Page 52 - AAPT March 2019

In Brief
RAAF demonstrates Executive Officer No. 35 Squadron, Lockheed Martin received

on the comments made by SGT Goggin: $31M for sustainment
airlift capability with Squadron Leader Mark Seery, expanded
disaster relief support "The C-27J Spartan is an agile aircraft services for Australian
that can land in austere airfields and
The Royal Australian Air Force’s C-27J along dirt strips enabling the quick F-35s
Spartans have come to the rescue, insertion of supplies to areas that need The U.S. Department of Defense has
providing humanitarian aid and disaster it most, and would have otherwise been announced that Lockheed Martin
relief to flood affected Queensland. inaccessible for larger aircraft or via has been awarded $31 million for
No. 35 Squadron C-27J Spartan road transport."
aircraft and personnel from Amberley The Squadron worked closely with sustainment services for Royal
Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-35
have responded swiftly to deliver C-17A Globemasters to move more Lightning II aircraft.
personnel and urgent fuel stocks to Mt supplies to those affected by the floods. According to a statement, Lockheed
Isa and western Queensland in support Australia's first Spartan arrived in Martin is awarded $31,3 million for
of flood relief efforts. 2015 and is currently based at RAAF modification P00044 to a previously
The first two flights to western Base Richmond, operated by No. 35
Queensland on 9 February were the first Squadron. The Squadron will relocate to awarded cost-plus-incentive fee,
cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00019-
flights of the year for the Squadron and RAAF Base Amberley once permanent 16-C-0004) for sustainment services
marked the start of flying operations two facilities are completed this year. Initial for F-35 Lightning II low-rate initial
days earlier than had been scheduled operational capability (IOC) for the production Lot X aircraft for the
from their new base at Amberley. Spartan was declared in late 2016. government of Australia.
Loadmaster Sergeant Jay Goggin The C-27J Spartan Battlefield
Also noted that work will be
said two RAAF C-27J Spartan aircraft Airlifter complements the ADF's existing performed in Williamtown, Australia,
and crew worked with Australian Army air mobility fleet. Its capabilities bridge and is expected to be completed in
personnel from 9th Force Support the gap between Army helicopters, such January 2021.
Battalion to load drum fabric collapsible as the CH-47F Chinook, and larger The F-35A Joint Strike Fighter is the
bladders containing 1895 litres of urgent Air Force aircraft, such as the C-130J Australian Defence Force’s first fifth-
fuel stocks. Hercules and C-17A Globemaster III. generation air combat capability. It is a
"These fuel bladders were delivered The Spartans provide airlift of
to the isolated areas of Richmond and people, equipment and supplies in highly advanced multi-role, supersonic,
stealth fighter which will meet Australia’s
Julia Creek for local civilian helicopters Australia and our region. It can operate requirements to defeat current and
dropping fodder and hay to farmers and from unsurfaced airstrips, and support emerging threats.
livestock devastated by the extreme humanitarian missions in remote The F-35A is at the forefront of
weather conditions," SGT Goggin said. locations.
air combat technology. Its advanced
sensors and data fusion allows it to
gather more information and share
it with other Air Force aircraft, Navy
ships and Army units quicker than ever
before. This will greatly enhance the
Australian Defence Force’s situational
awareness and combat effectiveness. In
addition, to greatly enhanced situational
awareness, the F-35A provides its
pilots with significantly higher levels of
lethality and survivability in combat.
The Australian Government
has approved the acquisition of 72
Conventional Take-Off and Landing
F-35A aircraft to replace the ageing
F/A-18A/B Hornet fleet.
The first F-35A aircraft was accepted
into Australian service in 2018 and the
first squadron, Number 3 Squadron, will
be operational in 2021. All 72 aircraft
A C-27J Spartan from No.35 Squadron is loaded with fuel drums at RAAF Base are expected to be fully operational by
Townsville, bound for Normanton, far north Queensland, to assist in flood relief efforts. 2023.
Photo SGT Andrew Eddie.

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