RAAF heavy lifting tested

As Australia prepares for an increasingly complex strategic environment, the Royal Australian Air Force’s Air Mobility Group (AMG) is evolving how it prepares to deliver airpower.

CAPTION: Australian Army soldiers from 7th Brigade form a single line to board a Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster III at Rockhampton, Queensland, during Exercise Mobility Bluegum 26. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Taylor Anderson.

While success is often measured by what aircraft achieve in the air, some of the heaviest lifting happens before they leave the ground – in the planning, coordination and decision-making that turns a task into a mission.

In late August, Exercise Mobility Bluegum brought together every squadron in AMG to test a new command-and-control structure and examine how the force could organise, integrate and respond as part of the wider joint force.

Exercise Director Wing Commander Nathan Thompson said the activity was designed to test the whole force, from aviators working in headquarters to teams executing missions across Australia.

“The strategic scenario that we face requires AMG to be continually adapting its command-and-control structures,” Wing Commander Thompson said.

“AMG will be expected to integrate with the wider joint force, and we’re going to need to adapt to what they require at the time.”

The exercise put that requirement into practice from the outset, when a higher headquarters task order required AMG to work with the Australian Army.

Aircrew immediately integrated with elements from 7 Brigade to plan the movement of Army force elements into northern Australia, which simulated an overseas operating environment with various threats.

“I saw our aircrews immediately reach out to our Army brethren in order to initiate joint planning,” Wing Commander Thompson said.

“They came up with an excellent plan within the scenario constraints that we forced upon them.”

The activity also deliberately introduced ambiguity, with 36 Squadron C-17A Globemaster III crews tasked to transport Army HIMARS into an austere location despite receiving incomplete information.

“They worked through that problem,” Wing Commander Thompson said.

“They loaded the HIMARS, moved it to the destination and unloaded it.

“Critically, the carriage enabled the system to conduct rapid live fire on arrival.”

The scenario tested more than the aircraft’s ability to move a load – it tested the people and structures behind the capability to understand a task, work through uncertainty and deliver an outcome with a joint partner.

“We operate complex pieces of equipment, with each team having an extremely important role to conduct,” Wing Commander Thompson said.

“Each team relies on each individual conducting their part of the mission in order for us to be successful.”

Mobility Bluegum tested those connections – between headquarters and aircrews, RAAF and Army, planners and operators, teams and individuals – strengthening the structures and relationships that enable AMG to deliver rapid and responsive movement.

“As a result of this exercise, we are now better postured to respond to the joint force and what government requires of us,” Wing Commander Thompson said.

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