Australia has expanded its maritime patrol aircraft fleet, receiving a new military plane from the United States amid China’s growing naval presence across the South Pacific.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Why It Matters
Designated by the U.S. as a major non-NATO ally, Australia has acquired American-made military equipment, including F-35A stealth fighter jets, P-8A maritime patrol aircraft and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems. It is set to receive three American nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS agreement with the U.S. and United Kingdom.
Australia also plays a vital role in the U.S.’s island chain strategy. It lies south of three defensive lines across the western Pacific that seek to contain the scope of Chinese military activities, which have expanded far beyond the coastline of East Asia and include a rare naval circumnavigation of Australia and operations in the South Pacific.
What To Know
Australia’s Defense Department announced on October 17 that the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has formed a second operational squadron for its P-8A Poseidon aircraft by reestablishing the Number 12 Squadron at RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia.
On September 29, the RAAF received its newest P-8A aircraft from Boeing at RAAF Base Edinburgh, bringing the fleet to 13 aircraft. The 14th and final P-8A aircraft is scheduled for delivery in 2026, 10 years after the first aircraft arrived.
In December 2020, the Australian government announced that it would expand the fleet by ordering two additional P-8A aircraft to boost the air force’s maritime patrol capability.
Equipped with weapons, sonobuoys and sensors, the P-8A is capable of conducting a wide range of missions, including anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare as well as maritime and overland intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, the RAAF said.
The Number 12 Squadron will operate alongside its sister squadron, the Number 11, at the same base. By expanding the P-8A aircraft fleet, the RAAF can conduct persistent patrols over Australia’s maritime approaches, as the country is surrounded by ocean.
The Number 292 Squadron at RAAF Base Edinburgh is an associated unit of Australia’s P-8A fleet and is responsible for sensor operator training.
In addition to safeguarding Australia from maritime threats, the RAAF has deployed its P-8A aircraft overseas, including monitoring illicit North Korean activities at sea from Japan and conducting maritime surveillance patrols in the contested South China Sea.
The RAAF also operates a fleet of three MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft acquired from Northrop Grumman. The drones are based at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory but are remotely piloted by the Number 9 Squadron at RAAF Base Edinburgh.
The P-8A aircraft and the MQ-4C drone squadrons are set to provide Australia with what the RAAF described as one of the world’s
US Ally Expands Patrol Plane Fleet Amid China Tensions
