The 16th Aviation Brigade (16 Avn Bde) commands all the Australian Army aviation units and has technical control of the Army Aviation Training Centre reporting to Army Aviation Command.[1][2] The Brigade was formed on 2 April 2002 by combining Headquarters Divisional Aviation (Operational Command) and Headquarters Aviation Support Group (Technical Command) and is headquartered in Enoggera Barracks, Queensland.[2][3][4] It was originally named Headquarters 16th Brigade (Aviation) and was renamed to the 16th Aviation Brigade.[3][5]
| 16th Aviation Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Active | 2002–present |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Aviation |
| Size | 1,150 (active)[1] 150 (reserve) |
| Part of | Army Aviation Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Enoggera, Queensland |
| Insignia | |
| Unit colour patch |  |
The Army Aviation Training Centre (AAvnTC) based at Oakey is responsible for training and maintains a training fleet reporting separately to Army Aviation Command.[1][6]
Organisation
editAs of 2023 the 16th Aviation Brigade consists of:[4]
- 16th Aviation Brigade headquarters (Enoggera Barracks, Brisbane, Queensland)
- 1st Aviation Regiment (armed reconnaissance helicopter, Robertson Barracks, Darwin, Northern Territory)
- 161st Reconnaissance Squadron
- 162nd Reconnaissance Squadron
- Logistic Support Squadron
- Technical Support Squadron
- 5th Aviation Regiment (transport helicopter, RAAF Base Townsville, Townsville, Queensland)
- A Squadron
- B Squadron
- C Squadron
- Logistic Support Squadron
- Technical Support Squadron
- 6th Aviation Regiment (special forces transport helicopter, Holsworthy Barracks, Sydney)
- 20th Regiment (Unmanned Aerial Systems, Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera)
- 131st Battery
- 132nd Battery
- 133rd Battery (forming 2024)
- Operational Support Battery
- Combat Service Support Battery
- 1st Aviation Regiment (armed reconnaissance helicopter, Robertson Barracks, Darwin, Northern Territory)
Equipment
edit| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing CH-47 Chinook |  United States | Heavy-lift transport helicopter | CH-47F | 10 |
| Eurocopter Tiger |  Europe | Attack and Reconnaissance helicopter | Tiger ARH | 22[7] |
| Sikorsky S-70 Blackhawk | United States | Multi-role transport helicopter | S-70A-9 | 20[8] |
| NHIndustries NH90 | Europe | Multi-role transport helicopter | MRH-90 Taipan | 41 |
References
editFurther reading
edit- Dennis, Peter; et al. (2008). The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History (Second ed.). Melbourne: Oxford University Press Australia & New Zealand. ISBN 978-0-19-551784-2.
- Gubler, Abraham (2008). "Army Aviation's New Decade of Growth". Asia Pacific Defence Reporter. 34 (5): 16–19. ISSN 1037-1427.