Page 13 - May 2019

Feature Story
LIGHTNINGS

OVER

DELAMERE

One of Australia’s greatest but least of the Delamere range is that it’s also
known military assets is the Delamere fully instrumented, which enhances
weapons range in the Northern Territory. range safety during missions. The
It’s a large range located around 120 instrumented range means that
kilometres south of Katherine and RAAF bombing can be monitored for accuracy
Base Tindal. As the main air weapons and effectiveness against a variety of
range used by the RAAF, and with little targets, and post-attack analysis can
or no civilian presence nearby, it’s the be done in high fidelity to consider how
ideal playground for fighter pilots flying to improve tactical capability.
fast jets who want to ‘feel the need In addition, simulated threats can be
for speed’ and practice dropping live exercised. For example, the fire control
ordnance. radar emissions of various adversary
Delamere is not just used by the fixed and mobile ground-based air
RAAF but is open to Australia’s close defence systems can be simulated,
allies. And it’s not just a place for fast increasing the realism of training. This
jets, but is also visited by heavy bomber obviously has benefits for operational
platforms from the US Air Force like the experience, as well as allowing planned
B-52 and the B-1B. It plays a vital role in missions to be practised before they’re
airpower exercises such as the biennial flown. Testing models of systems in a
Pitch Black and Arnhem Thunder. real-world environment also contributes
Its use should be significantly to greater understanding of red-force
expanded as the F-35 Lightning comes capability.
Delamere remains a well-kept
into service with the RAAF and allied defence secret, and one wonders if
air forces. this is deliberately so. It will take federal
The facility was described by a government leadership to grasp the
RAAF range safety officer: alliance and regional security value that
The absence of human settlement will come from making these training
over a vast area means that live facilities the hub of Asia–Pacific F-35
ordnance—like freefall and guided operational excellence. We should grab
bombs, aircraft cannon and rocket this opportunity.
pods—can be used, including against With that in mind, how do we make
fake townships (known as ‘Tac Town’ better use of facilities like Delamere?
and made up of shipping containers). The introduction of the F-35A
USAF bomber crews can train under Lightning II joint strike fighter into
realistic conditions; the missions they’ve RAAF service from late 2018, with full
conducted have included flying non- operational capability of all 72 aircraft
stop from Guam to strike at targets in due by 2024, adds a new opportunity
Delamere, and then returning to base, for developing Delamere for greater
with in-flight refuelling en route both cooperative training with key allies in the
ways. Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
One of the most important aspects Practising similar and dissimilar

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