RCAF Participates in Multinational Exercise in the Indo-Pacific Region
Image: CC-130 Hercules while conducting SAR training over Lake Winnipeg in Gimli Manitoba on 25 July 2022 Credit Corporal Eric Greico
Aircraft and personnel from the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) will participate in Exercise Mobility Guardian 23, a United States Air Force Air Mobility Command-led multinational exercise held in the Indo-Pacific Region, from July 5 to 21, 2023.
The aim of Mobility Guardian is to strengthen allied and partner nation interoperability across airlift, air-to-air refueling, aeromedical evacuation and air mobility operations in contested, degraded and operationally limited environments. This exercise features seven participating countries: Australia, Canada, France, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States operating approximately 70 aircraft across multiple locations with an exercise area spanning more than 4,800 kilometers.
As a Pacific nation, Canada is taking part in the exercise to enhance the RCAF’s capabilities while strengthening Canada’s collective capacity to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“Through combined exercises like Mobility Guardian, we not only showcase the RCAF as a mission-ready and combat-capable force, we also build and strengthen alliances with our partner-nation air forces. These relationships help maintain stability and ensure free access to common domains in the Pacific in accordance with international law.” Lieutenant-General Eric Kenny, Commander Royal Canadian Air Force
“Exercise Mobility Guardian is an excellent opportunity to deepen connections with regional allies and partners, while enhancing our awareness and proficiency in this important region in which our members and aircraft are increasingly operating to support the Government of Canada.” Major-General Iain Huddleston, Commander 1 Canadian Air Division
ADDITIONAL INFO
• RCAF is contributing key capabilities to Mobility Guardian 23, including CC-130J Hercules tactical transport aircraft, CC-150T Polaris air-to-air refueler aircraft along with RCAF Aeromedical Evacuation, RCAF Critical Care Aeromedical evacuation, and RCAF Expeditionary Air Traffic Management teams.
• Specifically, two CC-130J Hercules from 436 Transport Squadron, a CC-150T Polaris from 437 Transport Squadron and more than 100 RCAF personnel are participating in this exercise.
• Members of the RCAF will be engaged in air mobility and airlift operations, air-to-air refueling and aeromedical evacuation training with allied and partner nations.
• The RCAF Expeditionary Air Traffic Management Unit, comprised of RCAF personnel from 8 Air Communications and Control Squadron, 2 Wing Bagotville (operating out of 8 Wing Trenton), will be supporting coalition flying operations in both Guam and Palau.
