Current Australian Defence Force deployments
Encyclopedia
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
(ADF) personnel are deployed on overseas operations. An additional 500 personnel are deployed on domestic maritime security tasks and 520 as the ADF's response to the February 2009 Victorian bushfires
February 2009 Victorian bushfires
The Black Saturday bushfires were a series of bushfires that ignited or were burning across the Australian state of Victoria on and around Saturday, 7 February 2009...
.
Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and three smaller deployments. These operations are commanded from a Joint Task Force Headquarters located in the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. A detachment of two AP-3C Orion
AP-3C Orion
The Lockheed AP-3C Orion is a variant of the P-3 Orion used by the Royal Australian Air Force for tasks such as naval fleet support, maritime surveillance, search and survivor supply and anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare...
aircraft is also located in the UAE, and it is expected that the ADF logistic unit in Kuwait and C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
detachment in Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
will also be moved to the UAE.
The deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan are supported by:
- HMAS WarramungaHMAS Warramunga (FFH 152)HMAS Warramunga is an Anzac class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy .-Design and construction:The Anzac class originated from RAN plans to replace the six River class destroyer escorts with a mid-capability patrol frigate...
is the current frigate deployed to the Persian Gulf - A detachment of three C-130 HerculesC-130 HerculesThe Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
transport aircraft - A detachment of two AP-3C OrionAP-3C OrionThe Lockheed AP-3C Orion is a variant of the P-3 Orion used by the Royal Australian Air Force for tasks such as naval fleet support, maritime surveillance, search and survivor supply and anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare...
maritime patrol aircraft - A tri-service Force Level Logistic Asset, communications element and movement control group
Afghanistan
In March 2011 approximately 1550 ADF personnel were deployed to AfghanistanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
as part of Operation Slipper
Operation Slipper
Operation Slipper is the Australian Defence Force contribution to the war in Afghanistan. The operation commenced in late 2001 and is ongoing...
, Australia's contribution to the international coalition against terrorism
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
. This deployment began in October 2001. ADF units currently deployed to Afghanistan include:
- A national command, liaison and embedded personnel element located at KabulKabulKabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
- A Special Operations Task Group
- A Reconstruction Task Force in Orūzgān ProvinceOruzgan ProvinceOrūzgān or Urōzgān , also spelled Uruzgan or Rōzgān , is one of the thirty-four provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the center of the country, though the area is culturally and tribally linked to Kandahar in the south. Its capital is Tarin Kowt...
- An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Detachment from the 20th Surveillance and Target Acquisition Regiment20th Surveillance and Target Acquisition Regiment, Royal Australian ArtilleryThe 20th Surveillance and Target Acquisition Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery is an Australian Army Regiment which was raised in 2006. The Regiment is responsible for providing the Australian Army with artillery spotting and tactical reconnaissance...
- A Rotary Wing Group operating two CH-47 Chinook helicopters from the 5th Aviation Regiment
- An Air Force Control and Reporting Centre at Kandahar International Airport
- 16 gunners from the 4th Regiment are attached to the United Kingdom's 29th Commando Regiment Royal Artillery29th Commando Regiment Royal Artillery29 Commando Regiment is the Commando-trained unit of the British Army's Royal Artillery. The regiment is under the operational control of 3 Commando Brigade providing artillery support and gunnery observation.- History :...
- A Force Level Logistic Asset in KandaharKandaharKandahar is the second largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of about 512,200 as of 2011. It is the capital of Kandahar Province, located in the south of the country at about 1,005 m above sea level...
- The two detachments of three C-130 Hercules and two AP-3C Orion aircraft, and HMAS Warramunga in the Persian Gulf also support Operation Slipper
Iraq
In March 2009 the ADF's contribution to the reconstruction of IraqIraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, consisted of:
- 45 personnel embedded in several coalition headquarters (Operation Catalyst)
- Security Detachment IraqSecurity Detachment Iraq (Australia)The Security Detachment Iraq was the final component of Australia's contribution to coalition operations in Iraq. SECDET was based on an Australian Army combined arms combat team consisting of an infantry company group and a troop of cavalry which operated the Australian Light Armoured vehicles...
which protects the Australian embassyAustralian diplomatic missionsThis is a list of diplomatic missions of Australia, excluding honorary consulates. Australian diplomatic missions are posts representing the Commonwealth of Australia in foreign countries. They are mostly maintained of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with some smaller posts being run...
in BaghdadBaghdadBaghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
(Operation Kruger) - Two personnel attached to the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (Operation Riverbank)
Other deployments
In addition to the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the ADF also maintains three small contributions to peacekeeping operations in the Middle East and Africa. As of March 2009 a total of 37 ADF personnel are deployed along the borders of IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
as part of Operation Mazurka
Operation Mazurka
Operation Mazurka is the Australian Defence Force's contribution to the Multinational Force and Observers , an international peacekeeping force, based in the Sinai Peninsula, overseeing the terms of the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty....
and Operation Paladin
Operation Paladin
Operation Paladin is Australia's contribution to the UN Truce Supervision Organisation that was established in 1948 to supervise the truce agreed at the conclusion of the first Arab/Israeli War....
. A further 15 personnel form part of the United Nations Mission in Sudan
United Nations Mission in Sudan
The United Nations Mission in the Sudan was established by the UN Security Council under Resolution 1590 of 24 March 2005, in response to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the government of the Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement on January 9, 2005 in Nairobi,...
and eight are deployed to support the African Union – United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur
Darfur
Darfur is a region in western Sudan. An independent sultanate for several hundred years, it was incorporated into Sudan by Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1916. The region is divided into three federal states: West Darfur, South Darfur, and North Darfur...
. These operations began in 1982, 1956 and 2005 respectively.
Asia-Pacific
The ADF currently has units deployed on several operations in Australia's immediate neighbourhood.East Timor
Approximately 650 personnel, most of whom form part of a joint Australia-New Zealand battle group, are deployed to East TimorEast Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
on peacekeeping duties as part of Operation Astute
Operation Astute
Operation Astute is an Australian-led military deployment to East Timor to quell unrest and return stability in the 2006 East Timor crisis. It is currently headed by Brigadier Bill Sowry, and commenced on 25 May 2006 under the command of Brigadier Michael Slater...
. This deployment began in May 2006.
Solomon Islands
140 personnel are in the Solomon Islands as the ADF's contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands. This deployment began in July 2003.Emergency response
As of 9 March 2009, 520 ADF personnel were deployed to Victoria as the ADF's response to the February 2009 Victorian bushfires (Operation Vic Fire AssistOperation Vic Fire Assist
Operation Vic Fire Assist was the Australian Defence Force contribution to the relief effort following the Black Saturday bushfires. The Defence contribution peaked at around 850 personnel in mid February; with the majority of Defence assets concluding operations on Saturday 14 March 2009.The ADF...
).