Aussie Lightning strikes New Zealand
Exercise Agile Tasman took place in Ohakea, NZ, from September 7 to 10, and included the first landing of an Australian F-35A Lightning II on New Zealand soil.
CAPTION: Two RAAF F-35A Lightning II jets conduct an air interception alongside a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon over New Zealand’s North Island east coast during Exercise Agile Tasman. Story by Flying Officer Leonie Midgley. Photo by Corporal Naomi James.
Working with the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), the fifth-generation fighter jets assisted the development of joint terminal attack controllers for the NZDF.
Exercise Agile Tasman also conducted forwarding arming and refuelling point (FARP) training outside of Australia for the first time, with a RAAF 37 SQN C-130J rearming and refuelling the two F-35A from Australia’s 3 SQN, at Ohakea Air Base.
The RAAF team, led by Wing Commander Mark Biele, was passionate about taking the air-combat capability to New Zealand for the first time.
“Exercise Agile Tasman seeks to maximise the capabilities we have now, combining our efforts to protect our shared interests today,” Wing Commander Biele said.
“Transitioning interoperability into interchangeability is a human endeavour.
“The very special relationship we have with our best mates across the Tasman has demonstrated we can harness our technologies to deliver real people-powered capability today.”
Exercise Agile Tasman also coincided with a significant 3 SQN anniversary.
“It’s our 110th birthday while we are here, and who would we want to spend that with other than our best mates across the Tasman,” Wing Commander Biele said.
New Zealand’s Chief of Air Force Air Vice Marshal Darryn Webb said Exercise Agile Tasman was an exciting opportunity for the NZDF to work in concert with some of the most advanced warfighting technology in the world.
“One of the key objectives we have set in working together is to enhance our operational readiness by conducting combined exercises that develop shared combat capability,” AVM Webb said.
“This exercise is an important step forward on that path.”
One of the F-35A pilots on this trip was Kiwi-born fighter pilot Squadron Leader Jason Easthope, who not only took the Aussie jet home to New Zealand, but operated it out of the same base he originally trained at as a New Zealand pilot.
He also caught up with friends he had not seen for more than 20 years.
Squadron Leader Easthope started his military career in the RNZAF in 1989, graduating from 1/89 Pilots Course and becoming an A-4K Skyhawk pilot.
The fresh-faced, straight-out-of-high-school young man had developed a passion for combat aviation in his teen years.
He moved to Australia to advance his career in 2001.
Squadron Leader Easthope said his 13 years flying with RNZAF and 25 years flying with RAAF meant he feelt the ANZAC spirit strongly.
“Being New Zealand born and flying for the RAAF is a really special Anzac connection for me,” Squadron Leader Easthope said.
“I loved my time in the RNZAF, and I love my time right now with the Royal Australian Air Force.”
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