The RAAF'S Surveillance and

Response Group (SRG) is the

RAAF'S Folce Element Group

(FEG) not onlY IesPonsible for

the bulk of the ADF'S airborne

intelligence, surveillance and

reconnaissance (lSR) work, but

also land and air based battle

space management, either

at home in Australia and its

immediate areas of interest, or in

deployed scenarios.

With the notto'Foremosr Sentnlel', the

sroup c,,nlprises ibu. \ahgs ard a |end

!urrtc6, lnd ls rrsually rhe Rl]\I\ nrost

rvidelr .lisfeiscd FEC$ith elemenLs 10

cate(l at c!e, ) flynrg bas. as wll ns sevcral

deploltd locatnm arourd the globc.

STRUCTURE

SRG was lorined n, 20041vith tlc nm.,l

ga ation ofdrc formd Nlaritinl. l'rtrolGnrup (l{PG) aid drc Sundllance a.dContrrn Croup (SCG) I{PC consisttd

trnnirilr of rhe RA-{F Edinburgli base{t

g2WG,while SCG rvrs rcsponsible for

41[IG and .+.lWG, xnd 2SQN

'SRC 1us stood ut to biiDg rogether

thc nvo grotrts thdt $t.e fo.uscd otr ISRln i mrritimc .lomaii, anJ in an air btttlenrnrgtmenrdonlni,"the ConimanrlerofSRG, AIRCDRIIJin Browi, @ld 4rnral,,,&'trl,,. " lrhough i'c didnlrcalll'conduct rnuch overland rvork back in those

dds,92WC is now doing over'lindISR,a.d did $ ir lraq and row i! Alghanishrl'$e ann wxs n) getsoine slncrgies because

rvlen thc group was tbrned tlc rvhgs wcre

srilll'ery stove-piped, and {evc derelopcd

r con.ctt and i strategic\isior of bolv io

ry!c.gise drese ciPr|ilities."'lhc R&UrWilLirnroer bascd 'l1\VG

NF'EI.IBEII 201O AUSIRALIAN AVIATION

F rcsponsible 1or dl ofrhe RAAF! ri'Jeli..e oferari.n,il aid nrinine !.its,inclLLding 3 C.Dftol aDd Rerorrifs II.iri3 CRI I ind the Sureillancc xrd CorrolTr.n,iirsll,,lt (S-{l'l Lrl at dre Lxste.rReglon L]t.riLids Cent,e iliAS'l tlOC)ir \r/ lrnroNn xnd r detx.hm.nr 01 J

CliU (l CRII DL,l l' I DL) \rhi.h rtrnsthe Noirhcrn tt.grn OterNtn)ni CentrciNOIiTHROCT rt RAAF Lhs. Tindrlinre I l,+ NIobll. G,nid rnd Reiroirl!gUlit (111 IICRU) 1r'hlch oter.tes rbbile-lPS ;; l-r\DRS mdrri (fi.tued otpisf.l[onr ns bise xtDrnin ind whi.h ]rn,txr rcnmcd lroD its dcplo\meitnith rTADIlS frcri -'Vl,jhinistxn: rnd 1 RiJx,rnd Srr\eill.ur.e llnir (1RSl-Il opcratjiqrhd Ji.drL. (l|cnrioml ltrd.r Ne."ork(JOR\) crpibilirr i,dn lidinbu.gl, r'lii.hnrlprirs tnree Oro rh. Hod,or Ridrrsi(lTTlll) lo..rcd rt sites n, South Auqrrlie. Wcnein r\htrNlix r.d Qn:cf niid

.I]ie \\iillixntolvn bxscLl +z\Vc \.sii,..ed in 2ll0a',and ls Lcsfon.lhle ft.lSqN (LeLhled in 2000) !rd tlc orre,xrlon ofthc nor 73; W.dgetril r\i h..eErrh \\ir n .e inir coilrot (AEwctc)trl,.rfr. drrcc oivhi.h hrle been LleL^

