Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing EA-18G Growler Electronic Warfare Jets in Exercise Rogue Ambush 2022 at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA)

On Tuesday 6 December, three Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jets were again heard participating in the RAAF's Exercise Rogue Ambush which is currently underway within the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) and also the Townsville Training Area. They were heard to be complete sorties from RAAF Base Amberley to eventually land at Townsville - as pictured below - before then later returning to Amberley.

The three Growlers to land at Townsville were identified as A46-305, A46-303 and A46-309 and were again heard to be flying as "Sabre" and "Wolf 21".

They were joined by the 'usual' three 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 both in the morning and afternoon.  Plus other RAAF Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jets as "Brutal" which joined the F-35A's

RAAF Airbus A330-200 / KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-001 as "Dragon 14" was also again noted in the area providing air-to-air refuelling support to the jets.

RAAF Boeing B737-7ES / E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft A30-003 as "Mitchel 12" flew up from RAAF Base Williamtown to the Exercise area, and on completion, then returned to Williamtown.

Meanwhile, also on Tuesday 6 December, the action at Rockhampton Airport included RAAF Pilatus PC-21 Forward Air Control Aircraft A54-048 and A54-049 completing a sortie to the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) and back to Rockhampton Airport as "Mayhem"

And Air Affairs (Australia) LearJet 35A's to complete sorties out of and back to Rockhampton Airport included VH-LFA and VH-SJD as "Fencer" and VH-LJU and VH-VLJ as "Fishbed".

Photos taken by Graham Aspinall and 'BW'  ©