air forces in the conduct of combined and joint operations at an operational and / or tactical level to enhance regional security.
Bersama Shield 2011 develops and validates the doctrine and procedures for interoperability among FPDA nations' armies, navies and air forces in a combined and joint scenario.

The FPDA represents 40 years of successful co-operation between the participating nations. Exercises such as Bersama Shield 2011 continue to reinforce the relevance of this long-term relationship to the regional strategic environment.

The FPDA was founded 40-years ago to develop the defensive capacity of Singapore and Malaysia as a means to strengthen regional security.

Bersama Shield 2011

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is participating in the exercise as one of the founding members of the FPDA security initiative, which marks its 40th anniversary this year.
Australia's involvement in FPDA exercises provides an important connect to some of the leading powers in our region.

Training exercises such as Bersama Shield 2011 are important for our people to obtain key skills, work as a combined force and build relationships with the FPDA nations.

Australia and other contributing nations share common interest in the security and stability of the region.
The Australian Government has reaffirmed, through the 2009 Defence White Paper, its deep commitment to engagement with South East Asia and the Pacific.
In South East Asia, Defence cooperation will continue to focus on supporting the development of regional military capacity in areas such as counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and peacekeeping.

Australian Defence Force Contribution

The ADF contribution to the exercise includes six F/A-18F Super Hornets from Number 1 Squadron, HMA Ships Ballarat and Parramatta, and the Collins class submarine, HMAS Dechaineux.

Exercise Bersama Shield 2011 represents the first overseas deployment for the F/A-18F Super Hornets and brings the project another step closer to declaring Final Operational Capability anticipated in 2012.

The Australian contingent includes support personnel from 324 Combat Support Squadron and augmentees from Navy, Army and Air Force. More than 800 ADF personnel are involved in Exercise Bersama Shield 2011.

Source: MoD Australia