RNZAF sends Orion to Middle East

Two sad but proud boys see daddy off to war before school at RNZAF Base Whenuapai.
Two sad but proud boys see daddy off to war before school.

The New Zealand Defence Force sent a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion surveillance aircraft this morning to the Middle East to join an international partnership against piracy and people and drug trafficking.

Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies, Chief of Air Force, farewelled mission commander Wing Commander Daniel Hunt and the air crew at RNZAF Base Auckland.

Most of the members of a 55-strong NZDF supporting contingent left earlier this week.

The NZDF team will help patrol 3.2 million square miles of international waters in the Middle East to support the US-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) over the next 12 months.

“The contingent is looking forward to working with our CMF partners to keep the seas safe in the Middle East,” Wing Commander Hunt said.

The CMF is a 31-nation naval partnership that promotes maritime security and seeks to defeat terrorism and prevent piracy and people and drug trafficking.

Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies farewells Wing Commander Daniel Hunt at RNZAF Base Whenuapai.
Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies farewells Wing Commander Daniel Hunt at RNZAF Base Whenuapai.

.

.

.

weapons_subs

 

.

.


.

.


.


.


.

10687 Total Views 2 Views Today

Posted by Brian Hartigan

Managing Editor Contact Publishing Pty Ltd PO Box 3091 Minnamurra NSW 2533 AUSTRALIA

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *