MELBOURNE, Australia - Australia has sent military aircraft assets and personnel to the United Arab Emirates as it prepares to lay the groundwork for possible operations against Islamic State elements in Iraq. The force contingent was deployed at the behest of Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who announced the step on September 14. The Australian force includes 400 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) support personnel, 200 ground troops (including Special Forces) intended to train Kurdish Peshmerga elements, eight F/A-18F Super Hornet strike aircraft, one Airbus KC-30 multirole tanker and an E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.
The deployment of the selected aircraft assets represents a strong statement by Australia, which acted at the behest of a U.S. request for assistance. Prime Minister Abbott stated that the Australian commitment - which also involves an earlier commitment of a C-130 tactical transporter and a C-17 strategic airlifter - comes with the backing of political opposition leader, Bill Shorten.
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