Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 - Luftwaffe (German Air Force) Airbus A400M Atlas Transport Aircraft 54+14 as 'GAF61' Back at Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Thursday 17 July, Luftwaffe (German Air Force) Airbus A400M Atlas Transport Aircraft 54+14 as 'GAF61' flew up from RAAF Base Amberley low level with a loop at a beach near Bundaberg and one near Calliope before landing at Rockhampton Airport. It then departed to Townsville.

Like the previous day, two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) British Aerospace (BAe) Hawk 127 jets completed two sorties during the day out of and back to Rockhampton Airport as "Puma".

Similarly, two Astra Aerospace / Air Affairs (Australia) Learjet 35A bizjets also completed two sorties during the day out of and back to Rockhampton Airport but as "Blackjack".  Looks like they went up as far as Mackay today.

And LifeFlight Australia (Eagle Copters Leasing) Bell Helicopter Textron 412EP VH-XGB as "Guardian 20" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Archerfield and the Sunshine Coast.  It then departed to Mackay Airport.

Photo taken by Steve Vit  ©️

Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 (TS25) Kicks off in Spectacular Fashion in CQ - HIMARS Launch in Shoalwater Bay - Aust & US Aircraft and Helicopters at Rockhampton Airport

Australia’s largest bilateral military exercise, Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 (TS25), officially commenced over the weekend following an opening ceremony on board the Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Adelaide.   

Now in its 11th iteration, TS25 is the largest and most sophisticated warfighting exercise ever conducted in Australia.

Over the next three weeks, more than 35,000 military personnel from Australia and partnering nations will deploy across Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, New South Wales and Christmas Island. For the first time, activities will also be conducted outside of Australia in Papua New Guinea.

In addition to the United States, forces from Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the United Kingdom will join as partners.

Malaysia and Vietnam will also attend as observers.

This year’s exercise will consist of live-fire exercises and field training activities, incorporating force preparation activities, amphibious landings, ground force manoeuvres, and air combat and maritime operations.

And on Monday 14 July, Australian Army soldiers, joined by U.S. Army artillerymen, fired their High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) for the first time, marking a significant upgrade to Australia’s long-range strike capabilities.

The HIMARS launch was the highlight of Monday’s live-fire event at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA), which also featured M777 howitzers from the U.S. Marine Corps and the Australian Army and South Korean tanks and self-propelled artillery.  F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters flew overhead during the event as AC/DC’s "Thunderstruck" played over loudspeakers.

Officers and other dignitaries and politicians were transported into Rockhampton Airport from Sydney (and Canberra) on board Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-003 as "Dragon 01" and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-8 MAX BBJ A62-001 as "Envoy 36".

They were then transported to the Bay on board two Australian Army CH-47F Chinook helicopters as "Stockman".  

They returned to the Australian Army District Support Unit (DSU) compound nearby to Rockhampton Airport before heading back out to the Bay and then back late to Rockhampton Airport.

While also arriving into Rockhampton Airport and staying on deployment was three Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) British Aerospace (BAe) Hawk 127 jets as 'PUMA51' which arrived from RAAF Base Williamtown.

They were identified as A27-01, A27-08,  and A27-23

And possibly as part of the deployment of the Hawks, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Search and Rescue (CHC Helicopters Australia / Lloyd Helicopters) Agusta AW139 helicopter VH-SYZ as "Choppa 41" arrived into Rockhampton Airport yesterday and today completed a local flight.

Meanwhile, also on Monday 14 July, two formations of highly modified helicopters operated by the elite United States Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) passed through Rockhampton Airport, heading up to Townsville where multiple Special Operations helicopters will be deployed during the Exercise.

The first formation consisted of three Sikorsky MH-60M Blackhawks callsign "BOUNTY HUNTER 11" - which also passed through Mackay Airport - then following behind later this afternoon was a formation of two Boeing MH-47G Chinooks (19-02928 & 19-02929) callsign "THUNDER 21". 

They were also spotted arriving into Townsville.

A contingent of four new Australian Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters operated by 6 Aviation Regiment were spotted passing through Rockhampton Airport also heading to Mackay Airport and then Townsville.  A60-007 and A60-008 as "Justice" passed through first followed later by A60-002 and A60-011 as "Prophet".

Plus two The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopters also passed through Rockhampton Airport also heading up to Townsville.  They were identified as 86000 and 86000 and arrived together as "Celtic" before departing separately as "Celtic" and "Cyclops".

All these helicopters join the two Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Bell CH-146 Griffon helicopters that arrived yesterday.

And United States Navy (USN) Sikorsky MH-60S Seahawk (Knighthawk) helicopter 167854 / RB-11 was spotted visiting Rockhampton Airport once again as "Valkyrie 62".

