Australia confirms data sharing with US from surveillance aircraft

Australia will share intelligence gathered by a deployed reconnaissance aircraft with the United States as part of efforts to support security in the Persian Gulf, Defence Minister Richard Marles confirmed.

According to ABC News, Marles said the Australian E-7A Wedgetail, deployed last week at the request of the United Arab Emirates, is capable of sharing collected data that could assist US operations, including improving strike precision against Iran.

The deployment includes 85 personnel from the Australian Defence Force, along with air-to-air missiles supplied to replenish UAE stockpiles. The aircraft is equipped with advanced radar systems capable of tracking both air and maritime targets across an area larger than Western Australia.

Marles emphasised that the mission is defensive in nature and not intended for offensive operations against Iran, stating that its purpose is to protect Australian nationals and other civilians in the region.

He noted that all intelligence collected by the Wedgetail is transmitted to the Combined Air Operations Centre, a joint military facility in Qatar used by the United States to coordinate regional air operations.

“This is really important in terms of coordinating all the integrated measures to protect Gulf countries and the UAE. It would not make sense to use this capability without providing that information to ensure the protection of those countries and the safety of Australians living there. But fundamentally, this is a defensive mission and a defensive capability,” Marles said.

Defence experts note that the Wedgetail’s long-range surveillance capabilities make it particularly effective in identifying launch sites for Iranian missiles and drones.

By Tamilla Hasanova