Australian and Indian air crews operating P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, recently trained together during Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2023, a four-month long regional engagement activity. 

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon crew and Indian Navy P-8I crew undertook the bilateral training at Indian Naval Air Station Rajali located in the Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. 

Aircrew from both nations joined a flight aboard each other’s aircraft, experiencing the similarities and differences in how they operate.

“What I saw flying with the crew was absolutely superb, both the Australian and the Indian teams were incredibly professional aviators. I was very proud to see it,” Air Commodore Tony McCormack, Commander Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2023, said. Air Commodore McCormack was responsible for the acquisition of the RAAF P-8A Poseidon aircraft during his time as Director Surveillance and Response in Capability Development Group. 

Both sides also practised coordinated maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare missions, in addition to working side-by-side on joint maritime surveillance and response interoperability training.