Exercise Nigrum Pugio has recently been held at RAAF Base Townsville, with the joint-live fire exercise allowing defence personnel the chance to practice close air support for soldiers on the ground during operations.
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The exercise is conducted with the RAAF and Forces Command (FORCOMD) Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) in order to conduct JTAC currency training, assessment and evaluation.
Defence said that "the training provided is not routinely available in the combat brigades, enabling the sustainment of the JTAC capability within FORCOMD. It ensures Defence personnel are capable of coordinating close air support to soldiers on the ground during operations".
The RAAF deployed F/A18A Hornets from 75 squadron in support of the exercise, and the Australian Army also used a Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter to provide close air support during Nigrum Pugio 2019.
For a closer look at the exercise, please scroll through the image gallery above.