-cd to d! R'L\F dii rexr in ri ifterinlo isurrtl(D, rn,l rhrt sr*c'n\ r$o.iircd:rrinhg- xf(l Ltto( tr.ilirr.s (re OrtLdrr)a1l), )

ruso brsed !t \\rillix.itolrn i!.1,1WG\l,i.l, is

'csiorsiblc lirr r IDF rir tr.mc

enrol ope tnD ft l1 €ring|rscs x,olrdlN,rlir incl!dnrg thc r\rnr'-\iitnD blierr Llakc] ud \NrL r\ir Stfti,,. Noraix,r\ \rell xr rhe {,|torrifq {1C'lc.hnicilGiou.l Ljlc.ronic Sc 'iccs (GES). Perqrnd rnd nnnrlle e!uil\r.rt noin 4.+\\iGrrc rLso rblc ro l. dcpl.\td ro l.rrird or.,usrere xir6eld. nr t,oride ATC scrr.lccs

{h u drc JcploincrL crrlier dris rerr t0llxiri r. assrr if tl,c suLrLrlr oirtd tn r1,.

\ ikc ofthc d.!rs Lr d,lg ..rtl{ urLe there.'''Ihere rre nrri nforrns thatll.e or

.ued in the 1l\\G sfrce ind low tlrcr\crolcd fto'n \hanras r ftedirion.l fi-\.dirse rtl'C out int. dre hxrtleieLrl airPcenrn.Lgcmcrt," srld ATRCDIiE 13rorm.

lh.1ie noN \rorkirg.Loseh xrJ hrver()tLe e

'nldl{le(l $'i|r in Nxr)ifdn'irlrif

1,n,r in i d.plolrd crNlronmenl lD lrcr.rj wc sir h.r tidN dr\'ve ljl)t t()tle.letl,\ed l. Aighr.rsran in rliosc n|$.t:.1.s. At.+.+\\rC brordens Lheir s.otr fer-Lr s.lii,g lsRG tsJ fie rsR FLG,rrlr:i ! {L!$D t! be the ISR dr,l bmtlesprc.

gdnrbrigh b.s.d 92\fG ,nd its subordi:.re uDits. r0SQ\,11SqN ud 2925Q\::e re.porsible for the opention:nd the

-riniig oicr$6 tor tlc AP 3C Orion::,irnn!e re.!.tr.issan.e rn.fu1i Ther:,rii rfr tn)ride nor.nlr rhr nrditun,rl:::ri subniilrc ind inri nrili.c roles,

0'{LPIRA]l0NS9?rr:i:3ii;nianedatlersttr(oAP3Cs n the M dd e [asi since 2003 rsupl0d0f0peratonj Cataiyn and S ir:,:nrjinanl prarlDss0ns lDeDt0fDefenrel

nirLrnne flrnl .mJ :c..!ih ::,. .L:1 n .r\utfh Ls\ssr rrf,b:lrri.. - i:! fT)t.:b!r xhr rirc nDr. r.i.iil\ r.-l -:. ,I :!L:!,JlSlierde1e.r.onir.5igul..LnJ,-rr!:!rnicxrn).: inrelligen.e (IlI L\.'T.,5IGI\TCOIIIN l ) crpabllila

92NG r1r o;e,atcs nio pcrnrnenr dctr.lrretrG DET r\ xt tu\,IAF Basc Btrtrcnroltl if \lxhnir i. n4rtort oltlrc Fiv.Lro!vrr Dela..e ]\qree!,enr IFPD{), uJDIT B rt DrIin in supp.,r oiOperxri.nlRcdturc. ro r.lii.h xr lcrst rvo,\P-3Cs rrd.dl.ated rt iN onc d!e,.trrJ hr; manrtrifcd ir lcxst ntu AP :Cs itr Lhe lIilldl.Ern r\re. ofor)enrlins (\{EAO) sm.c200: !i luptorr or OpeLirions Clrtxlrst ISlitlfr, o{l ,.,r e ,ere.tln of rrd pnx.rn,li;ions nr drc -\xLrian Scx..he

role olHerdqulters SRL; ls

n) l.i.g,ll rlr.r .,Lf,billties ron.drer,".atlilncd AIltCDliE BLo\r. "Hr\i11g+2WG come or |orLd has rei l gnen aieslner{ies sorL rle h.Lve, re.J kichiloq.

