Exercising Australia's freedom of navigation, the Royal Australian Air Force successfully completed maritime surveillance missions in the Indo-Pacific region under the first iteration of regional presence deployments for 2025.
Aviators onboard 11 Squadron's P-8A Poseidon aircraft conducted maritime domain awareness operations alongside the Royal Australian Navy destroyer HMAS Hobart in the South China Sea, supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
The P-8A Poseidon is Australia's proven multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft, generating effects in anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, maritime and overland intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and search and rescue.
RAAF Deputy Detachment Commander Flight Lieutenant Johnathan Logan said the deployment of the 11 Squadron aircraft supported Australia's coordinated and near-continuous presence in the region.
"The P-8A Poseidon employs specific capabilities and mission systems that make it invaluable when conducting maritime patrols both unilaterally and when operating as a joint force," Flight Lieutenant Logan said.
'Participating in these activities is a powerful reminder of our ability to project integrated power in pursuit of a stable and secure region.'
Australia routinely operates within the region, and often alongside allied and partner nations.
"With regional presence deployments, we are often provided the opportunity to participate in multilateral activities with partners operating in the region, further enhancing our interoperability," Flight Lieutenant Logan said.
An earlier opportunity in the region involved the P-8A Poseidon, Hobart, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ship Akizuki, Philippine Navy ship BRP Jose Rizal, and United States Navy ship USS Benfold participating in a multilateral maritime cooperative activity within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone under Hobart's Regional Presence Deployment 25-1.
"For our deployed crew, participating in these activities is a powerful reminder of our ability to project integrated power in pursuit of a stable and secure region," Flight Lieutenant Logan said.
These Defence activities form part of Australia's longstanding contribution to regional security and stability, while enhancing maritime security and upholding international law and ensuring readiness to respond to shared security challenges.
