2.5: People Overview
Program 1.4 – Air Force Capabilities
Department outputs 2014-15: $4,762 million
Of the three military services, the Air Force has the leanest and most streamlined organisational structure. The organisation is split into two parts. Corporate planning and administration occurs under the direction of the Deputy Chief of Air Force within Air Force Headquarters while Air Commander Australia takes care of Headquarters Air Command, the Air and Space Operations Centre and the six training, support and flying groups.
Air Force has recently introduced, or is preparing to introduce, several new fleets of aircraft into service. These include the 6 new Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft (AEW&C), 5 replacement Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) aircraft, 24 F/A-18F Super Hornet, 10 C-27J Spartan battlefield airlifters, 8 P-8A Poseidon maritime intelligence, surveillance,
reconnaissance and response aircraft and 12 E/A-18G Growler electronic warfare and attack aircraft. By the end of the decade, the Air Force plans to be operating F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.
Royal Australian Air Force
Chief of the Air Force
***
Air Commander Australia
**
Commander Air Combat Group
*
Commander Air Mobility Group
*
Commander Combat Support Group
*
Commander Surveillance and Response Group
*
Commander Air Force Training Group
*
Director-General Technical Airworthiness
* Commander Aerospace Operational
Support Group Deputy Chief of Air Force
**
Director-General Strategy and Planning
*
Chief Finance Officer – Air Force
*
Chief of Staff Air Force HQ
*
Deputy Air Commander Australia
**
97 Air Combat Group
Air Combat Group comprises 71 F/A-18 A/B Hornet fighter aircraft and 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets with the remaining 9 Super Hornets expected to be delivered by October 2011. In addition, 33 Hawk Lead-in Fighters (LIF) provide a training capability while 4 PC-9(F) forward air control aircraft are used to designate ground targets and train Joint Terminal Attack Controllers. Air Combat Group also supports and operates the leased Heron Remotely Piloted Aircraft which is deployed to Afghanistan.
0 2,500 5,000 7,500 10,000 12,500
15,000 F/A-18 Fighter Annual Flying Hours
Target Actual
0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000
10,000 Lead-in-Fighter Annual Flying Hours
Target Actual
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 Super Hornet Annual Flying Hours
Target Actual
98 Air Mobility Group
The Air Force has 12 C-130J Hercules and twelve (4 in preservation) C-130H Hercules transport aircraft which are capable of a wide range of strategic and tactical airborne roles.
The recent acquisition of 6 Boeing C-17 Globemaster IIIs provides the capability to transport large and heavy loads over long ranges whilst retaining tactical capabilities. Two Boeing 737 BBJ and 3 CL604 Challenger aircraft provide VIP transport for the government. Sixteen B-350 King Air aircraft, provide a light air transport role as an interim capability prior to the
introduction of the C-27J Spartan aircraft. Five KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft perform a duel tanker and transport role.
0 5,000 10,000 15,000
20,000 C-130 Flying Hours
Target Actual
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 C-17 Flying Hours
Target Actual
0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 KC-30A AAR Aircraft
Target Actual
99 Surveillance and Response Group
The Surveillance and Response Group comprises a diverse range of capabilities including:
Eighteen 1970s vintage AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft which undertake maritime patrol, maritime surveillance, reconnaissance, offensive air support, surface & sub-surface strike, and search and survivor supply. All 18 aircraft have been upgraded to AP-3C standard through an Australian-unique upgrade program.
Ten Air Traffic Radars, including 9 fixed radar and 1 mobile for the control of ADF air traffic.
Four Tactical Air Defence Radars: ground based radar to detect hostile and own aircraft. The JORN Over-the-Horizon-Radar network, including radar sites in Laverton WA and Longreach Qld, and 17 coastal beacons in the north of Australia and Christmas Island. The network is run from the Jindalee Operational Radar Network Coordination Centre in Edinburgh, SA, and can detect both sea and air-borne moving objects. The Jindalee facility Alice Springs serves a research and development function. JORN is operated by No. 1 Radar Surveillance Unit. Six Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft based on Boeing 737-700 platform whose entry into service was delayed by more than four years are now flying more regularly with a mature rate of effort planned for 2014-15.
0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000
12,000 Maritime Patrol Aircraft Flying Hours
Target Actual
0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000
2006-07 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 AEW&C Flying Hours
Target Actual
100 Aerospace Operational Support Group
The Aerospace Operational Support Group provides a broad range of operational and technical support services to Defence in general and Air Force in particular. Key components of the Group include:
Information Warfare Wing which provides electronic warfare, aeronautical information, intelligence and information operation products and services for Air Force air operations and the other Services.
Development and Test Wing which provides flight test, system engineering and aviation medicine products and services for extant and emerging ADF aviation capability.
Woomera Test Range which provides an instrumented weapons test and evaluation range for Defence.
Combat Support Group
The Combat Support Group is the largest of the Air Forces force element groups. The role of Combat Support Group (CSG) is to provide combat support services to all Air Force
operational formations and when applicable ADF and Coalition Aviation formations. CSG must be able to deploy a Main Operating Base and two Forward Operating Bases.
The capability for combat support of air operations provides for deployable tactical air base support. It encompasses Bare Base activation including the provision of engineering
infrastructure (facilities, water, power and sewerage systems), aircraft arrestor barriers and airfield services, navigation aid and tactical communications, air movement, airfield defence, health support including AME, combat logistics and personnel support capabilities.
CSG provides deployed combat support, excluding aircraft technical maintenance, to ADF contingency air operations at main operating bases, forward operating bases and point of entry airfields in Areas of Operations (AO) either in Australia or overseas. It also provides command and cadre staff for RAAF fixed bases in northern Australia and management of the prepared Bare Bases at RAAF Learmonth (LMO), Curtin (CIN), and Scherger (SGR). The provision of secure airfields and combat support arrangements for the deployment of air assets will continue to be critical to the support of ADF operations.
CSG comprises of a HQ, a Combat Support Coordination Centre, 95 and 96 Wings and a Health Services Wing.
Air Force Training Group
The Air Force Training Group is made up of a headquarters and Air Training Wing, Ground Training Wing, RAAF College and Reserve Training Wing. The headquarters of the Air Training Group is located at RAAF Base Williams – Laverton, Victoria.
Air Training Wing conducts basic and instructor air training for ADF personnel including pilots, air combat officers and air traffic controllers. Basic pilot training employs PC-9/A aircraft while aircraft and navigator training occurs on B350 aircraft. Air Training Wing also includes the RAAF Roulettes, who provide fly pasts and displays, the RAAF Museum and the RAAF Balloon. The Air Training Wing is also responsible for air crew combat survival training.
101
The RAAF College provides induction and professional military training for the Air Force. The RAAF College also maintains the RAAF Band.
Ground Training Wing provides initial and ongoing training for non-aircrew personnel, including security, fire and ground defence, administration and logistics, technical trades, and explosive ordnance.
Reserve Training Wing provides ground training to Air Force Reserve members at a number of locations around Australia.