United States Air Force (USAF)

Recently, as part of Exercise Global Dexterity, two C-17A Globemaster III aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and United States Air Force (USAF) conducted low-level flying over PNG.

The exercise also involved the RAAF using the C-17A to deliver engineering equipment to Manus Province in preparation for construction activities during Exercise PUK PUK later this year.

The C-17A is a versatile aircraft that both Australia and the United States use to deliver critical supplies throughout the Indo-Pacific region, often on short notice.

The exercise is for air support in the region, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief under a combined training conducted by RAAF and USAF.

The training provided by PNG airspace is said to provide a unique and beneficial training environment to simulate high density altitude operations, as well as exposure to weather and terrain not available in Australia.

Both parties are grateful for opportunities to practice in this environment and will take care to ensure disturbance to the local populations is kept to a minimum.