Some of Navy's most lethal assets have joined ASWEX, the largest Australian task group exercise in more than a decade, off the West Australian coast.
Four of Navy's most advanced multi-mission MH-60R helicopters are supporting six warships, and RAAF and RNZAF Poseidon P-8 aircraft, to hunt Australian submarines hidden beneath the waves of the eastern Indian Ocean in Navy's top annual task group exercise.
One of the six warships joining the exercise straight from a three-month regional presence deployment is HMAS Hobart, a guided missile destroyer, with its helicopter, call sign 'The GOAT'.
Lieutenant Jaryd Wetzel, one of the pilots of 'The GOAT', said the objective of ASWEX was to develop skills involving sub-surface targets to improve the capability to fight in the underwater domain.
"It is one of the most challenging domains of warfare, hunting a submarine," Lieutenant Wetzel said.
"To track a submarine involves a collective team effort on board the aircraft and in the ship. We all have a role to play in achieving success."
That team effort includes more than 200 sailors in Hobart, who are at their tactical peak, having already spent three months at sea sharpening their combat skills, including participating in naval gunfire serials in conjunction with ASWEX flight operations.
'To track a submarine involves a collective team effort on board the aircraft and in the ship. We all have a role to play in achieving success.'
One of those sailors, Able Seaman Sophie Brown, is an aircraft technician responsible for ensuring 'The GOAT' is ready to respond as required to missions by fixing and preparing the weapons systems, enhancing the ship's lethality.
"ASWEX provides the opportunity to put our training into action by making sure the systems are operating at peak efficiency," Able Seaman Brown said.
"It really showcases the high level that our flight is operating at - both in performance and altitude."
Hobart is operating as part of a designated Australian Maritime Task Group, commanded by Captain Darin MacDonald, who is responsible for all assets and more than 1300 sailors operating in the exercise.
'This exercise ensures that we remain a highly trained force, operating as one fleet. Focused, lethal and ready.'
"For this exercise, the ADF has aggregated some of the most advanced tactical assets in Australia's arsenal, all tasked with developing unit and task-group level warfighting skills," Captain MacDonald said.
"The task group is focused on integrating our latest technologies, and refining our tactical proficiency to maintain a fighting advantage at sea.
"This exercise ensures that we remain a highly trained force, operating as one fleet. Focused, lethal and ready."
While the assets are impressive, Captain MacDonald stresses the key to achieving mission success doesn't rely on military hardware alone.
"The key to ASWEX is our most important resource, our hard-working and dedicated officers and sailors who exemplify dedication to duty and professional service," Captain MacDonald said.
"Their commitment, excellence and duty, and that of their loved ones who support them, are vital in protecting Australia and its interests."
Australia's economy is heavily dependent on the unobstructed movement of maritime trade and uninterrupted operation of its commercial ports.
Undersea warfare readiness exercises, such as ASWEX, are critical for protecting Australia's harbours, ports and shipping lanes to maintain vital supply lines all Australians rely on for their daily lives.
