The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has completed this year’s first rotation of Operation Gateway, with three P-8A Poseidon aircraft conducting maritime patrols from Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Butterworth as the mission marks its 45th year.
The detachment carried out maritime domain awareness patrols across the North Indian Ocean and South China Sea, monitoring activity along some of the world’s busiest shipping corridors connecting Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Same mission, different era ✈️
— Defence Australia (@DefenceAust) June 24, 2026
Operation Gateway is one of Australia’s longest-running Defence operations.
It has been bringing Australia and Malaysia together in support of regional security since 1980, with the first mission in 1981.
In the most recent Operation Gateway… pic.twitter.com/sg82mC2o9r
Australia’s longest-running bilateral operation
Operation Gateway is the longest continuous bilateral operation in Australian Defence Force history and remains a central element of the Australia-Malaysia defense relationship.
Since the operation began in 1981, Gateway aircraft have accumulated more than 30,000 flying hours and completed more than 3,500 sorties.
Squadron Leader Justin McCoy, the detachment commander, said the operation benefits both nations.
“Being based at Butterworth gives us proximity to our patrol areas,” McCoy said. “The situational awareness we gain from these missions is important for understanding the security environment.”
75 personnel behind the mission
The 2026 deployment involved more than 75 personnel from 92 Wing, along with supporting elements from across the Air Force, including 19 Squadron at Butterworth.
“Operation Gateway represents 45 years of collaborative operations,” McCoy said. “We’ve gone on a journey not only within Australia, but with Malaysia in lockstep with those changes. Everyone who has deployed here and supported us locally has worked really hard, and I’m very proud of the outcome.”
Same mission, new aircraft
While the P-8A Poseidon has replaced earlier maritime patrol aircraft over the decades, the mission itself remains unchanged. Each patrol contributes to a layered understanding of activity across critical maritime approaches, supporting informed decision-making for both Australia and Malaysia.
The Indian Ocean serves as an economic highway spanning multiple regions, making it one of the most strategically significant waterways globally.
Monitoring that activity continues to be the focus of the operation as it enters its fifth decade.