Army, US forces build NT airfieldPosted Fri Jun 29, 2007 A team of Australian and United States military engineers has built an air strip in less than four weeks at Bradshaw Field Training Area (BFTA), south-east of Darwin in the Northern Territory. A new dirt runway has been created within the Australian Defence Force's newest property, which stretches across more than 8,500 square kilometres from Timber Creek in the south to the Fitzmaurice River in the north and the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf in the west. The creation of the runway is part of Exercise Talisman Sabre, which involves joint Australian and American training. Abrams tanks ready for actionPosted July 7, 2007 08:01:00
The Australian Defence Force has declared the first American-supplied M1A1 Abrams tanks ready for battle. Army chief Lieutenant General Peter Leahy will attend the Abrams Tank Squadron readiness parade this morning at the Robertson Barracks outside of Darwin. Australian Air Power Controversy: F-35 and Super Hornets Under Fire - Source |  | Rolling out: An M1A1 Abrams is put through its paces at the Puckapunyal training area in Victoria (Department of Defence) |
| Abrams tanks ready for action... Commanding Officer of the 1st Armoured Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Hayward says crews have undergone intense training to reach this stage. "We've sent about 200 soldiers over to the United States over the last two years," he said. "They've trained with the Americans. They've operated the tank in the US and they've brought those skills back to Australia. "We've practiced at Mount Bundy training area and they've taken to the tanks very well." Colonel Hayward says today's parade is also a farewell for the 30-year-old Leopard Tank Squadron. "It's served us particularly well. It's like saying farewell to an old friend and it will be missed, but certainly what's replacing it is absolutely outstanding," he said. |
Army, US forces build NT airfield... The scrub was cleared and carefully levelled and compacted into a 1.3-kilometre strip, all in less than 25 days by 215 personnel from both countries. The dirt surface and turning aprons have been specifically constructed to safely land C-17 Globemaster aircraft. Today's official opening at BFTA saw which Australian and American C-17s giving the strip its first major test. The Australian Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd, joined Commander of the US 7th Fleet, Vice Admiral William Crowder, at the opening. "The ADF (Australian Defence Force) is still developing Bradshaw Field Training Area, and an airstrip which can accommodate Australia's newly acquired C-17s is a major boost for the facilities here," Air Marshal Shepherd said. | 
