The Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 (IPE 19) Joint Task Force (JTF) has returned to Australia following a three-month regional engagement mission to South and South East Asia.
HMAS Canberra has anchored off Darwin, having visited seven nations since March 2019 during the third IPE iteration since its inception in 2017.
IPE 2019 was notable for including the second-ever overseas deployment of Army’s Tiger Reconnaissance Helicopters. The Tigers used the embarked period to work up an ARH amphibious capability under Plan Kestrel – Army’s roadmap for the development of an amphibious Air Combat Element (ACE), comprising Tiger ARH, MRH90 Taipan and CH-47F Chinook helicopters.
IPE 2019 was also an opportunity for Australian defence industry to showcase products and services.
Chief of Joint Operations, Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld, said this third iteration of IPE was one of the most ambitious regional engagement activities undertaken by the ADF.
“With four ships and various aircraft; more than 1200 personnel from across the ADF, partner nations and Defence industry; this was a landmark activity for our modern joint force,” AIRMSHL Hupfeld said.
“The command team performed superbly coordinating this complex series of international engagements, and the embarked forces represented Australia with characteristic warmth and professionalism.
“IPE 19 was a sophisticated demonstration of joint force integration, combined interoperability with partner forces, and military diplomacy.”
During IPE 19, HMAS Canberra was joined by HMA Ships Success, Newcastle and Parramatta. A P8-A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft also participated in several regional visits, as did Army’s 2nd and 3rd Battalions RAR, RAAF personnel and public servants.
IPE 19 visited Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia.
It has also been reported that every ship on the exercise was shadowed by the Chinese Navy and some helicopters were gounded due to pilots being targeted with lasers by fishing vessels. ADM understands that the exercise went incredibly well and has no plans on changing its format in future years.