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DARWIN (Reuters) – One of the world’s youngest air forces is taking part in military exercises with cutting-edge stealth fighter jets as the Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea strengthens defence ties with Australia and the United States.
Papua New Guinea trainees line up in northern Australia to take off alongside US F-22 Raptors and Australian Joint Strike Fighters during the 20-nation Dark Night military exercise this week.
“This is a learning experience for our small air force and will help build our air force,” said Maj. Randall Hepota, one of six PNG air force pilots flying three small P-750 turboprop aircraft.
Domestically, the New Zealand-built aircraft can take off and land over very short distances and transport supplies and troops to dangerous mountainous border areas.
Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Vaval, commander of the Papua New Guinea Air Wing, said Pitch Black provided an opportunity for the world’s best pilots to showcase their skills and helped Papua New Guinea learn how to integrate into a larger coalition force.
“We are becoming an air force. Flying in Papua New Guinea is a must,” he said in an interview at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin on Saturday. “Eighty per cent of the population live in rural areas – so the only way you can reach them is by flying.”
He said the Papua New Guinea air force was likely to land closer to the Enga landslide disaster site in May than the larger Royal Australian Air Force aircraft could to deliver aid.
“We have been training with the Royal Australian Air Force for several years and the Enga landslide was our first deployment,” he said.
The small Papua New Guinea aircraft landed in remote Jabiru to deliver supplies during the “hour of darkness”, as well as at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, home to Australia’s F-35 fighter jets.
Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn inspects a Papua New Guinea aircraft during an open day at the Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin.
Australia and the United States reached a defense agreement with Papua New Guinea last year amid strategic competition among major Pacific island powers, and Beijing is also making overtures to Papua New Guinea.
“Papua New Guinea is one of our key allies in the region,” said Fiona Pearce, a senior defence force officer at RAAF Base Tindal.
She added: “Their survival is interdependent with our survival.”
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