Intell, recon/ Training

Question 1

What are the Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft?

Answer 1

• E-7A Wedgetail
• P-8A Poseidon
• AP-3C orion
• MQ-4C Triton unmanned Aircraft system

Question 2

What are the aviation training aircrafts?

Answer 2

• Hawk 127
• PC-21
• PC-9/A

Question 3

What are the aircraft categories?

Answer 3

• air combat
• air mobility
• Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
• Aviation training

Question 4

Specifications of P-8A

Answer 4

• Poseidon
• Committed to acquiring 15 P-8A Poseidon aircraft (12 committed to acquisition)
• remaining 11 will be delivered by March 2023
• Based at RAAF Base Edinburgh
• future maritime patrol and response strategy
• P-8A aircraft and MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) will replace the AP-3C Orions (2018-19)

Question 5

Specifications of E-7A

Answer 5

• Wedgetail
• Fleet of 6
• Based at RAAF Base Williamtown
• based on a Boeing 737-700
• capable of communicating with other aircraft and providing air control from the sky
• Exercise Bersama Lima
• Cope North, Red Flag
• Pitch Black
• currently deployed on Operation OKRA

Question 6

Specifications of AP-3C

Answer 6

• Orion
• Based at RAAF Base Edinburgh
• capable of:
  
  • land and maritime surveillance
  • anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare
  • naval fleet support, and
  • search and rescue operations.
• ceased 10 years of operational service in the Middle East in 2012
• retirement, planned withdrawal in 2023
• replaced by P-8Aand MQ-4C for long-range maritime patrol

Question 7

Exercises AP-3C has been involved in

Answer 7

• primary Australian aircraft used in the search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370.
• currently deployed on:
  
  • Resolute
  • Gateway
  • Solania
    providing Border Protection and Fisheries patrols within South East Asia and Pacific regions

Question 8

Specifications of Triton Unmanned Aircraft System

Answer 8

• 7 based at Edinburgh
• Flown by qualified Air Force pilots from a ground station, supported by a co-pilot
• is a high altitude long endurance (HALE) aircraft that will be used for maritime patrol and other surveillance roles.
• endurance of the Triton means that it can stay airborne for longer than a traditional aircraft

Question 9

Specifications of Pilatus PC-21

Answer 9

• will be based at RAAF Base East Sale in Victoria and RAAF Base Pearce in Western Australia
• world’s most advanced pilot training aircraft
• part of the AIR 5428 Pilot Training System project
• will replace Air Force’s current PC-9/A

Question 10

Specifications of Hawk 127

Answer 10

• Number 76 Squadron at Williamtown
• Number 79 Squadron at Pearce
• prepares qualified Air Force pilots for conversion to F/A-18A and F/A-18B Hornets and F/A-18F Super Hornets
• Pilots complete a 14-week Introductory Fighter Course at Pearce with then a 20 week course at Williamtown for air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons training
• Students attend major exercises such as Exercise Pitch Black in the Northern Territory as part of their training

Question 11

Specifications of PC-9/A

Answer 11

• based at East Sale used to teach qualified RAAF pilots to become flying instructors
• Based at RAAF Base Williamtown; four modified PC-9/A are used to train ADF Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (formerly forward air controllers) who coordinate air support to troops on the ground.
• During number 2 Flying Training School they fly 130 hours in the PC-9/A at RAAF Base Pearce