Iti r iyingrvliq but it's,lso liqrih rn rnbxtl. n.nrgenent eLemcnr. and rhrr hrsrexlh l,clted.e eft thifgs rogcdr.L: \\eknd b l..k r.tu$ the srrt f ola s'hn.tul.lein t.hirA Lrdrer thx,r irr s'itl, i. dr.

IN TRANSITION

Derfire b.n,g cn.blisheJ nn)r-li,f slrr..us rg., SR(; is sdll r FEG i. rrxncirio..-\s ]\TRCDRE llrorvr erllNi.e(1, xlnn;r ill,,f SRG s .atrl,lli'les will le ssappctl outlor nci{ hard*ire.rer drc !.xl d...de.

''lfil)u lo.k rt d,. ops ol crfrbilitiesLhrt rrc nqgc.l to come rro thi; gnqrsitl,in tlic fcrt 10 r'ciis. d,ere trill er:li'tnelr bc i rctrcsh olrll oirhen,"licerphiIed. "Wcdgcnil is l)en,g r)lleJ.1llri we 5|.ak afr.. r ii! .hrLLenses nlr( fowi good n.!'s r..r, S. i! \.lgilirc.92\VC hrve die P l1'|i.h is A.trlig.losc

/1111!trAiiL C0llilllLl0 nt Bati efie d Airs0are C0rtr0 ersFtc0lFStualrBr0wrandlLTLTlenUKirkbylr0n4,1\'iG 0ren'e a rrraft m0,remenis n tfe arpr0ach r00m at fiAAl Ease taa! n d0 rg tre rereni Eier se

Pl$ Bldrl l0l0 (DPptollPtur.)

DLI: lr'1.!, LR 2l1l AUSIRALIAN AVIATI0N

tu Lr t[lncd llnhdon1]. re t|is dt.iLld,\tu1ir lhc ATC !!rx.c, Rcrc J.i!g i ..nlnl.tu- retL.sb of th. orer n ncin:. th! .\l'C

"t.,. r.'.rs u,l -, 's. ud nr.r or'

,l'" "",'u"

t,- So*he!,,1Lu,k r.r,.!rll ilc liig:, rlie.r. illrt

'rriou::nge'ol'rl$Liis rheiL.xrri)ilni$''Sr it r;or hl rrr,.: tlc lcctrur oi

rli. ri rNrrin$ !r,rieshcs rhe !Iouts.i.ir; t|rn\I, 1,,,11lh. \\'eJgc il ll..r i\

". r1,r nfnr. \'i,'iL.d. i. Llrr|,:,,,!,nlle,1otrr. 11\\'G fhhrln. :ir. r. r' rr. r1rr

11, oFirlre tmt,l.l tirrlLr 9:\\'C rilliotpl.rc tL. P.tur. '

1l,e Pfole.t.\1, sr33 \'lgilirc r)lLdtr

hi! hesr x l,mg iint.o.rinq tr'ifi.err l terhricrl dd contLrcnt!l diniculdcs

llnn.itrr pr.gre5s nrer th. trr l.ra terL:,

b!r f.lLo'vlng th. :,snnrg.fr no" Deid oiS.iiLcrorr nith |li,!. .intrr.lr Bo.ing

L).r:n.e t!{rilix ,i, fcbiuxLr 200'1, d1c

frqLnl.'rL,.Jv m, orun h,l.e l, r L, ,,i rr nU I I L t:tt.. I rd k\rir l"ftl,e r.*en rr NOItTI'lltOtl, \'ieihLtrce';iulh rLeburerl rt rhl' rcal Erori:el'lrch BLrci od ns srllt,lucndr rccclterl

intu jc,,i(, J 11rlir.lntrccl ntlrriLr.Lillrtilf .ithr:1n:n.t E \S-tRllC rr

\ isil& f iLL rrdx.c i1L oi rl. R-ql-s{iounl bxscn rlr defenr..onrnr.d i!roft,.L ic.lt srsr.fr' dd lvlllL..trDc rhc

