Exercise Global Dexterity 23-2 has begun, bringing together C-17A Globemaster aircraft from the United States, United Kingdom and Australia for a series of air mobility training missions.
Held at RAAF Base Amberley from 27 November to 8 December, the exercise will reinforce the close ties built in previous years between the RAAF’s No. 36 Squadron, and the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) 535th Airlift Squadron, travelling from Hawaii.
Exercise Global Dexterity is held twice a year and provides an opportunity for C-17A aircrew and technicians to build aviator-level relationships with foreign counterparts.
The United Kingdom will be participating for the first time, with the Royal Air Force (RAF) No. 99 Squadron joining the exercise from December 1.
“The C-17A is well suited to delivering critical personnel and large amounts of cargo across the Indo-Pacific, but the people and our relationships are what allow us to do this quickly and effectively,” said Wing Commander Scott Hyland, Commanding Officer of RAAF No. 36 Squadron.
“Through Exercise Global Dexterity, we’ve built a relationship with the United States PACAF C-17A community that allows us to fly and fix each other’s aircraft as a blended workforce, greatly increasing our flexibility during operations.
“The value of these aircraft and their workforce is evident when we deploy together in the region, whether it be in support of peacekeeping operations, non-combatant evacuations, or to deliver a time-critical response to a natural disaster.”
Exercise Global Dexterity 23-2 will involve low-level formation training around western Sydney, high-level air-to-air refuelling from RAAF KC-30As, and deployed operations to RAAF Bases Townsville and Scherger in northern Queensland.
“With the cooperation of the Papua New Guinea Government, we will also conduct air mobility missions to Papua New Guinea during Exercise Global Dexterity 23-2,” Wing Commander Hyland said.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to test our skills in Papua New Guinea, which is one of the world’s most complex flying environments. The training we achieve during Exercise Global Dexterity ensures that we can deliver help anywhere in the Indo-Pacific."