The E-7A Wedgetail was tasked with more than 45 operational missions. Photo: Supplied / Australian Government
By Mazoe Ford, ABC
Australia's most sophisticated military surveillance plane was deployed 45 times next to Ukraine in the last three months as part of NATO efforts to monitor Russian activity.
The missions, which were carried out by a Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail aircraft and its crew, can now be revealed as the team wraps up a secondment to Poland and heads home to Williamtown, near Newcastle.
A senior NATO official confirmed that the Australian plane was in the air to assist NATO with surveillance when Russian MiG jets violated Estonian airspace for 12 minutes on 19 September.
The aircraft's crew provided critical surveillance, communications and early warning on threats. Photo: Supplied / Australian Government
It was also on patrol on the night of September 28, when Ukraine suffered some of the heaviest drone and ballistic missile attacks since the start of Russia's invasion in 2022.
The NATO official said about half of the other Wedgetail missions involved the crew scrambling to respond to potential threats.
Most of the flights were over supply lines delivering international aid to Ukraine. Photo: Supplied / Australian Government
The rest were scheduled patrols.
"They did their mission really, really well, we were super excited and proud to have them in the mission," the NATO official said.
The Wedgetail's reconnaissance capability, including a radar with a 400-kilometre range, meant the Australians could deliver valuable intelligence to NATO from afar.
Most of the flights were over supply lines delivering international aid to Ukraine.
The NATO official said they could not go into any more specifics because "we don't want Russia to know what we can see and sense".
The Wedgetail and some of its crew landed on Wednesday at Melsbroek Airbase in Brussels ahead of the long journey back to Australia.
Flight Lieutenant Rhett Allen, Corporal Jonathan Zingle and Flight Lieutenant Georgia Crean. Photo: ABC News / Mazoe Ford
Before giving journalists a tour of the aircraft, pilot Georgia Crean said it was a "privilege" to be a part of the team.
Praise for Australia from NATO chief
During a packed press conference at NATO headquarters, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised Australia's contribution.
"This very practical cooperation is really crucial and I highly value that relationship with your proud nation," he said, responding to a question from the ABC about Australia's Wedgetail deployment.
Rutte added that working closely with Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea was crucial.
"We acknowledge that the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific cannot be seen as two separate theatres - they are combined," he said.
"And we know that if China would do anything against Taiwan, most likely that Putin will be forced by Xi Jinping to move against NATO, so we have to stand ready, we have to work together."
The Wedgetail aircraft was deployed to Europe to help Ukraine. Photo: Supplied / Australian Government
Operating amid 'an actual threat'
The Wedgetail deployment has been a huge learning curve for the 90 Australian crew, who rotated through shifts over the three months.
Wing Commander Sam Thorpe said the experience was "invaluable" because the crew was working in an environment "where there's an actual threat".
"We've really kicked the door open on any ADF operations in Europe, by being able to rapidly deploy that [surveillance] capability and have secure communications and data with our NATO allies," Thorpe said.
"We've been able to operate seamlessly within the NATO command structure and in Polish air space."
Wing Commander Sam Thorpe said the experience was invaluable. Photo: Supplied / Australian Government
When asked by the ABC whether the ongoing suffering on the ground in Ukraine weighed on the team as they conducted operations in the air, he said "absolutely".
"It does weigh heavily on us," Thorpe said.
The ADF deployed a Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail aircraft to Poland. Photo: Supplied / Australian Government
The RAAF Wedgetail and its crew will now be replaced by a similar aircraft and crew from Türkiye.
Australian Ambassador to NATO Angus Campbell said the Australian government would need to "balance" any future requests for the plane to return with other deployments in the Indo-Pacific.
"The ability to be able to contribute and support Ukraine is something that the crew here is very proud of," he said.
"But whether - and in what form - Australia's contribution continues as we have already done, that's always going to be a matter for government."
Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 the Australian government has provided $1.5 billion in military and humanitarian aid.
Australia has been the largest non-NATO contributor of military assistance to Ukraine.
- ABC
