{"id":18600,"date":"2023-07-12T17:35:00","date_gmt":"2023-07-12T17:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=18600"},"modified":"2023-07-13T06:41:53","modified_gmt":"2023-07-13T06:41:53","slug":"unprecedented-interchangeability-u-s-marines-and-aussie-aviators-fly-maintain-and-operate-joint-strike-fighters-together","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=18600","title":{"rendered":"Unprecedented Interchangeability: U.S. Marines and Aussie Aviators Fly, Maintain and Operate Joint Strike Fighters Together"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n
\n
RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, Australia — <\/span><\/p>\n

U.S. Marines and Marine Corps F-35C Lightning II aircraft from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron\u00a0314, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, have been training with Allies at Royal Australian Air Force Base Williamtown, New South Wales, Australia for three weeks. Upon arrival following their trans-Pacific flights, and after a year in the making, these Marines, also known as the \u201cBlack Knights,\u201d and RAAF aviators with RAAF No. 3 Squadron\u00a0began a series of unit-level and bilateral training events designed to sustain and enhance aviation capabilities in the Indo-Pacific Region.<\/p>\n

This is not the squadrons\u2019 first time working together, but it has been an extraordinary step in their working relationship.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the past year, No. 3 Squadron has operated with VMFA-314, aiming to deepen operational and maintenance interoperability,\u201d said Wing Commander Adrian Kiely, Commanding Officer of RAAF No. 3 Squadron. \u201cIn 2023 specifically, we are seeking to test and prove interchangeability, with a specific focus on our maintenance and logistics workforces.\u201d<\/p>\n

The scheduled training events have included launching, refueling, catching, and maintaining each squadron\u2019s respective joint strike fighter variant, U.S. Marine Corps F-35C Lightning II and RAAF F-35A Lightning II.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cIn the air, we have focused on the same integration and interchangeability, with both Australian and USMC fighters flying tactically within the same formation.”\u00a0Lt. Col. Michael J. \u201cSnooki\u201d O’Brien, Commanding Officer of VMFA-314<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

A landmark event for both RAAF and USMC took place when RAAF aviators pulled a 270-volt battery, the main power support system that provides electrical power for each component of the jet, from a RAAF F-35A and placed it in a USMC F-35C. This success not only demonstrates enhanced fluency between the two teams and their aircraft variants, but also takes the RAAF-USMC relationship from interoperable to interchangeable.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe significance of us being able to use components from one F-35 model to another, from two independent units, is monumental for our ability to accomplish the mission safely and efficiently, even when faced with global supply chain constraints,\u201d said Gunnery Sgt. Michael Mann, Maintenance Control Chief for VMFA-314. \u201cDuring my six years in the field, and experience with multiple platforms, I have not witnessed such a capability.\u201d<\/p>\n

Additionally, the units conducted pre-load inspections, proficiency loading and downloading of ordnance, including AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-To-Air Missiles and Captive Air Training Missiles. Airmen and Marines utilized these training events to create completely mixed ordnance teams, pulling from a pool of assets and allowing for a faster, more efficient loading and downloading process. This training proves the two to be a combined operating force with a \u201cfight together\u201d mindset.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the air, we have focused on the same integration and interchangeability, with both Australian and USMC fighters flying tactically within the same formation,\u201d said Lt. Col. Michael J. \u201cSnooki\u201d O’Brien, Commanding Officer of VMFA-314. \u201cThe already strong relationships at the section level between the RAAF and USMC are now being taken to the next level as we have gained significant sustainment efficiencies by working on each other’s aircraft.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ability of the sister squadrons to successfully execute a multitude of combined operations across logistics, ordnance, maintenance, and flight operations is a testament to the strong relationships individual Marines and aviators are building on and off the flightline. Such capabilities, combined with deep-rooted military ties between the two nations, provide enduring warfighting readiness and regional security within the Indo-Pacific region.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, Australia — U.S. Marines and Marine Corps F-35C Lightning II aircraft from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron\u00a0314, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, have been training with Allies at Royal Australian Air Force Base Williamtown, New South Wales, Australia for three weeks. Upon arrival following their trans-Pacific flights, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":18602,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18600","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18600","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18600"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18600\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18603,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18600\/revisions\/18603"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/18602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18600"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}