Current Australian Defence Force deployments

ADF deployments as at June 2007. Deployments of over 1000 personnel are coloured red, deployments of between 999 and 101 personnel are coloured orange and deployments of 100 or fewer personnel are coloured blue.

As of September 2008, around 3,500 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel are deployed on overseas operations. An additional 450-500 personnel are deployed on domestic maritime security tasks and 80 are serving with the Northern Territory Emergency Response.^[1]

[edit] Middle East

The RAAF has maintained a detachment of C-130 Hercules transport aircraft in the Middle East since late 2002. These aircraft support ADF operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The ADF currently has two-large scale deployments in the Middle East and three smaller deployments. These operations are commanded from a Joint Task Force Headquarters located in Baghdad, Iraq.

[edit] Afghanistan

Main article: Operation Slipper

In September 2008 over 1080 ADF personnel were deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Slipper, Australia's contribution to the international coalition against terrorism. This deployment began in October 2001. ADF units currently deployed to Afghanistan include:^[2]

• A National command, liaison and embedded personnel element located at Kabul
• A Special Operations Task Group
• A Reconstruction Task Force in Oruzgan Province
• An Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Detachment from the 20th Surveillance and Target Acquisition Regiment
• A Rotary Wing Group operating two CH-47 Chinook helicopters from the 5th Aviation Regiment
• An Air Force Control and Reporting Centre at Kandahar International Airport
• 15 gunners from the 8th/12th Medium Regiment are attached to a British field artillery regiment
• 20 personnel attached to the International Security Assistance Force
• A Force Level Logistic Asset at Kandahar
• The C-130 and AP-3C aircraft and the frigate in the Persian Gulf also support Operation Slipper

[edit] Iraq

Main article: Australian contribution to the 2003 invasion of Iraq

The ADF's contribution to the rehabilitation of Iraq, Operation Catalyst, forms the second largest ADF deployment. ADF This deployment began in 2002 when Australian units were deployed to the Middle East to prepare for the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. As of September 2008, approximately 1,000 ADF personnel were deployed to the Middle East as part of this operation. ADF units in or near Iraq include:

• The Joint Task Force Headquarters located in Baghdad
• Security Detachment Iraq which protects the Australian embassy in Baghdad
• 110 ADF personnel serving in the multi-national force headquarters and units.
• A small Combined Explosives Exploitation Cell which works with Coalition counter-Improvised Explosive Device units
• HMAS Stuart is the current frigate deployed to the Persian Gulf
• A detachment of three C-130 Hercules transport aircraft
• A detachment of two AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft
• A tri-service Force Level Logistic Asset, communications element and movement control group ^[3]

[edit] Other deployments

In addition to the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the ADF also maintains three small contributions to peacekeeping operations in the Middle East and Africa. As of April 2007 a total of 37 ADF personnel are deployed along the borders of Israel, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan as part of Operation Mazurka and Operation Paladin. A further 15 personnel form part of the United Nations Mission in Sudan. These operations began in 1982, 1956 and 2005 respectively.^[4]

[edit] Asia-Pacific

The ADF currently has units deployed on several operations in Australia's immediate neighbourhood.

[edit] Timor Leste

Main article: Operation Astute

Approximately 750 personnel, most of whom form part of the joint Australia-New Zealand ANZAC Battle Group, are deployed to Timor Leste on peacekeeping duties as part of Operation Astute. This deployment began in May 2006.^[5]

[edit] Solomon Islands

140 personnel are in the Solomon Islands as the ADF's contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands. This deployment began in July 2003.

[edit] Kiribati

Main article: Operation Kiribati Assist

[edit] Domestic operations

[edit] Maritime security

Main article: Operation Resolute

The ADF's contribution to Australia's domestic maritime security is conducted under Operation Resolute. Operation Resolute consolidated previous ADF operations and began in July 2006. As part of Operation Resolute ADF ships, aircraft and Regional Force Surveillance Units conduct patrols in conjunction with the Australian Customs Service. This operation is commanded by the Border Protection Command which is jointly manned by members of the ADF and Customs. Between 450 and 500 personnel were assigned to Operation Resolute in September 2007.^[6]

[edit] Northern Territory Emergency Response

Main article: Operation Outreach

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Australian Department of Defence Global Operations