Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Tuesday that Australia will deploy a specialist reconnaissance aircraft and advanced air-to-air missiles to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to protect civilians following a surge in Iranian aerial attacks.
The deployment consists of a Boeing E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft and approximately 85 Australian Defence Force personnel. The mission is scheduled for an initial four-week period and aims to secure the airspace above the Gulf states as regional instability threatens thousands of expatriates.
Prime Minister Albanese confirmed the decision followed a direct request from UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. According to Australian government figures, the UAE has intercepted more than 1,500 rockets and drones since the onset of the current conflict. There are an estimated 115,000 Australians currently in the Middle East, with 24,000 residing in the UAE.
"The first priority of my government is and always will be to keep Australians safe," Mr. Albanese said during a press conference at Parliament House. "Helping Australians means also helping the UAE and other Gulf nations to defend themselves against what are unprovoked attacks."
In addition to the surveillance aircraft, Australia will provide a stock of Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs). Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles emphasised that the equipment is strictly for defensive purposes and that Australia will not engage in offensive operations or deploy ground troops into Iran.
The E-7A Wedgetail, often described as a "flying radar," is capable of monitoring more than four million square kilometers of airspace during a single mission. It will provide the UAE with critical long-range reconnaissance to detect and manage incoming aerial threats.
"The requests that we are meeting today and the announcements we are making today, all of this is in defense of the Gulf countries," Mr. Marles stated. "That is the basis on which our personnel are being deployed."
The aircraft is expected to depart Australia immediately and become operational in the region by the end of the week.