Royal Marine Commandos in Australian Outback training

Commandos and helicopter crews have completed an intense six-week training exercise in Australia’s Northern Territory, testing both their equipment and skills in challenging conditions.

According to a recent press release, three Merlin Mk4 helicopters from 845 Naval Air Squadron, along with 70 personnel, were deployed alongside the Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship RFA Argus to support the Littoral Response Group (South), led by Royal Marines of 40 Commando.

The central focus of the deployment was Predator’s Run, a large-scale amphibious and land exercise conducted in collaboration with Australian and U.S. military forces.

The exercise, one of the largest UK forces have participated in so far from home, saw more than 400 Royal Marine and Army Commandos operate over 9,000 miles away from the UK.

Throughout the exercise, the Merlin helicopters played a crucial role, flying missions that included island raids, deep reconnaissance, and personnel extractions across the harsh bush and semi-desert landscapes of the Northern Territory.

The helicopters operated from the deck of RFA Argus, often flying at night and maintaining stealth to avoid detection by simulated enemy forces.

In the press release, Lieutenant Aaron Dempsey, a pilot with 845 NAS, remarked on the demanding nature of the exercise, stating, “Taking part in an amphibious exercise alongside other nations is the height of what we can train for. As naval aviators, our speciality is providing lift from ship to shore to allow our marines to take a target.”

He added that the exercise pushed both the aircraft and the crew to their limits, “We’ve often been working at our maximum weight and our furthest range, so this exercise has given us a great opportunity to gain confidence in the aircraft and our ability to get the most out of them.”

The exercise required the commandos and their aerial support to cover more than 400 miles across the Outback, testing their ability to operate in extreme conditions. The training included orientation flights over the bush, operating in dust clouds during landings and take-offs, and maintaining the aircraft in the field.

With the completion of Predator’s Run, RFA Argus and her Merlin detachment are now heading west, continuing their deployment to support UK and allied operations.