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Operation Solania

US Army personnel on the ramp of a RAAF C-27J Spartan overlook Kwajalein Atoll. Story by Flight Lieutenant Glen Paul. Photos by Sherman Hogue.
News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Videos 

RAAF Spartan supports fisheries patrol in Marshall Islands

28/03/202529/03/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1737 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, Operation Rai Balang, Operation Solania

A Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan and its crew have played a key role in the Pacific Islands Forum

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From left, Warrant Officer Steven Burrows, Leading Aircraftman Kurt Lewis and Sergeant Ben Richardson prepare to take photos of marine traffic during a ramp ride on board a C-27J Spartan during Operation Kuru Kuru, Fiji. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Kurt Lewis.
News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force 

On the lookout for fishy business

12/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 846 Views 0 Comments 35 Squadron, C-27J Spartan, Operation Kuru Kuru, Operation Solania, Republic of Fiji Navy

A RAAF C-27J Spartan, its crew and support personnel from 35 Squadron recently deployed to Suva, Fiji, to support maritime

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Air Force C-27J Spartan aircraft from No. 35 Squadron, takes off from Port Moresby International Airport, Papua New Guinea, during Operation Island Chief 2024. Story by Captain Peter Nugent. Photos by Corporal Emma Schwenke.
News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force 

On watch for illegal fishing

12/09/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 950 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, No. 35 Squadron, Operation Island Chief, Operation Solania, PNGDF

As the C-27J Spartan soared skyward from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, with fully laden fuel tanks, ahead awaited hours

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Loadmaster Corporal Mitchell Hordern of 35 Squadron photographs vessels out of a RAAF C-27J Spartan during Operation Solania. Story by Captain Peter Nugent. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Maddison Scott.
News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force 

Trained eyes scan the big blue

24/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1482 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, Forum Fisheries Agency, No. 35 Squadron, Operation Solania

The mission of those deployed on Operation Solania could be compared to looking for a needle in a haystack. CAPTION: Loadmaster

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Loadmaster Corporal Mitchell Hordern, of 35 Squadron, during Operation Solania in Honiara, the Solomon Islands. Story by Captain Peter Nugent. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Maddison Scott.
ADF People 

Whirlwind start to loadmaster career

16/11/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 979 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, No. 35 Squadron, Operation Solania, RAAF Amberley, Solomon Islands

Since becoming a loadmaster with 35 Squadron, Corporal Mitchell Hordern’s feet have hardly touched the ground. CAPTION: Loadmaster Corporal Mitchell Hordern,

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ADF guests watch watched the Nauti and Fetuvalu culture group perform at the Taulaga school games opening ceremony at the Nauti primary school in Tuvalu. Story and photos by Corporal Melina Young.
ADF People 

Hope and joy in spiritual connections

01/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1299 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, Operation Solania, Tuvalu

When Australian Army Chaplain Cameron West heard he was deploying to Tuvalu, he researched the country, but that could only

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RAAF loadmasters Flight Sergeant Andrew Coates (left) and Sergeant Daniel Saunders, along with local news reporters, enjoys the views of the Port Vila coastline from the ramp of the C-27J Spartan aircraft during a maritime surveillance flight out of Port Vila, Vanuatu. Story buy Lieutenant Nic Hawkins. Photos by Sergeant David Cotton.
News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Videos 

Maintaining fisheries patrols in Vanuatu

30/08/202331/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2314 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, No. 35 Squadron, Operation Solania, Vanuatu

RAAF’s 35 Squadron is frequently deployed for extended periods across the Indo-Pacific due to the endurance of its C-27J Spartan

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A Royal Australian Air Force KA350 King Air conducts maritime surveillance over Tuvalu during Operation Solania 23-3. Story by Corporal Melina Young. Photo by Corporal Melina Young.
News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force 

Hunting for fish pirates

29/08/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1646 Views 0 Comments KA350 King Air, Operation Solania, Tuvalu

Funafuti Tower on the tiny Polynesian Island of Tuvalu clears the runway for a RAAF KA350 King Air to depart.

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Loadmaster Flight Sergeant Christian Allison of 35 Squadron teaches Samoan police officer Constable Fetuao Nuuvali how to use the camera during Operation Solania. Photos by Leading Aircraftman Chris Tsakisiris.
News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force 

Fishy business caught out in the Pacific

07/06/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1565 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, Operation Solania

A Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan has conducted maritime surveillance during Operation Solania to detect and deter illegal fishing

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RAN Chaplain Simote Finau addresses students of the Kolisi Tonga College, during Operation Solania. Story by Flight Lieutenant Glen Paul. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Chris Tsakisiris.
ADF People 

Chaplain values a Tongan homecoming

02/06/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 1756 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, Operation Solania, Samoa, Tonga

In a reunion that bridged generations, Royal Australia Navy Officer Chaplain Simote Finau recently returned to his childhood school in