Finally, also on Monday 14 July, some other movements in association with Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 included Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-001 as "Wallaby 45" which had flown up from RAAF Base Amberley with other aircraft for a parachute drop, landed at Rockhampton Airport following the drop and then returned to Amberley.

Armée de l'Air (French Air Force) CASA CN-235-200M '105' (Code 62-1G) as "COTAM1161" completed low-level operations in an area out to sea North of Mackay after flying up from RAAF Base Amberley.

Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Boeing P-8A Poseidon NZ4801 as 'EVRST73' was noted operating out of Townsville.

While Australian Army Boeing Insitu RQ-21 Blackjack (company name Integrator), unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) have been see on online flight tracking sites flying in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA).  They have been noted as A61-007 (7CFB0C) as HYDRA07 and today A61-003 (7CFB08) as SPYRO03 and A61-006 (7CFB0B ) as SPYRO06.

And the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) Airbus A400M Atlas transport aircraft serial 54+14 as 'GAF61' was due to visit Rockhampton Airport from Townsville.

Finally, also on Monday 14 July, maybe not associated with the Exercise was Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-004 as "Wedgetail 03" flew up from RAAF Base Williamtown to complete a missed approach at Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport and another at Emerald Airport before then returning to Williamtown.

 

Sincere thanks to the local plane spotters for their help in preparing this post!

Photo taken by Trevor Hardsman, Steve Vit and Glenn Lloyd  ©

Luftwaffe (German Air Force) Airbus A400M Atlas Transport Aircraft 54+14 as 'GAF61' Spectacular Overfly of Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Saturday 12 July, Luftwaffe (German Air Force) Airbus A400M Atlas transport aircraft serial 54+14 as 'GAF61' flew up the Queensland coast low level from RAAF Base Amberley then turned and flew up the Fitzroy River to over the top of Rockhampton Airport where it complete a spectacular low pass over the Airport.

The massive Luftwaffe transport plane then departed the area and continued onwards to Townsville at low level. Quite spectacular!

Meanwhile, also on Saturday 12 July, Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) NH Industries NH90 helicopter NZ3303 as "Warrior 03" was spotted flying around the Whitsundays area on a flight out of and back to Townsville.

Of interest, another two RNZAF NH90 helicopters NZ3306 and NZ3307 are also currently deployed to Townsville.

Australian Army Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopter A15-305 as "Stockman 11" then A15-309 as "Stockman 12" departed Rockhampton Airport to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) and returned separately late in the afternoon.

And the United States Navy (USN) Boeing P-8A Poseidon with serial number 169567 as "Shiner 21" flew up to and area off the Shoalwater Bay Training Area and back to RAAF Base Amberley.

Sincere thanks to the local plane spotters for allowing us to share these great photos!

Photos taken by Steve Vit and Ash Burggraff  ©

Luftwaffe (German Air Force) Airbus A400M Atlas Transport Aircraft 54+14 as 'GAF61' Spotted at Rockhampton Airport - Plus More!

On Wednesday 9 July, the lead up to the joint Military Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 (TS25) really stepped up a notch with a couple of awesome visitors into CQ at Rockhampton Airport, including one first-time visitor to the region!

Luftwaffe (German Air Force) Airbus A400M Atlas transport aircraft serial 54+14 as 'GAF61' arrived into Rockhampton Airport from Townsville and was photographed touching down and then parked on Bay 6.

It then departed to RAAF Base Amberley, flying at not above 1000ft - departing from Rockhampton Airport's Runway 33 and flying down the river and over town.

Of interest, the German Air Force Airbus A400M is a high-wing aircraft with four turboprop engines, a pressurized cabin and a rear cargo door, and is designed as a strategic and tactical transport and tanker aircraft.  All 53 of the German Air Force Airbus A400M aircraft are stationed with 62 Air Transport Wing in Wunstorf, Germany.

Meanwhile, also on Wednesday 9 July, Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Boeing B757-2K2 NZ7571 as "Kiwi 313" arrived into Rockhampton Airport from RNZAF Base Ohakea and Townsville. 

It was also photographed arriving and then parked up for the night also on Bay 6.

UPDATE!  On Thursday 10 July, the RNZAF B757 "Kiwi 313" departed Rockhampton Airport for Auckland.

Finally, also on Wednesday 9 July, Australian Army Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopters (believed to be) A15-313 "Stockman 11" and A15-309 "Stockman 12" flew out to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) and late this afternoon each returned separately.

And Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-003 as "Dragon 30", which had flown North West from RAAF Base Amberley in the morning with another RAAF KC-30A MRTT "Dragon 31" then turned to go to Townsville, before later flying down from there to complete a missed approach at Rockhampton Airport.

It then returned back to Amberley.

Photos taken by 'IAD' and Steve Vit  ©