Whose Name We Share

102 Exercise Radar Trial In August, the battery returned to Port Wakefield’s proof and experiment range to retrieve their equipment. They’d sent maintenance teams in periodic fashion to ensure the workload didn’t go to their gracious host, but a few days were spent cleaning during this time as they prepared for the coming trial. Under the new BSM, the battery had access to kitchens and mess quality food as long as they cooked it themselves. No complaints were had. After the battery had taken the equipment back to Cultana however, a maintenance injury had sent one of the members to Port Augusta hospital to have their ailment looked over. It was then confirmed that he had contracted COVID-19. This was received as a blessing at the time as a few members had been feeling unwell and if left unchecked would have been catastrophic for the trial coming on the following Monday. Six members in total had contracted COVID. Raytheon Australia is an American owned technology company who works as a defence contractor. They are a well trusted capability partner for defence whose most notable achievements include joint fires, integrated air and missile defence and advanced testing of capability systems. The trial would see the battery become a part of joint battlespace systems testing, firing low rates to ascertain Raytheon’s radar’s honing capabilities as well as the subsequent dispatch of firing data for the use of counter battery fire. The battery would act as an enemy battery, fire a few rounds and test the radar’s capability in this fashion. Only a few days of firing occurred over a week’s period, culminating in a BC’s fire plan to expend any ammunition allocated for the trial but not otherwise used. The battery returned to Darwin at the conclusion of the trial in a staggered fashion to ensure the security of the equipment left in Cultana. This gave rise to opportunities to go on local leave and call home as they periodically returned to the training area to commence the next exercise.