Some Exercise Rogue Ambush 2022 Action including RAAF Airbus A330-203 / KC-30A (MRTT) A39-003 Completing a Missed Approach at Rockhampton Airport

On Tuesday 29 November, there were three Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft all noted departing RAAF Base Amberley and flying around the region in support of the RAAF's Exercise Rogue Ambush 2022.  But poor weather meant they returned to Amberley with little other action noted during the morning.

Defence image...

KC-30A's A39-001 as "Dragon 14" and A39-007 as "Dragon 64" both flew out from Amberley but returned a short time later.  KC-30A A39-003 as "Dragon 66" however, flew up from Amberley and completed a missed approach in the rain at Rockhampton Airport before then returning to Amberley.

Fellow RAAF Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-003 as "Mitchel 02" flew up to the Exercise area from RAAF Base Williamtown but soon after flew down to Amberley. 

While at Rockhampton Airport, Air Affairs (Australia) LearJet 35A's VH-SLD as "Fencer 12" and VH-LJU as "Fishbed 21" departed but also returned soon after due to the inclement weather.

During the afternoon, again at Rockhampton Airport, LearJet 35A's VH-VLJ as "Fencer 31" and VH-SLD as "Fencer 32" flew out and back, while VH-LJU as "Fishbed 41" also again took to the air.

Elsewhere, Wedgetail A30-003 again as "Mitchel 02" flew back up from Amberley to operate in the Exercise area before later returning to Williamtown.

While KC-30A A39-001 as "Dragon 14" was heard to fly with flights of RAAF Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft as "Hunter", "Hawkeye" and "Hipshot", which all completed sorties out of and back to RAAF Base Amberley.   

Plus it seems a flight of RAAF Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jets also flew up from and back to Amberley to the Exercise area as "Brutal".

Finally, late on Tuesday 29 November, and possibly not related to the Exercise, but RAAF Alenia C-27J Spartan transport aircraft A34-001 as "Kaos 76" looked to complete airwork around the Charters Towers area while on a flight out of and back to Townsville.