RAAF returns with war stories after patrolling Eastern Europe

Brussels: An Australian surveillance aircraft will return home after patrolling Europe during nightly Russian bombardments of Ukraine, bringing lessons about the dramatic change in warfare from missile and drone attacks.

The aircraft and its crew completed 45 missions during periods of high alert when Russian forces were sending swarms of drones over Ukraine and provoking NATO with drone incursions over Poland and Estonia.

The RAAF aircraft was also airborne during the September 19 incursion of Russian jet fighters into Estonian airspace, and when Russian missiles and drones rained down on Ukraine in record volumes on September 28.

The end of the deployment comes as Ukraine calls for more international support to heighten pressure on Russia, amid hopes the ceasefire in the Middle East could be followed by a peace deal in Europe.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte thanked Australia for sending the aircraft to watch for threats from Russia, as he warned that conflict in Europe was shaping security risks in Asia.

Rutte said defence partnerships with Australia and other Asian countries were crucial to helping Ukraine, given the support for Russia from China and North Korea.

A NATO spokesperson said the RAAF surveillance aircraft conducted 45 missions, and that half of these were done at short notice after alerts to mobilise to monitor airspace.

While officials would not discuss operational matters, a similar Italian surveillance aircraft was deployed over Poland last month when Russian drones flew into Polish airspace and put NATO forces on high alert.

The Italian airborne warning and control aircraft, known as AWACS, monitored the airspace while fighter jets shot down some of the drones.

Australia sent the E-7A Wedgetail to Poland under an agreement to base the aircraft at a Polish airfield and integrate its communications systems with the NATO airspace monitoring systems.

The aircraft, based on a Boeing 737 and fitted with high-performance radars and other equipment to detect enemy signals, could spend 15 hours on some missions and was at times accompanied by NATO fighter aircraft.

Australian Defence Force officials described the deployment as the first of its kind because of the way the voice and data from the RAAF plane were fully integrated with NATO command, including technical systems.

The RAAF’s Air Vice Marshall Di Turton oversaw the deployment, under which a base was set up in Poland under the leadership of Wing Commander Samuel Thorpe.“It’s been fantastic to integrate into the NATO system, and we’ve been able to do that technically and seamlessly,” he said.

Asked if NATO partners had been happy with the contribution, Thorpe joked: “We’ve had no complaints.”

The Australian ambassador to NATO, Angus Campbell, said he was conscious of the risks the RAAF crew were taking but knew the European partners welcomed the support.

“This team has done us proud, and it’s a capability that has really shown its skill and its contribution, and I think our people have been delighted to be part of it,” he said.

Combined threat warning

Rutte, speaking at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, said more practical co-operation would be needed to prepare allies in Europe and Asia in dealing with threats.

The NATO secretary-general argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin relied so heavily on support from Chinese President Xi Jinping that any aggression from China in the Asia-Pacific would lead to Russian moves in Europe.

“We acknowledge that the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific cannot be seen as two separate theatres,” he said.

“They are combined, with North Korea and China supporting Russia’s war effort, and Iran supporting Russia’s war effort.

“And we know that if China will do anything against Taiwan, most likely Putin will be forced by Xi Jinping to move against NATO.

“So we have to stand ready. We have to work together. We have to train together. We have to procure together.”

Rutte said this did not mean drawing Indo-Pacific partners into a mutual defence pact, given that Article 5 of the NATO agreement says an attack on one member is seen as an attack on all.

Instead, he urged stronger co-operation between NATO and its Indo-Pacific partners – Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. Asked a question by the ABC, he emphasised the value of the Australian contribution with the Wedgetail.

“This practical co-operation is really crucial, and I highly value that relationship with your proud nation,” he said.

The Australian group included up to 90 personnel and is due to be replaced by a Turkish aircraft and crew, but there is no further promise of RAAF air support for NATO and Ukraine given the need for resources at home.

While the Australian government is sending 49 Abrams M1A1 tanks to Ukraine under a pledge worth $245 million last year, there has been no new military commitment this year.

The Ukrainian ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, has thanked the country for $1.5 billion in assistance over more than three years but has also said that Australia has an interest in stopping Russia given the link to security in the Indo-Pacific.

“The most effective deterrent Australia can build is ensuring Russia’s strategic failure in Ukraine,” he said.

“Ukraine asks Australia to continue providing military, economic, energy, and humanitarian assistance to together with its allies such as the US, UK, the EU and Japan.”

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