Over the week of April 23-26, RAAF Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Robert Chipman and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Chief of Air Force Air Vice Marshal Darryn Webb visited Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG).
The Chiefs of Air Force met with PNG ministers, senior government officials and officers from the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF), and leaders in the civil aviation sector. Their aim was to understand PNG’s aviation ambitions and identify opportunities to build on the already close defence partnerships shared by Australia, New Zealand and PNGDF.
“When we talk about finding Pacific solutions to Pacific security challenges, us travelling together to PNG is a way of demonstrating how serious we are about that,” Air Marshal Chipman said.
Air Vice Marshal Webb said the long-standing relationship between PNGDF and RNZAF was a very important one.
“We don’t do things in the region alone, we do things absolutely together all of the time, in our force preparedness and responsiveness. We come with a common voice, we see the challenges in the region in the same way,” he said.
Acting Chief of the PNGDF Commodore Philip Polewara welcomed the Chiefs of Air Force to Murray Barracks where they held meetings in the Kumul Leadership Center, built by the New Zealand Defence Force and opened in 2022.
Commodore Polewara also joined the Chiefs to commemorate Anzac Day, attending a dawn service at Bomana War Cemetery on April 25.
“You trusted our forefathers and that trust built on mutual respect and honesty continues today,” Commodore Polewara said.
“Our partnership was forged by the Papua New Guineans, Australians and New Zealanders who fought together, but we must not live in the past. Their legacy is our inspiration.”
The Defence partnership between the three nations is based on close historical ties, including World War 2, intertwined security interests in the Pacific, and mutual interest in strengthening PNG’s sovereignty and defence capability.
The visit also included tours of the PNGDF Air Transport Wing, where the Defence Pacific Air Program funded a major refurbishment by the Australian Defence Cooperation Program to modernise the aircraft hangar and office space for a growing Air Element.
“Investing in defence and our defence capability is an investment in our sovereignty; working together gives us a shared understanding and an opportunity to share our perspectives,” Air Marshal Chipman said.
During the visit, Air Marshal Chipman had the opportunity to reunite with a fellow 2016 graduate of Defence and Strategic Studies Course (DSSC), Chief of Force Preparation Colonel Craig Solomon from the PNGDF.
“We have a great connection already; it’s easier for me to have a personable relationship with Air Marshal Chipman from our time at DSSC together,” Colonel Solomon said.
“This is really important for our bilateral relationship. For the air element, our level of engagement has increased, especially around developing air culture and safety.”
