Page 52 - Defence Industry Guide #55

52 AIRPOWER
ADM’s Defence Industry Guide 2022 | Edition 55 | www.defencesuppliers.com.au
AIR FORCE’S ISREW SPECIALISTS
The RAAF’s No. 10 Squadron plays a significant part in maintaining Australia’s knowledge edge, providing the only airborne ISREW capability in the whole of the ADF.
ROYA GHODSI | SYDNEY
BASED at Edinburgh in South Australia, 10 Sqn operates two Lockheed AP-3C(EW) Orion aircraft, the oldest cur- rently serving operational aircraft in the RAAF, albeit with modern mission systems.
The RAAF has been flying the P-3 for more than half of its 100 years, since 1968; with the fleet receiving a number of modifications and upgrades over its service history. 10 Sqn is the last P-3 squadron remaining and continues to make a significant contribution alongside the new suite of technologies, platforms and systems that are being intro- duced into RAAF service.
Even as platforms and technologies evolve, the unit con- tinues to be recognised for the outstanding outcomes it de- livers to the joint force. This year it was awarded the Duke of Gloucester Cup by the Chief of Air Force for the Most Profi- cient Flying Unit in 2020 – the third time it has received the award since the award’s inception in 1947.
“To get the award in the last few years of the life of a capabil- ity, when there are all these shiny new platforms around, says a lot about what the squadron does, how it goes about its busi- ness, and the high regard in which it is held,” 10 Sqn’s Com- manding Officer Wing Commander Marija Jovanovich said.
Adamant that credit should go where credit is due, she added; “This award was for exceptional performance in 2020. While I was at the squadron and deployed on opera- tions with the team, I was not the Commanding Officer. That honour belonged to WGCDR Colin Smith; it was un- der his leadership that 10 Sqn distinguished itself above others to win the Duke of Gloucester Cup.
“When I took command of 10 Sqn in December 2020, I took over the best flying unit in the Royal Australian Air Force. We of course continue to go from strength to strength.”
A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE
Prior to assuming command of 10 Sqn, WGCDR Jovanovich had a long and distinguished career as an operational and experimental test pilot.
Upon completing pilot training in 2006, she flew the AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft for four and a
ABOVE: 10 Sqn is based at RAAF Edinburgh in SA and currently operates two Lockheed AP-3C(EW) Orion aircraft in the ISREW role