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.
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.”
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.”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.