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| AV-8B Harrier (Wiki Info - Image: Wiki Commons) |
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — While investigations by Australian and US authorities are still underway and a final report has not been released, several key details have emerged surrounding the jettisoning of weapons on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef last month.
Two inert and two live bombs were jettisoned in a designated area away from the main reef on July 16 after two US Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers failed to release them on an Australian weapons range in the lead up to Exercise Talisman Saber.
It is believed that the Harriers launched from the amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard in the Coral Sea before the range was cleared for use. Why this occurred is at the center of the investigations.
“The range was fouled and in the interest of safety it was determined by the Australian range personnel that conditions had not been met to allow the safe release of those weapons,” said Vice Adm. Scott Swift, then-commander of the US 7th Fleet and exercise commander for Talisman Saber, shortly after the event.
Once it became clear the Harriers had launched, efforts were made to quickly clear the range but could not be accomplished before they became fuel-critical.
Read the full story at DefenseNews