Air Combat Group RAAF
This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. (September 2011) |
Air Combat Group | |
---|---|
Air Commodore Mike Kitcher | |
Insignia | |
Callsign | PHANTOM |
The
As of October 2022[update] the commander of ACG is
Since the Group's formation, ACG aircraft have deployed to
It comprises No. 78, No. 81 and No. 82 Wings. No. 78 Wing RAAF is headquartered at RAAF Williamtown. It commands No. 76 Squadron, based at RAAF Williamtown, No. 79 Squadron, based at RAAF Pearce, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, based at RAAF Williamtown, and No. 278 Squadron, which provides technical training specific to flight training. No. 81 Wing RAAF is headquartered at RAAF Williamtown. It commands No. 3 Squadron, based at RAAF Williamtown, No. 75 Squadron, based at RAAF Tindal, and No. 77 Squadron, based at RAAF Williamtown. No. 82 Wing RAAF is headquartered at RAAF Amberley. It commands No. 1 Squadron, based at RAAF Amberley, No. 6 Squadron, based at RAAF Amberley, and the Forward Air Control Development Unit (FACDU), based at RAAF Williamtown.
It is accountable for all of the Air Force's F/A-18 Hornet, Super Hornet and Hawk squadrons, as well as the PC-9A Forward Air Control aircraft. The ACG is equipped with
training aircraft.Establishment and purpose
The Air Combat Group (ACG) was created on 1 January 2002 with the merging of two Force Element Groups (FEGs), Strike Reconnaissance Group (F-111) and Tactical Fighter Group (F/A-18 Hornet, Hawk and PC-9A).[2][3] The ACG was tasked to deliver the core capabilities of Control of the Air and Precision Air Strike with the hope that it would allow the RAAF to more quickly deploy its combat aircraft.[2][4] Although the fighter and strike elements will continue to operate as discrete units for some time, ACG will provide the opportunity for the RAAF to test the organisation required to deliver a range of combat capabilities.[3][4]
Responsibilities and bases
Air Combat Group is one of the Force Element Groups (FEGs) in the Air Force. It has 145 aircraft, 163 aircrew and 2000 support personnel based across Australia. It is accountable for all of the Air Force's F/A-18 Hornet, Super Hornet and Hawk squadrons, as well as the PC-9A Forward Air Control aircraft.[4][5]
The Wings under the Air Combat Group are located at
Training and operational history
Air Combat Group maintains a busy training schedule for the air and ground crew on the F/A-18 Hornet, Super Hornet and Hawk. The Group's tasks have included support for Operation Acolyte (
Operation Slipper
A detachment of four Australian F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft provided air defence for the US military base on the island of
Operation Guardian II
During Operation Guardian II a squadron was deployed to protect the March 2002 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in south-east Queensland.[4] During this, the Australian Defence Force pilots were given permission to destroy any hostile aircraft. This has not happened at any time during Australian peacetime, but was deemed necessary because of the 11 September 2001 attacks six months earlier.[10]
Operation Falconer
No. 75 Squadron deployed to
Structure
Headquarters Air Combat Group is located at RAAF Williamtown, with elements based at Amberley (Queensland), Tindal (Northern Territory), Pearce (Western Australia) and Williamtown (New South Wales).[2][4] One hundred and forty-five aircraft, 163 aircrew, and around 2000 personnel make up the ACG.[3][4]
Commander
The current commander of Air Combat Group is
Air Combat Group components
78 Wing
No. 78 Wing RAAF is headquartered at RAAF Williamtown. It commands No. 76 Squadron, based at RAAF Williamtown, flying Hawk Mk127 aircraft, No. 79 Squadron, based at RAAF Pearce, flying Hawk Mk127 aircraft, and No. 278 Squadron, which provides technical training specific to flight training.[3][4] 78 Wing conducts operational training, both ground and air, on the Hawk Mk 127 at Nos. 76 and 79 Squadrons.[15] It currently has an increasing role providing simulator training to aircrews and maintenance personnel at Air Force bases across Australia.[15]
81 Wing