Lc\ node Lor t|e r\Df's iLturc ncnlrirlccrtricNrLLrrc r Jnr;, serr csh pull

rq toqcrher sot,L tic,1s tronr oi1 rnJrlltrLr {Tll mrLrrs, IORN. rirLrnrr tt ttl \\. 'r \P'f ] is, Il ,.r. .. I r I fJtt|i,rrerrrr \:g:;,ltJ \.lthrli ch- f|Cs! i.dr..n:!ij ii: Irfrir..1c. 1rLi.n) prlrile: hbe;.(ngt;ci rir firue(R\|) {rr.rfrg rhc.friic clriLnrcfr ndns

Nell ut lill L.e drc dl'C srs.n rcfh.ef,crt frgirm un,lcr Alr i+31. \vli.I n riiij.r uiJcrlrliins br Ai, for!(i n.rlcrttof'rhicl l ecru't Diiinre i.loklng to

iliqi, ir px,,..nn xi mrl r\ fo$iLrlc riihthc rtru,reqL cr+i)ns Lr Ai6enirs Atr!

tfilix (r\SAl to rcf[.. rilil 'iattN.rnnurJ

'\\'e re rro, kirg rerr clLxill fitl -\s A

rdo$ L Llrgc !fititiirnts, rid nne oj

d!x. i! l,r,kir! io gcl rligiirdrl if rncquifrur bLLr t,cceuse,\Sr\ ls cqurllr

soiis ilLd,sb x sisriii.int tq!itilent rLL.sl,,'AlltcllR[ Bnrln sriJ'l}c.\S,\ard Aii t-or. 1,x, nou:rtion hrs lr.cn

JL 1 ,e .r fr:Je1! ..,1 r1. ', rt,,rndl. ,,r r.fr rl, atrl I

\\A, nJ r nrhe. rcr:c thrl. tr'hqe f.s.ib].,r'e do blr !,i ]ir srrer* to lererrgc

,)1i drosc.rp2lrillric..th. P.sLrm is Jnidd i.n, r1r ker

pl,ii.s.lLrs.I f ill r.c rlrt fir.d rx,Lr!,ephccd *itl noJen sr*erl!, . n,i PlLin' :\'lll..rertlt riae.l lr.ilitieir.tirrblslnDcnt\r\l n.n rir t,rni. nruxgen,enr ir{e'ns._IlLr m..c.llirl t.ide(s re erp(reJ LLr

1.c,el..r.d n,.l(1] 2. ud i,ll.tierxrnr.xL._xtr;ilin xr rl,e 1L lliii{ Lrase' rLour,t drr

.n!,irr is .ufeldr sllreJ 1or 201S

Llr. rHL oxid xir.rxii relli..ircntfo:r.n rir :llc r!ill bc drtr oi t|e\l' lC. !r.1c, Prt..r Air 70110 1'trh inr\.r ll:ed ll unmxN.d airrrrlhirirLLr !l:r.ti n) tun iir$. thi lntroducrorol rlie PIrsc I ll.dlin,c l-rinrnreJ'\rr irL

S,srcn i-\lltAS cl.F,,it $rs tulheJ t'x.lin, rh. 21120 lnfcrl1 ..lrbile Lfc mrmc.li.oL..,n!il. lilch . bc r'lilL dr. B.enrriit r.*"lP !\ illl'\.L'111L. n,ff.Ju..d

,\tltCDtlE Llro*r crlhircd rfrt Sli{ils lnnrh'cd rt r sr'qes ii rhe rU' 3C

rl.r r'..ti ( Ii.rl 'lirrlci .", l" l, .1 , n . P\\Tr ltl. l

\rirhdrrnil dxtl oi rh. P :l!, nlut '[]c1('.uscd !r "ir|ir dr g,otrP is ni lee l'hxt

'{'.rn do (.li.tf tir. .urcnr tlrtlr,nn*oiig n) iLs P\\iD l'|edreirr reel nl

rri.ll.eLriin c]en.f.!1lh. AP lC,\rhct|rL l]Fc 1'e obtulei.or.. i'iu.i or

.rf.bilii\ r$!11.ce iru*,,,r rhetlrrr the;e

rre rcgulxn,ir n$t\ nr rcrnr; oicn'urrt3rl,c iir.rii .,n .nirid!. n) flr nr nrLxr'!

