Operation Resolute - domestic maritime security
Information correct at 8 August 2010
Operation RESOLUTE is the ADF’s contribution to the whole-of-government effort to protect Australia’s borders and offshore maritime interests.
It is the only ADF operation that currently defends homeland Australia and its assets. The Operation RESOLUTE Area of Operations covers approximately 10% of the world’s surface and includes Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone which extends up to 200nm around the mainland, Christmas, Cocos, Keeling, Norfolk, Heard, Macquarie and Lord Howe Islands.
Commander BPC, Rear Admiral Tim Barrett, AM, CSC, RAN, is the overarching operational authority that coordinates and controls both Defence and Customs assets out of his headquarters in Canberra. Located in Darwin, the Deputy Commander of Operation RESOLUTE, Commodore David Gwyther, RAN, is responsible at the frontline for ADF assets operating under Operation RESOLUTE.
The ADF assets protect Australia’s maritime domain from security threats. These threats include:
-
Irregular Maritime Arrivals,
-
Maritime terrorism,
-
Piracy, robbery and violence at sea,
-
Compromise to bio-security,
-
Illegal activity in protected areas,
-
Illegal exploitation of natural resources (eg. illegal fishing), and
-
Marine pollution
-
Prohibited imports and exports.
At any one time, up to 400 ADF personnel at sea, in the air and on the land, are working to protect Australia’s borders and offshore maritime interests. They work alongside personnel from Customs and other agencies.
ADF resources allocated to Operation RESOLUTE comprise:
-
Air Force AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft that provide aerial surveillance of Australia’s north-west and northern approaches;
-
At least seven Navy Armidale Class Patrol Boats (ACPBs) operating daily throughout Australia’s northern offshore maritime areas;
-
Australian Army Regional Force Surveillance Unit (RFSU) patrols which conduct land based security operations;
-
A Transit Security Element (TSE) of approximately 37 personnel from either Army or Air Force who embark in the ACPBs;
-
A standby Navy Major Fleet Unit (MFU) for northern waters response; and
In addition, ADF units transiting the area of operations, whilst not assigned to Operation RESOLUTE, also contribute to the overall surveillance and security effort through their presence and standard reporting procedures.
AP3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft - RAAF
Located at RAAF Base Edinburgh near Adelaide, the Orion is the workhorse of No 92 Wing. The AP-3C Orions and their air crews assigned to Operation RESOLUTE are typically deployed to RAAF Base Darwin from their Adelaide headquarters for rotational periods of three-months.
The Orions are relied upon to conduct long-range surveillance missions within Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone and provide early warning of maritime security threats. They provide approximately 2000 hours of aerial surveillance to Operation RESOLUTE per year.
The Orions are fitted with a variety of sensors, including digital multi-mode radar, electronic support measures, electro-optics detectors (infra-red and visual), magnetic anomaly detector, identification friend or foe systems, and deployable acoustic detectors.
Armidale Class
Patrol Boats (ACPBs)
The Navy operates 14 ACPBs, of which at least seven are engaged in Operation
RESOLUTE at any one time. The vessels work hand-in-hand with other Government
agencies and each year they provide up to 3000 patrol days as part of the
BPC-coordinated national surveillance effort.
After an aerial surveillance report is received, an ACPB may be directed to the location of a vessel of interest to conduct an investigative boarding. Between July 2009 and May 2010, ACPBs have conducted more than 270 investigative boardings on fishing vessels and Suspected Irregular Entry Vessels (SIEVs), resulting in more than 100 apprehensions.
ACPBs have a range of 3000 nautical miles at 12 knots and a maximum speed of about 25 knots. They are equipped with high-definition navigational radar, high, very high and ultra high frequency communications equipment, gyro compasses and an echo sounder. ACPBs are also fitted with a satellite navigation system that enables the ship's position to be determined with great accuracy.
Regional Force Surveillance Units (RFSUs)
Army RFSUs are tasked with the land and littoral surveillance of the inhospitable areas of northern Australia as part of Operation RESOLUTE.
With headquarters in Cairns, Broome and Darwin respectively, the three RFSUs include:
-
51st Battalion Far North Queensland Regiment (51 FNQR),
-
The Pilbara Regiment (Pilbara Regt), and
-
North West Mobile Force (NORFORCE).
The RFSUs play a vital role in the detection of threats through continual surveillance of the northern coastline and hinterland of Australia.
The RFSUs conduct reconnaissance patrols by foot, vehicle and watercraft; conduct surveillance from static observation posts (OPs); and by systematic communication and liaison with police, customs, other regional authorities, and with local landowners.
Transit Security Element (TSE)
The TSE consists of approximately 37 security-trained Army or Air Force personnel who embark in Navy ACPBs. Their role is to supplement the existing Navy Boarding Party team by providing additional security onboard apprehended vessels.
This task is shared between the Army and Air Force with each TSE conducting a three-month rotational deployment to Operation RESOLUTE. The current Transit Security Element is in its 57th rotation since inception. Known as TSE 57, it consists of predominantly Army personnel.
History
Operation RESOLUTE commenced on 17 July 2006 and consolidates previous ADF operations including Operation RELEX II (SIEVs), Operation CRANBERRY (illegal fishing and smuggling), Operation CELESTE and MISTRAL (patrols of Australia's southern ocean), and patrols protecting Australia's gas and oil infrastructure.
Information correct at 12 February 2010
|
|
Up to 400 ADF personnel are working to protect the Australia’s borders and offshore maritime interests as part of Operation Resolute. Separate ADF units transiting the area of operations also contribute to the operation through their presence and standard reporting procedures.
ADF resources allocated to Operation RESOLUTE comprise:
-
seven RAN Armidale-class patrol boats (ACPBs), with up to an additional two ACPBs when the unauthorised arrival threat level warrants further response capability;
-
AP-3C Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft that provide surveillance of Australia’s north-west and northern approaches;
-
Australian Army Regional Force Surveillance Unit patrols which conduct land based security operations; and
-
a Transit Security Element of 20 to 32 personnel.
-
a standby RAN Major Fleet Unit (for northern waters response);
-
a standby major RAN fleet unit and underway replenishment vessel when advised that the Customs Charter Vessel is unavailable (for a Southern Ocean patrol);
In addition, ADF units transiting the area of operations, whilst not assigned to Operation RESOLUTE, also contribute to the overall surveillance and security effort through their presence and standard reporting procedures
Information correct at 6 August 2009
The ADF’s contribution to the whole of government focus on
domestic maritime security activities are conducted under Operation RESOLUTE. Up
to 400 ADF personnel are assigned to Operation RESOLUTE including:
ADF resources allocated to Operation RESOLUTE comprise:
-
seven RAN Armidale-class patrol boats (ACPBs), with up to an additional two ACPBs when the unauthorised arrival threat level warrants further response capability;
-
AP-3C Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft that provide surveillance of Australia’s north-west and northern approaches;
-
Australian Army Regional Force Surveillance Unit patrols which conduct land based security operations; and
-
a Transit Security Element of 20 to 32 personnel.
-
a standby RAN Major Fleet Unit (for northern waters response);
-
a standby major RAN fleet unit and underway replenishment vessel when advised that the Customs Charter Vessel is unavailable (for a Southern Ocean patrol);
In addition, ADF units transiting the area of operations,
whilst not assigned to Operation RESOLUTE, also contribute to the overall
surveillance and security effort through their presence and standard reporting
procedures.
