Current Australian Defence Force deployments
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As of March 2009, around 3,000 Australian Defence Force (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.[1]
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[edit] Middle East
The ADF currently has main deployments in the Middle East and three smaller deployments. These operations are commanded from a Joint Task Force Headquarters located in the United Arab Emirates. A detachment of two AP-3C Orion aircraft is also located in the UAE, and it is expected that the ADF logistic unit in Kuwait and C-130 Hercules detachment in Qatar will also be moved to the UAE.[2]
The deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan are supported by:[3]
- HMAS Warramunga is the current frigate deployed to the Persian Gulf
- A detachment of three C-130 Hercules transport aircraft
- A detachment of two AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft
- A tri-service Force Level Logistic Asset, communications element and movement control group
[edit] Afghanistan
In March 2009 approximately 1090 ADF personnel were deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Slipper, Australia's contribution to the international coalition against terrorism. This deployment began in October 2001. ADF units currently deployed to Afghanistan include:[4]
- A National command, liaison and embedded personnel element located at Kabul
- A Special Operations Task Group
- A Reconstruction Task Force in Oruzgan Province
- An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Detachment from the 20th Surveillance and Target Acquisition Regiment
- 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 Field Regiment are attached to the United Kingdom's 29th Commando Regiment Royal Artillery[5]
- A Force Level Logistic Asset at Kandahar
- The C-130 and AP-3C aircraft and the frigate in the Persian Gulf also support Operation Slipper
[edit] Iraq
In March 2009 the ADF's contribution to the rehabilitation of Iraq, consisted of:
- 45 personnel embedded in several coalition headquarters (Operation Catalyst)[6]
- Security Detachment Iraq which protects the Australian embassy in Baghdad (Operation Kruger)[7]
- Two personnel attached to the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (Operation Riverbank)[1]
[edit] 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 Israel, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan as part of Operation Mazurka and Operation Paladin. A further 15 personnel form part of the United Nations Mission in Sudan and eight are deployed to support the United Nations and African Union Mission in Darfur. These operations began in 1982, 1956 and 2005 respectively.[1]
[edit] Asia-Pacific
The ADF currently has units deployed on several operations in Australia's immediate neighbourhood.
[edit] Timor Leste
Approximately 650 personnel, most of whom form part of a joint Australia-New Zealand battle group, are deployed to Timor Leste on peacekeeping duties as part of Operation Astute. This deployment began in May 2006.[8]
[edit] Solomon Islands
140 personnel are in the Solomon Islands as the ADF's contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands. This deployment began in July 2003.[1]
[edit] Domestic operations
[edit] Maritime security
The ADF's contribution to Australia's domestic maritime security is conducted under Operation Resolute. Operation Resolute consolidated previous ADF operations and began in July 2006. As part of Operation Resolute ADF ships, aircraft and Regional Force Surveillance Units conduct patrols in conjunction with the Australian Customs Service. This operation is commanded by the Border Protection Command which is jointly manned by members of the ADF and Customs. 500 personnel were assigned to Operation Resolute in September 2007.[9]
[edit] 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 Assist).[1]
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c d e Australian Department of Defence. Global Operations. Accessed 9 March 2009.
- ^ Coorey, Philip (2008-12-20). "Rudd warns of long stay in Afghanistan". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/national/rudd-warns-of-long-stay-in-afghanistan-20081219-72e1.html?page=-1. Retrieved 2008-12-21.
- ^ "Iraq Ops". Australian & NZ Defender (Brisbane: Fullbore Magazines) (No. 65): p. 16–22. 2009. ISSN 1322039X.
- ^ Australian Department of Defence http://www.defence.gov.au/opslipper/default.htm Operation Slipper]. Accessed 9 March 2009.
- ^ "Chora Valley Pacification". Australian & NZ Defender (Brisbane: Fullbore Magazines) (No. 65): p. 8. 2009. ISSN 1322039X.
- ^ "Operation CATALYST". Australian Department of Defence. 2009. http://www.defence.gov.au/opEx/global/opcatalyst/index.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-09.
- ^ "Operation KRUGER". Australian Department of Defence. 2009. http://www.defence.gov.au/opEx/global/opkruger/index.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-09.
- ^ Australian Government, Department of Defence
- ^ Australian Department of Defence. Operation Resolute. Accessed 9 March 2009.
[edit] References
- Australian Department of Defence Global Operations