il,sl,!.$. S. oor liel lo.u! is rilh .n nr

:l , Tteilrrlgeta Atl'l&C | 3t10rnr !sgnlcanLI000slrrSR1]!ratabl te: ilari ii lriti':l

.:,!

ir Ea L"!'lE: R aa l!i AUSIRAIIAN AVIATI0N

Iirt sxid,N a( .oNtrndr lirisi.g,:l Alr lorcc Herdgurrters (AFTI{) md:pablli,^ De\el(fne.r G,olt (CDC)

:.j.rdnrs il,nrr .atilrilirl.s. \\itllni SRG. hxr.e i epr|iliq dcitlotDe.t elemenr,rJ ther',c cngrgcd rrLLh tLe rxiiouc {,1{c-,l(Le,s lrithnr dur crprbiLii Jelel.tncnt

..r.. \'lrh in.re nr dle ft e ardr'har::: :ht tre (n.i.u.nlinc. ,\s rhrr discu!lnrl.uei noi, r.rpilrllio core to \rhlt tlt,e: thdirrnL lritjhr tulnlthir citrbilil1r!t

:icn he.ome i.!.lr.d in bo\v!e diNi::!n ion, rlrc orLl.nr opefutiob tu rlLr..onriigin Lhe piprlxie $re're jrr t rhcirdiig dgc ol dro* rnnide. ro$r"whllc dr.re w.s spe.u[dD x!(L tolid

rmol..dnen$ 1,.in I-lbcial lcadcrl'oln\trh.tt li rhc lcid up to Augunls ladeLrL

le.rlon dur thc |hes. I Xl.unnne II'lnxmcd AcrlrL S$td iIIIIASI elejncnt.id1c r\ir 70{10 P .l rethcen,efr progrimlrlgh' l,e brougnt tn rrrrLl ro iro!nd 201+,J,e published ri.,etxLrlc oix scr!i.c lirroludion .txi unn,xnncd .aprbilii. tonrrornd 2020 ipterri to renrin l. flx.e.

''SR(l Lxr.ni lookcLl rt dr. p.$ibill6 01

h,inBifg IrLis. t hrward bi,xs rc.llr Nshed rhe d evebfdre nr .l tlurfrcposal rs an opdxi n, h, AIRCDRILlronn sild."Btrtif n!!&ne sxid lye',elooking.L bLnrgnig ir lirrrxnl'. obr.l.$lrr. d ser!)6Lr h)l .r thrr t,.Lrosal, bill,f|er rhx. jLLrtsirc lr ro 92\\'C .trr,i.!!i! r'crorld rak r group l.r el l,!)k .Lt

lnl .hrllerrd rnd rnve n ion x g,.xfterpe.tne x..i,:: ill rli.r'ifgs.I]ur I r.ill,rhrt (l,olc ttlc originil d..ision i!r t!shPbxsc 1 bxck nr 21l20llvis rhe rerlislnon rl,ar$'nh rhc r!mber ol crprbilities..ming orlide .rd. $c .rigifrlh ti.fosedf.,l.d, tlicr. x'xr a totcntjxl rt .ou ld bcor.r.onrnnlmg ourehes. rnd Lt n[Jern'e n) de(rillct rhe lin.du.tt!, oilomc oirhorc ..pebillrics ro bcft.r murg.rlDsc ft rnsirion i.rl\idcs.

Jn rh. furDLnr., SltC c.flainh lii!r.hrllcnq. in nrxrlainnlg r nn[e ]SlirLprbilil rluring the trurnion iion the\P rC r,r i$ ,ctli..licnr ''\V.\. r,.,kiigr. miirnii d,c crpalrllltl.: jar{IlllCDlti tsrolln. t \!ouldd' !r\ drere Nillbe. d\r weit loking n, nlintxnr orr.per!tn!]. .lrrbil]n ni d,e grcrt$t ejent1ossil,le. \Vhlle tl,e nu,nber ofrlrrruftDight so doin.li t.nns oithc .r.vs indrh. houLt N. d.licrt. ro .pcLrrlons, ourotrje.rne i\ n, re ir rs liish r lere1 r; posjiblc rhrongh rhc ffrns1rion."

