5th April 2024 at 1:30pm
RAF Lossiemouth has extended a warm welcome to a crew from the Royal Australian Air Force as they stopped off at the end of their six-month deployment in Eastern Europe.
The RAAF E-7A Wedgetail aircraft, one of the most advanced airborne early warning systems in the world, landed in Moray for a stopover on its way back to Australia after being deployed on Operation Kudu.
Operation Kudu saw the E-7A airborne early warning and control (AWACS) aircraft support the multinational effort to provide early warning for potential threats from Russia outside of Ukraine.
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This deployment saw the Wedgetail log around 250 hours of flight time, with each mission averaging five hours.
Up to 100 Australian Defence Force personnel were deployed to Ramstein Air Base in Germany in support of the E-7A’s mission.
“I commend our people on their hard work and commitment, channelling our ethos of being a ready, resilient and resourceful force,” said Australia’s Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Robert Chipman.
“I wish all our returning personnel a safe journey home and an enjoyable time reconnecting with family and friends.”
Operation Kudu will continue throughout 2024 with up to 90 Australian personnel providing training to Ukrainian armed forces personnel in the UK.