Page 37 - May 2019

Defence
Cocos runway to be widened as Defence

looks north

Defence is moving ahead on plans to remains subject to government and endurance of the Triton would represent
upgrade the Cocos/Keeling Islands Parliamentary approval. a significant step-up in Defence’s ability
airport to support P8-A Poseidons, RAAF regularly operated AP-3C to conduct maritime patrol missions
a move that would allow the aircraft Orion maritime patrol aircraft from over virtually the entire Indian Ocean,
to patrol significant stretches of the Cocos Island, which have a wingspan which is seeing an increase in Chinese
northern Indian Ocean. of 30.8 metres and a maximum weight naval activity in recent years.
An industry information session was of 61,200 kg. The Poseidons, however, However, the Triton’s significant
held in Perth outlining the works required are significantly wider (37.6 metres) wingspan makes the fuel stored within
to allow the airport to accommodate the and heavier (85,820 kg), necessitating vulnerable to the tropical heat, meaning
aircraft. This includes runway, taxiway runway expansion and pavement operations would likely require a sun
and apron strengthening, widening, strengthening. shelter in addition to permanent facilities
airfield ground lighting refurbishment, A wider runway might open the for the launch and recovery crew.
and ‘various compliance works’ under possibility of deploying the new MQ-4C Defence’s response to ADM suggests
Project 8129. Triton unmanned maritime patrol aircraft this is not planned under Project 8219.
The $100-$200 million project, noted to Cocos Island, which have a similar “The upgrade will not include new
in the 2016 Defence White Paper, wingspan to Poseidons. The far greater buildings or shelters,” a spokesperson
said. “The length of the runway will
remain at 2,441 metres. The shoulder
will increase from 3.5 to 7.5 metres.”
Defence also said that no P8-A
support personnel would be permanently
based at the airport, but did not mention
staff for other aircraft (such as the
M-55A Peregrine EW planes).
“The existing supporting
infrastructure at the airport is currently
sufficient to support P-8A Poseidon
operations,” the spokesperson said.
“There will not be any P-8A Poseidon
aircraft permanently based at Cocos
Island, therefore there is no requirement
to base P-8A Poseidon support staff
there permanently.”
The move supports the operational
role of the two aircraft, with the Triton
acting as loitering surveillance and the
P-8A as the response asset.
An improved airstrip on Cocos Island
will also allow Australian P-8As (and
possibly M-55As) to patrol much closer
to India’s area of interest. Canberra
has been seeking to improve defence
relations with New Delhi through
participation in multilateral military
exercises such as AUSINDEX and
Pitch Black, deployments like Indo-
Pacific Endeavour, and high-level
political visits. New Delhi, however, has
repeatedly denied Australian requests
to participate in Exercise Malabar, which

A wider runway might open the possibility of deploying the new MQ-4C Triton it holds alongside the US and Japan, for
unmanned maritime patrol aircraft to Cocos Island. Northrop Grumman image. fear of provoking China.
Courtesy Australian Defence

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