The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has concluded its third biennial Air Warfare Instructor Course (AWIC), following a six-month-long series of exercises throughout Australia. AWIC22 integrated warfighting functions across a range of specializations to develop expert air warfare instructors who will represent the next generation of tactical and integrated warfare experts in air combat. AWIC22 encompassed three integration exercises – Exercise Diamond Seas, Exercise Diamond Shield, and Exercise Diamond Storm.
Commander Air Warfare Centre, Air Commodore Ross Bender, said, “The course encompassed a range of academic activities and practical exercises that exposed the candidates to complex scenarios, focused on broadening and improving their skills. We introduced the AWIC candidates to complex war-like scenarios designed to integrate people, systems, and combat effects across the five warfare domains: air, land, maritime, space, and cyber. AWIC is designed to ready the warfighter, producing air warfare instructors who are both knowledgeable in their expertise and approachable to our wider workforce.
“Diamond Seas and Diamond Shield brought together Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, and Air Force elements in complex maritime and defensive counter-air-focused scenarios, providing training opportunities to practice and consolidate integrated tactics. As the culmination activity, Diamond Storm provided our candidates with the opportunity to apply their skills in high-end warfighting scenarios alongside international partners,” Air Commodore Bender said.
The Diamond Series of exercises enhanced and promoted Air Force’s interoperability with the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, and international partners. AWIC22 activities were conducted from RAAF Bases Amberley, Darwin, Edinburgh, East Sale, Pearce, Tindal, Williamtown, and Shoalwater Bay Training Area throughout the first half of 2022. RAAF and international aircraft will return to the Northern Territory from mid-August for Exercise Pitch Black 22.
