RAAF Woomera Range Complex

For other uses, see Woomera.

The RAAF Woomera Range Complex (WRC) is a major Australian Defence Force (ADF) facility and operation located in the North-West Pastoral Region of the State of South Australia. The WRC is today operated by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The facility was previously known as the 'Woomera Rocket Range' between 1947 and 1980 when it was operated by the Australian Commonwealth Government as a Defence research and long range weapons testing range.[1] Since 1980 the Range has had various other titles but in more recent years (under RAAF management) the facility has mainly been known as the 'RAAF Woomera Test Range'. In 2013, and as part of the ongoing redevelopment and remediation of Woomera[2] into its 'next-generation' configuration in readiness to support the ADF's 'Force2030' plan,[3][4][5] the range facility was reorganised and renamed to the 'Woomera Range Complex' (WRC).

The WRC is a highly specialised ADF test and evaluation 'capability' operated by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) for the purposes of 'testing war material' (refer Defence Force Regulation 34). The ground area of the WRC is defined by the 'Woomera Prohibited Area' (WPA) and includes the Nurrungar Test Area (NTA). The WPA covers an area of 122,188 km2[6] and is described by the RAAF as 'the largest land-based test range in the western world'. The airspace over the WPA is also an integral part of the WRC. Entry into 'Woomera Restricted Airspace' (WRX) is able to be controlled by the RAAF for safety and security reasons during the conduct of some activities on the Range. When required, the RAAF issues a 'Notice to Airmen' (NOTAM) which effectively 'closes' access to any part of the airspace over the WPA when safety or security needs require such action during the conduct of Defence activities at Woomera.

Air Warfare Centre - Woomera Range Complex

The RAAF's management of the Woomera Range Complex, as of 12 January 2016, was reorganised under the new RAAF Air Warfare Centre (AWC). Operations management of the Range is managed through Headquarters Air Warfare Centre, while day-to-day operation of the range is the responsibility of the Woomera Test Range Squadron, which is expected to be renamed to a 'numbered' squadron during 2016. The Woomera Test Range Squadron is a sub-element of the Air Force Ranges Directorate (AFRD), which is also part of the Air Warfare Centre. Headquarters AWC, Air Force Ranges Directorate and the Test Range Squadron are all currently based at RAAF Base Edinburgh, in Adelaide, South Australia (although some permanent range staff are stationed at RAAF Base Woomera). RAAF Base Woomera was formed in January 2015 by amalgamation of RAAF Woomera Aerodrome and the Woomera Village. No.20 (Woomera) Squadron was formed on 1 April 2015 to manage the operation of the aerodrome, while the Woomera 'village' element of RAAF Base Woomera essentially continues to operate as it has done since 1982. The Defence Estate & Infrastructure Group manage the operations of the village within the new RAAF Base Woomera structure, but the village remains open to the public as it has been since 1982. The Village remains totally owned and operated by Defence and exclusively supports the needs of Defence activities at the WRC.

RAAF Woomera Test Range

Map of the Woomera Test Range

The RAAF Woomera Test Range (WTR) is the principle formation of the WRC and the primary operational reason for the existence of the Range Complex. Access to and use of the WRC is managed through Headquarters, RAAF Air Warfare Centre, with the AWC's Air Force Ranges Directorate (AFRD) responsible for assuring the overall capabilities of the Range. The day-to-day operation of the WTR element of the WRC is the responsibility of the Woomera Test Range Squadron (WTR SQN). In this role, the WTR SQN is also directly supported by HW AWC, and 20SQN and Defence contractors permanently based at RAAF Base Woomera.

RAAF Base Woomera

RAAF Base Woomera is co-managed, but as part of the wider WRC facility, by RAAF Combat Support Group (CSG) and the Defence Estate & Infrastructure Group (DEIG). CSG's role, delivered through No.20 (Woomera) Squadron, is to essentially operate the aerodrome precinct ('Base Sector North') element of the base in direct support of Defence activities at the WRC. DEIG's role with the WRC is two-fold; firstly DEIG is responsible for the operation of the 'village' support elements of the base (i.e. 'Base Sector South') such as messing, accommodation, security and other normal RAAF Base services and, secondly, DEIG are responsible for managing the wider Defence estate and infrastructure needs of the entire Range and Base complex. Consistent with the operation of all other RAAF Bases, DEIG manages a range of contractors to Defence to deliver the required services at Woomera.

References

  1. ↑ See "Fire Across the Desert" by Peter Morton (AGPS 1989)
  2. ↑ See the 'Defence Capability Plan (DCP)2009-2019 'Remediation of the Woomera Test Range' http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/id/dcp/html/jp/JP3024.html
  3. ↑ See Article at: http://www.strategicdefenceintelligence.com/article/90z6iWPEObw/2010/10/22/australia_plans_to_spend_157_million_on_woomera_range_remedi/
  4. ↑ See: 'Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific century: force 2030': http://apo.org.au/research/defending-australia-asia-pacific-century-force-2030
  5. ↑ See: 'The Strategic Reform Program - Delivering Force2030': http://www.defence.gov.au/publications/reformBooklet.pdf
  6. ↑ Woomera Prohibited Area Coordination Office (WPACO)- See: http://www.defence.gov.au/woomera/about.htm
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