VIDEO: Australian Maritime Counter-Terrorism exercise Iron Moon 2013

Jumping out of a perfectly good C-17 (Screengrab from video). © Commonwealth of Australia

Boats and counter-terrorist special forces air dropped from a C-17, VBSS teams boarding a simulated hijacked commercial vessel by rappeling down from Blackhawks and more...

This is an awesome video from the Australian Department of Defence shot during Exercise IRON MOON 2013, a two week Maritime Counter Terrorism training exercise in the waters off Exmouth and Dampier in North West Australia. The annual exercise involved several hundred personnel from across Defence and Australian federal and state civilian agencies. The exercise is designed to enhance and validate the ADF Maritime Counter Terrorism response capability in the most realistic environment possible.

PHOTO: Aussie Chinooks resume Afghan operations

Photo © Commonwealth of Australia. Click on thumbnail to view high-res imagery

Sergeant Andrew Reid of Rotary Wing Group 7 prepares an Australian CH-47D Chinook for take off at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. The Australian Defence Force's CH-47D 'Chinook' helicopters have returned to duty in Southern Afghanistan providing medium lift transport capability to Australian and International Security Assistance Force units. The helicopters will be operated by the men and women of Rotary Wing Group 7 (RWG 7) who are embedded with the United States 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, known as Task Force Wings. RWG 7 is made up of approximately 60 personnel from the Townsville-based 5th Aviation Regiment and from across the 16th Aviation Regiment. Photo by Sergeant Mick Davis 1st Joint Public Affairs Unit.

More related imagery on the Australian Defence Force Image Gallery

Australian Tiger helicopter clips power lines, makes emergency landing

An Australian Defence Force Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter has made an emergency landing last Thursday after clipping power lines near its base at Oakey, near Toowoomba in Queensland. No one was injured but the crew would undergo medical checks "as a precaution". The helicopter was being examined to determine the extent of the damage.

Australia acquires more Chinooks, replaces aircraft lost in Afghanistan

Australia is to acquire two Boeing CH-47D Chinook transport helicopters to replace the CH-47D lost in Afghanistan earlier this year. The aircraft will be delivered to Townsville by the end of January 2012 to be brought up to similar standard with the five remaining aircraft and are expected to be fully operation by June.

Australia receives final Tiger attack helicopter

Australian Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter firing Hellfire missile at the Building target on Woomera Range© Commonwealth of Australia

Completing its order and bringing its fleet of the type to 22 aircraft, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has received its final Eurocopter Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopter. Under Project Air 87, Australian Aerospace provides assembly of the helicopters in Brisbane, plus crew training, programme management and through-life support. The Tigers are deployed with the army's 1st Aviation Regiment in Darwin, at the Army Aviation Training Centre at Oakey in Queensland and also at the Royal Australian Air Force's Edinburgh base in South Australia.

Australia adds MRH90 helicopter to Projects of Concern list

Joining several other high profile defence aerospace projects, the NH Industries MRH90 transport helicopter has been added to Australia's Projects of Concern list. MRH90s on order for both the Australian navy and army are behind schedule, with the maritime version delayed by 12 months and the army's by 18 months.

Australian Chinooks depart Afghanistan

After 737 flying hours and having moved in excess of 691,000 kilograms of supplies and equipment over the last eight months, Australia's Rotary Wing Group and its two CH-47 Chinooks are returning home from Afghanistan. The task group will return to Afghanistan in early 2011 to recommence flight operations in support of ISAF efforts.

See related Australian Defence Force Image Gallery

PHOTO: Australian Army Blackhawks and Chinooks air mobility training

(Click on thumbnail for high res image)
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Black Hawks from Battle Group Pegusus which has been assembled to support the 3rd Brigade during Exercise Hamel lead the formation as they conduct air-mobility training in Townsville on October 9. (Australian Defence Force Photo)

Australian Tiger helicopters not deployable until 2012

Despite calls from opposition politicians to deploy them to Afghanistan, Australia's Eurocopter Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters will not be fully operationally ready till 2012. The Australian Army has ordered 22 helicopters with 18 delivered and they will be based in Darwin.

Australian MRH-90 grounding over

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation is reporting that the grounding of the Army's Eurocopter MRH-90 is to end this week, after 3 months. It has also reported that the cause of the April engine failure was caused by a compressor blade hitting the engine casing.