Next generation of Top Guns to strike in Top End Storm

The Royal Australian Air Force’s Exercise Diamond Storm 22 will be held in the skies above the Northern Territory from May 30 to June 24.

CAPTION: F-35A Lightning II aircraft from No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit fly over the Northern Territory during Exercise Rogue Ambush 21-1. Story by Flight Lieutenant Jessica Aldred and Flight Lieutenant Bronwyn Marchant. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Adam Abela.

The exercise will take place from RAAF Bases Darwin and Tindal, and at Timber Creek, Douglas Daly region and the Delamere Air Weapons Range.

Exercise Diamond Storm is the final activity for the participants in the air warfare instructor course (AWIC), and follows other exercises held in the previous six months, including Exercises Diamond Seas and Diamond Shield.

More than 1400 Defence personnel will deploy to the Northern Territory for the exercise, working alongside Defence personnel based in the Top End, and the exercise will involve more than 60 aircraft from Australia and the United States.

This year will be the first time trainee air warfare instructors from the F-35A Lightning II, P-8A Poseidon and combat controller communities will take part.

Commander Air Warfare Centre, Air Commodore Ross Bender, said the Diamond series of exercises enhanced and promoted Air Force’s interoperability with the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and international partners.

“Diamond Seas and Diamond Shield brought together Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force elements in complex maritime and defensive counter air-focused scenarios, providing training opportunities to practise and consolidate integrated tactics,” Air Commodore Bender said.

“As the culmination activity, Diamond Storm provides our candidates with the opportunity to apply their skills in high-end warfighting scenarios alongside international partners.

“We will conduct Exercise Diamond Storm throughout the Northern Territory to operate within some of the best training environments Australia has to offer.”

Throughout the AWIC, trainee air warfare instructors have developed their expertise through academic activities and practical exercises that expose the candidates to complex scenarios aimed at broadening and improving their skills.

Following Exercise Diamond Storm, the newly trained instructors will be the next generation of tactical and integrated warfare experts across the air combat spectrum.

“On completion of the course, our air warfare instructors will be knowledgeable and approachable experts who can integrate people, systems and combat effects across the five warfare domains: air, land, maritime, space and cyber,” Air Commodore Bender said.

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