RAAF C-17 assists USMC in HIRAIN training mission

The U.S. Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) has carried out its first HIMARS Rapid Infiltration (HIRAIN) training mission with the help of a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17.

U.S. Marines with High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems platoon, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin drive a HIMARS off of a Royal Australian Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft after a combat landing during Exercise Loobye at Bradshaw Field Training Area, NT, Australia, Aug. 12, 2021. HIMARS were loaded onto the C-17 at RAAF Darwin and flown to BFTA as part of a HIMARS rapid infiltration demonstration during a bilateral exercise with MRF-D and the Australian Defence Force. Exercises like Loobye demonstrate MRF-D’s ability to conduct operations as a joint force with the ADF, execute expeditionary operations, like HIRAIN, and exemplify their mutual dedication to being postured and ready to respond to a crisis or contingency in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Master Sgt. Sarah Nadeau)

HIRAIN is a “move, shoot, move” concept in which a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) vehicle is loaded into a C-17 and transported to a remote location where it can be rapidly deployed to fire its rockets.

But first, the Nackeroo Airfield at Bradshaw Field Training Area had to be seized by a company of Marines from 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment (Reinforced) so that the C-17 could land there to offload the HIMARS. The assault team was flown in by MV-22Bs with AH-1Zs providing escort.

The RAAF C-17 lands at Nackeroo less than an hour after seizing of the airfield. While in flight, the HIMARS had gained some targeting assistance using the navigation system on the C-17. Once the vehicle drove out of the ramp, it had the most updated information on its position and could rapidly launch a GPS-guided rocket at its target.

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