MAJOR Lawler protecting Australia

Reporter: Tony Lawler (proud dad)

The ARH Tiger flown by Major Ben Lawler during recent exercises off the disputed island in the South China sea.

Amid growing concern about potential threats to peace in the Indo-Pacific, a Royal Australian Navy task force has completed a three-month tour of seven key regional nations.
Led by the flagship HMAS Canberra, the four ships on the Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 (IPE 19) operation visited India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia on one of the RAN’s most complex and ambitious operations in peacetime.
‘This deployment sends a very strong message throughout the region that Australia’s a very capable and committed partner, friend and ally.’
While a focus of the trip was on humanitarian and disaster relief operations, it can’t have been lost on anyone that the flagship carried four of the army’s Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters from the 1st Aviation Regiment.
The army fliers were there to take advantage of the extended time at sea to qualify for deck landings by night and day and in varied weather conditions.
Despite years of problems getting the Tigers operational, their pilots say they have matured into very capable combat aircraft. They ‘go like Greyhounds’ and they’re very well suited to the ship.
It’s telling, too, that the helicopters were flown to Malaysia on the RAAF’s giant C-17 transport planes. They were assembled there and were then flown out to HMAS Canberra.
‘With the Tigers on board, the landing ships can carry out a whole range of additional missions with greater security.’