REFORIV]S

Oiie.ould be *.used i.rr thnrhrA, d!.n, its rch c \0utL xrd tl,e .fportunires thrt a host ofncw {p.Lbilities ..mirsrf rould trcridc, ilir SRG is ,ltc ftr rhr

odelnrplenerr.Ltlor of efllcien.ics 1.!rdund.r rhe Stntegi. Rdforh PFg'in (SRP)

currcn dr u nd.r}'i ! rcioss Delinr.. Tl!r r!AlltCDliE lJro\t ex rined, ntrc rcloljnmrst be ! .rre[ ]r DDrg.J tiocci! ridket,t nitl,i,, 1n ..sNni,fi,,.i .rticlLil

'SRP rvill mlke u\ rhinli,bour hf* \reg. xbrut ou, fusifes Rut ir rcnns ofwl,irrc do rnl n oc l,,ie tenn obi.nne'rml *ructure., rnrl hor.r'e *1rk bsetl,c,rcx\! the lvi,rs, rn.lthd gr.rt, tilrdruertxllr' i i.otq.ifg h.1,xiee 11,rr.1rnp.rrxftlr rhougl,, ir\r.ill mrlic us drn*x birnnan.r ibour ho\r wc io thlDgs

'''Ihe phn ls rhrL \Le ivolld not n\ lo rollSRI'.!t r.L.!! rh€ grorp roncurerrlr rndlLe ererrone ut rt dr. sanlc riDe, r{ rl,rtrculd b. b.r'ond our.atr.ini'l,e x(ld.dnr.losnrg. llrridr]s iiro! m s)ing md. SltP fiotrrlr\ou Dc.d Lo t\r if tli..sourJ i{uiJr Dr,.drerwin !,m',c por.r

iill LriLlnrs x hir oii hdrr o1crrd5. Soour O IHR..Lfi.,biLin in liti.burgh hr!bc.i dr tilot SRI frorrx,n.Ily doiis ir rtOTHII jrhi.li i! r much sinillcr organisriior nr tenrs ot ir. .i7c, ind dr nrrur !trhe otetutio., rtu ENonrbI lors$d ir'sa ii\ed x-er, rhe,.1!r. rre rr! rpfLr niemeth,{ll,loslcs .lSLUl lcdn Lhe Lenlrs.ud rtflr ni,t xtro$ dr. orhci!nre. rnd

S!.h r n,ex re.t )fd.ercli,l rtpror.lis.c r tu hold rhe FIIG xnd rhc Rd{l:rs a Lvh.le in go.C qr.id..sp..ialh h tljcride, AllF s.rl .ircilisnlg $re s20bilLi.. i. sxvinss ortr lh. ndi Je.rJd r\id\uth rhc rc.hf.losr ard .aprbititr rt,l[e'.f!,nis or lLfc ii tl,c ncrr d..nlL. rnd.i{kxter cntl,,rsis l.lr! drc.d .r lSlt rnlrctL$rhlnr, SRG I.111 |i p.ojjdon ar rlrle.dinc c(lse nfoLrhlldlrj -1u:relia\ s.clritr rid ifrcrcsrs n. nn. Llr li,LLft. r,

D!;ill.i: ii\Ul'.l: ilirll4lllcatbattemanagementACOtuGOFFPhi krerty r tfe operdiions rcom 0ftheC0ntr0andRet0nngC9ntrenilandihafAigranstanD!rnqtretu0yearAfghandepoyneni4t!/cpr0,r ded at batt e management and deronl ri 0r for !9t 000 roalt0n a rraji m0rem"onh (LAC Aar0n

1]urlan/Deptol Delence)

1l:ttil;:) lllttl l4WC pers0fle depoyedear ?rtrsie?rt0Natl!at'sl nthesutpy0iad ntherake0f the dtuastat ng %irhqrake there lDapt o1 Dele rrei

I]F'FtI: -I 2NIiI AUSTRATIAN AVIATION