Fighter jets and personnel are participating in Exercise Faru Sumu at RAAF Base Tindal from October 21 until November 8. Faru Sumu is a three week biannual exercise during which up to 18 F/A-18F Super Hornets and 250 personnel from No 1 and 6 Squadrons are tested in the employment of weapons systems.
The Commanding Officer of No. 6 Squadron, Wing Commander (WGCDR) Robert Denney said the exercise involved a series of air-to-ground and air-to-air scenarios that tested students on the Super Hornet Operational Conversation course. "For the first time, No 6 Squadron has been joined on Exercise Faru Sumu by No 1 Squadron," WGCDR Denney said. "This gives personnel and aircrew from both squadrons the opportunity to work together and maintain a high level of weapon proficiency. "Exercise Faru Sumu also provides invaluable training for our logistics, support and maintenance personnel as they practice deploying to other bases and working together with different squadrons. Deploying up to 18 jets and 250 personnel is a massive effort for the planning team," he said.
For the first two weeks the Super Hornets will operate in the Delamere and Bradshaw Range Complex, which offer adequate space and ranges for crews to simulate full-scale ground attacks. In the third week, aircrew will fly air-to-air gunnery sorties.