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RAAF Flight Lieutenant Jayden Hasemann, left, and Leading Aircraftman Jack Atkins play basketball with students at Sokehs Roie Soledi Peidie Elementary School. Story by Flight Lieutenant Dee Irwin. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Sam Price.
ADF News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force 

Aviators join in the fun at Micronesian school

18/11/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2238 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, Chaplains, Micronesia, Operation Solania

In between flying aerial maritime surveillance sorties, Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel deployed on Operation Solania 22-4 have engaged with local

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Flight Lieutenant Jayden Hasemann, from 35 Squadron, at Pohnpei International Airport, Micronesia. Story by Flight Lieutenant Dee Irwin. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Sam Price.
ADF People 

Enlightening first overseas deployment

08/11/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1561 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, No. 35 Squadron, Operation Solania

Flight Lieutenant Jayden Hasemann, an engineer from 35 Squadron, recently found himself deployed on operation almost 4000 kilometres from home. CAPTION:

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Commanding Officer HMAS Ararat Lieutenant Commander David Martinussen watches RFNS Savenaca complete a replenishment-at-sea approach during a combined patrol on Operation Solania 2022.
News Pacific Royal Australian Navy 

Sailors build friendships at sea and on land

24/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2217 Views 0 Comments Armidale-class patrol boat, Guardian-class Patrol Boat, HMAS Ararat, Operation Solania, Republic of Fiji Military Forces

HMAS Ararat earlier this month completed a joint maritime patrol with Republic of Fiji Navy (RFN) Guardian-class patrol boat RFNS Savenaca. Ararat

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A memorial wreath is cast from HMAS Ararat’s quarterdeck over the final resting place of HMAS Canberra 1 near Savo Island, Solomon Islands.
History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Navy 

Deployment offers opportunity to remember lost WW2 ship

22/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1376 Views 0 Comments HMAS Ararat, HMAS Canberra (I), Operation Solania, Solomon Islands

The crew of HMAS Ararat took the opportunity while deployed in the south-west Pacific on Operation Solania to hold a

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Royal Austrailan Air Force pilot Flight Lieutenant Riley Forde arrives in Honiara, Solomon Islands on a KA350 King Air, on 7 May 2022, for Operation SOLANIA: Story and photo by Corporal Julia Whitwell.
News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force 

King Air conducts air patrols in the Pacific

08/06/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2083 Views 0 Comments KA350 King Air, Operation Solania, Solomon Islands

A Royal Australian Air Force KA350 King Air and three pilots arrived in Honiara, Solomon Islands in early May, in

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Palau's new Guardian-class patrol boat PSS President HI Remeliik II sails from its home port to commence maritime patrols as part of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency’s Operation Rai Balang. Story by Flying Officer Lily Lancaster. Photo by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel.
ADF News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Videos 

Palau’s patrol boat supports Pacific priorities

11/04/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2279 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, Operation Solania, Pacific Class Patrol Boat, Pacific Maritime Security Program, Palau

The Australia Defence Force is working closely with the Pacific nation of Palau to enable it to patrol its vast

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Air Force loadmaster Corporal Antonia Guterres stands on the tarmac in Palau by the C-27J Spartan aircraft she worked on during Operation Solania. Story by Flying Officer Lily Lancaster. Photo by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel.
ADF People 

Loadmaster paving the way

10/04/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1970 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, No. 35 Squadron, Operation Bushfire Assist, Operation Solania

When Corporal Antonia Guterres first entered her unit, there were no other females working there in her trade, but she

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Air Force pilot Flight Lieutenant Andrew Burgess flies a C-27J Spartan during a maritime surveillance flight off Palau as part of Operation Solania. Story by Flying Officer Lily Lancaster. Photo by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel.
ADF People 

Spartan captain living his dream

10/04/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1458 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, No. 35 Squadron, Operation Solania

Evacuating koalas from bushfires and dropping supplies to flood victims are just part of Flight Lieutenant Andrew Burgess’ role as

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Australian Army pastor Chaplain Stephen Copland joins local parishioners outside Our Lady of Rosary Church in Angaur, Palau. Story by Flying Officer Lily Lancaster. Photo by Corporal David Cotton.
ADF People 

Palau pastoral care brings rewards

25/03/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2221 Views 0 Comments Chaplains, Operation Solania, Palau

When Army pastor Chaplain Stephen Copland heard several remote islands in Palau had no religious services for months, he jumped at

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A RAAForce aviator plays soccer with Palau high school students during a community engagement activity as part of Operation Solania. Story by Flying Officer Lily Lancaster. Photo by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel.
News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy Videos 

Engaging with schools on Palau

25/03/202229/03/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1690 Views 0 Comments C-27J Spartan, No. 35 Squadron, Operation Solania, Palau

It was back to high school for Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel recently deployed to Palau. CAPTION: A RAAF aviator

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