No. 81 Wing RAAF is headquartered at RAAF Williamtown. It commands No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, based at RAAF Williamtown, No. 3 Squadron, based at RAAF Williamtown, No. 75 Squadron, based at RAAF Base Tindal, and No. 77 Squadron, based at RAAF Williamtown, flying F-35A aircraft.[3][4] 81 Wing is responsible for the provision of combat air power to Australian and coalition forces through Offensive Counter Air (OCA) and Defensive Counter Air (DCA) operations using three squadrons of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, Nos. 3, 75 and 77 Squadrons.[16]
82 Wing
No. 82 Wing RAAF is headquartered at RAAF Amberley. It commands No. 1 Squadron and No. 6 Squadron, based at RAAF Base Amberley, flying F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft and the Boeing EA-18G Growler.[3][4][17] No. 6 Squadron specialises in Electronic Warfare. No. 82 Wing strikes designated targets and conducts reconnaissance with Nos. 1 and 6 Squadrons.[17] It also commands No. 4 Squadron composed of the air force special forces Combat Controllers, aircrew who operate the Pilatus PC-21 aircraft and instructors for the Australian Defence Force Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) course.
Aircraft
The ACG is equipped with
Fighter and Electronic Warfare aircraft
The Australian Government replaced the F/A-18A and B with the
Training aircraft
The
Notes
- ^ "Air Commodore Timothy Alsop". Military Flight Training. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- ^ a b c Kopp, Carlo. "RAAF strike force merge". Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Air Combat Group: Royal Australian Air Force – Info on..." Archived from the original on 30 May 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Air Combat Group: Royal Australian Air Force – Main page". Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2008.
- ^ "RAAF News – Set to Fly". Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
- ^ "Australian Government Directory – Air Combat Group". Archived from the original on 28 July 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2008.
- ^ "Peace Keepers – Operation Slipper" (PDF). Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans' Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 August 2006. Retrieved 6 July 2008.
- ^ a b c "Global Collaborative – ADF in Afghanistan". Nautilus Institute. Archived from the original on 23 March 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2008.
- ^ a b Holmes (2006). "RAAF Hornets at War". Australian Aviation: 38.
- ^ "Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting – Annual Report 2001–02: Renewing the Commonwealth". Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
- ^ Holmes (2006). "RAAF Hornets at War". Australian Aviation: 39.
- ^ a b Holmes (2006). "RAAF Hornets at War". Australian Aviation: 44.
- ^ Holmes (2006). "RAAF Hornets at War". Australian Aviation: 42.
- ^ "Williamtown RAAF Base Welcomes New Commander at Air Combat Group". News of the Area. 25 August 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
- ^ a b "No 78 Wing: Royal Australian Air Force". Archived from the original on 22 July 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
- ^ "No 81 Wing: Royal Australian Air Force". Archived from the original on 22 July 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
- ^ a b "No 82 Wing: Royal Australian Air Force". Archived from the original on 4 April 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
- ^ Davies (2008). ADF capability review: Royal Australian Air Force. p. 4.
- ^ Davies (2008). ADF capability review: Royal Australian Air Force. p. 3.
- ^ "Australian Defence Organisation – Hornet Upgrade Program (Phase 3)". Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2008.
References
- Australian National Audit Office (2007). Management of Air Combat Fleet In-Service Support (PDF). Canberra: ANAO. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2012.
- Davies, Andrew (2008). Issues for the Australian air combat review. Canberra: Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
- Davies, Andrew (2008). ADF capability review: Royal Australian Air Force. Canberra: Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
- Holmes, Tony (2006). "RAAF Hornets at War". Australian Aviation (January/February 2006/No. 224). Canberra: Phantom Media. ISSN 0813-0876.