Department of Defence, Australian Government

Global Operations

Southern Indian Ocean

Southern Indian Ocean News

Commander Air Task Group, Group Captain Craig Heap (left), greets Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin, AC (centre) on his arrival at RAAF Base Pearce, Western Australia.

International military air search fleet returns home

Aircraft and crew from the seven countries that contributed to air search operations for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 gathered at RAAF Base Pearce to say their farewells on 29 April.

The Commanding Officer of HMAS SUCCESS, Captain Allison Norris, RAN, exchanges ship's plaques with Commander Lin Wan, a Liaison Officer from the People's Liberation Army-Navy destroyer HAIKOU (DDG-171).

Chinese Navy Liaison Officer farewelled after successful visit

Commander Lin Wan of the People�s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) was farewelled from HMAS Success on 20 April following a successful 12-day placement as part of Operation Southern Indian Ocean.

Chaplain Colin Tett, RAN of HMAS SUCCESS holds a service during the Easter period for personnel onboard whilst deployed in search of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.

Easter on task for Operation Southern Indian Ocean

More than a thousand miles away from the nearest coast, men and women on ships deployed to Operation Southern Indian Ocean spent the traditional long-weekend �break� scouring the ocean for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

Transit Security Element, Corporal Peter Stokes looks through binoculars whilst on watch onboard HMAS Perth as part of Operation SOUTHERN INDIAN OCEAN. HMAS Perth is in search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.

Army on watch in HMAS Perth

The support to Operation SOUTHERN INDIAN OCEAN is truly a tri-service undertaking with soldiers from HMAS Perth's Ship's Army Detachment (SAD) assisting the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force in the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.