Australia Concludes Two-Year Afghan Airspace Mission

The Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) 41st Wing has concluded its two-year operation in Afghanistan airspace in support of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom.

Marking the end of its ‘eye on sky’ mission, the RAAF’s control and reporting centre (CRC) at Kandahar Airfield handed over operations to the US Air Force’s 71st Expeditionary Air Control Squadron.

During the operation, the RAAF provided air battle management and deconfliction for coalition aircraft movements.

The CRC is comprised of about 70 Australian personnel including RAAF air combat officers, air surveillance operators and communications electronic technicians along with a USAF communications team.

The CRC began operations as the lead command and control agency for the airspace in Afghanistan in August 2007.