“Defence News” – a new oxymoron / Wedgetail’s 50-day flight from Middle East

On 29 October 2020, Defence published the story below stating that a RAAF “E-7A Wedgetail and support personnel have [present tense] returned to Australia” from the Middle East.

Without including a specific date in the story, anyone not paying attention to the ‘news’ over the long term would surely have to assume that the return happened today or yesterday or at the very least some time in the very recent past – especially since the story is the latest addition to the “Defence News” web page (which is updated every business day).

The only way CONTACT knows that this “news” is not recent is because of three other stories we know of that either hint at or outright say the last Wedgetail departed the Middle East on 9 September – 50 days ago!!!

“News” by definition is “newly received or noteworthy information, especially about recent events”.

The return of a very expensive asset and support staff – especially the last rotation of same – most certainly constitutes ‘a noteworthy event’ and is therefore ‘news’.

The return of the asset and people is not a secret – Defence Minister Reynolds flagged an imminent departure on 9 September in a press release.

A KC-30A that departed the Middle East at the same time as the Wedgetail [our presumption, based on the minister’s press release], arrived at RAAF Base Amberley on 25 September (34 days ago), after completing 14 days quarantine overseas.

Defence even referred to the Wedgetail in a story about nose-art artists published on 29 September, saying it had “recently returned from Operation Okra in the Middle East”.

So, today’s story (below) makes a mockery of the word and the concept of “news” – completely useless in the context of ‘history’ – and only worthy of republication here as a fountain of ridicule 😉

It also redefines the term “Defence News” as an oxymoron, right up there with military intelligence.

 

Agile and excellent: Wedgetail back home

Story published by “Defence News” on 29 October 2020

[Royal Australian*] Air Force E-7A Wedgetail aircraft and support personnel have returned to Australia following a successful year-long deployment.

FILE PHOTO (2017): An E-7A Wedgetail at Australia’s main air operating base in the Middle East. Photo by Corporal David Cotton.

The aircraft has been operating in the Middle East region (MER) with Australia’s Air Task Group 630, performing airborne command and control as part of Operation Okra.

Operation Okra is the Australian Defence Force’s contribution to the United States-led global Coalition to combat the Daesh terrorist threat in Iraq.

Australia’s support to Iraq comes at the request of the Iraqi Government and is closely coordinated with a coalition of international partners.

Over the course of the operational commitment, all six No. 2 Squadron E-7A Wedgetail’s have been rotated in to supporting operations in the MER since the commencement of operations in September 2014. The support has been significant with more than 550 missions flown over the period – equating to over 6900 flying hours.

Officer Commanding No. 42 Wing Group Captain Hinton Tayloe said the E-7A Wedgetail’s contribution was vital.

“Fundamentally, the E-7A Wedgetail was a ‘legitimate force enabler’ – enabling coalition forces to shape their activities,” Group Captain Tayloe said.

“It was through the RAAF E-7A’s consistent delivery and known reliability that it achieved a reputation for delivering timely support with precision when called upon.”

During operations, the RAAF E-7A Wedgetail was responsible for the command and control of all coalition aircraft in a battle management area (BMA) and crews regularly managed more than 80 combat aircraft at once while in the BMA.

Another significant milestone in the life of the platform was also achieved during operations with a mission sortie of 17.3 hours flown – the longest flight recorded from a Boeing 737 airframe.

Upon reflection, No. 2 Squadron’s success was in part, achieved as result of the ability to overcome challenges in the operational environment. Of note, personnel and aircraft relocated bases twice during operations in the MER; a significant logistic and operational challenge – however capability was maintained throughout the transition period.

The ability to perform with excellence, consistently achieving a high rate of serviceability under diverse, demanding and complex conditions was a direct result of professionalism and dedication to duty.

Commander Surveillance and Response Group Air Commodore Barbara Courtney was proud of the squadron’s contribution to joint force.

“2SQN’s consistent and unwavering support to Air Task Group 630 was achieved as a result of all categories of personnel combining to create a cohesive and agile ‘team projecting force’ for the operational commander,” Air Commodore Courtney said.

“The ability of the E-7A to integrate and perform with excellence in support of coalition forces demonstrates that Air Force has an advanced, highly capable airborne early warning and control platform with quality people underpinning it, the envy of armed forces worldwide.”

2020 also marks the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the E-7A Wedgetail into RAAF service. A culture of excellence has been the key to decade-long operational effectiveness of Air Force’s highly advanced airborne early warning and control capability, represented through No. 2 Squadron’s achievements in the MER as part of the joint force.

Based on a Boeing 737-700, the E-7A Wedgetail combines long-range surveillance radar, secondary radar, passive detection surveillance receivers and tactical/strategic voice and data communications systems. This provides the ADF with its ability to survey, command, control and coordinate a joint air, sea and land battle in real time.

 

*EDITOR’S NOTE: It seems our accusation that RAAF is trying to drop Royal Australian from its name may not be false after all.

 

 

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Another comment from resident crankyman Sir Jeffrey Armiger – a retired Public Servant with a pet hate for BE (bovine excrement).

 

Follow Sir Jeffrey on Facebook here
or view his previous diatribes here.

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