CPA 299/06 Monday, 13 November 2006

Australian And New Zealand Defence Forces Unite For ASWEX

Ships, submarines and aircraft from the Royal Australian Navy, Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal Australian Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force have gathered in the Western Australian Exercise Area off the coast of Perth to participate in two consecutive navy exercises.

The Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise 2006 (ASWEX-06) between 13 and 24 November aims to test the Anti-Submarine Warfare skills of the units participating in the two-week exercise.

The Principal Warfare Officers’ Sea Assessment Week between 27 November and 1 December completes the training and provides assessment for officers on the Royal Australian Navy’s Principal Warfare Officers’ Course.

During both exercise periods there will be increased air activity in the Western Australian Exercise Area airspace, which extends 80 nm west of Rottnest Island and north and south between Lancelin and Geographe Bay. This increased air activity may result in occasional aircraft noise being heard by some coastal residents.

Ships and Submarines participating in these exercises will also be seen at the FBW Navy Open Day on Garden Island on Sunday 26 November 2006.

Background Information:
HMA Ships Anzac, (with a S70B Seahawk helicopter embarked), Ballarat, Sirius, and HMA Submarines Farncomb and Sheean, will participate in these exercises along with Royal New Zealand Ships, HMNZS Te Kaha (with a SH2G Sea Sprite helicopter embarked) and a Royal New Zealand Airforce P-3K Orion maritime patrol aircraft.

Support will be provided by Hawk jets from 79 Squadron based at Royal Australian Air Force Base Pearce in Western Australia, two 92 Wing AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft from South Australia with F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from RAAF Williamtown arriving to participate in the second exercise.

Ends

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