A patch of bushland within Townsville Field Training Area is at the heart of a new airbase resilience capability for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), after Exercise Bronze Crocodile 2025 transformed Woolshed Airfield into the first purpose-built training site for Airfield Damage Repair (ADR).
"This was the first time we've been able to do live ADR training on home soil, using real equipment and real craters," Commanding Officer of 65 Air Base Recovery Squadron (65ABRS), Wing Commander Paul Howell, said.
The exercise involved the construction of a 200-metre asphalt runway and tested the full spectrum of post-attack response and recovery operations.
"This included crater excavation to rapid runway reinstatement, marking a new chapter in how Air Force prepares to keep aircraft flying in contested environments," Wing Commander Howell said.
The training built vital recovery skills for members of 65ABRS and visiting members of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) 192 Construction Engineering Flight.
"It's a critical capability and we need to be able to repair airfields quickly under pressure. Having this facility in Townsville allows us to build that skillset at scale," he said.
The United States Air Force (USAF) 554th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer - commonly known as RED HORSE Squadron - from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam led the training.
USAF Silver Flag instructor Master Sergeant Tyson Jensen, whose role involved instructing future warfighters to keep weapon platforms moving, noted the professionalism and enthusiasm displayed by all aviators stood out from day one.
"They were hungry to learn, and their motivation and professionalism made the training we delivered extremely effective. They're ready," Master Sergeant Jensen said.
He also praised the integrated approach and adaptability of the Australian aviators.
"We teach a 12-step method for crater repair and what impressed me most was how quickly they picked up the process," Master Sergeant Jensen said.
Aviators from 65 Air Base Recovery Squadron were embedded alongside instructors from the 554th RED HORSE Squadron under a train-the-trainer model to build long-term instructional capability.
"They weren't just learning - they were already thinking about how to teach it. That's the kind of mindset that builds lasting capability," Master Sergeant Jensen said.
He noted the significance of the training site itself.
'Having a site like this in Australia means aviators can train regularly, refine techniques and bring in more partners. It's a game-changer.'
"This location is a force multiplier. It's not just a patch of asphalt - it's a launch pad for future readiness," Master Sergeant Jensen said.
"Having a site like this in Australia means aviators can train regularly, refine techniques and bring in more partners. It's a game-changer."
For the first time in Australia, teams used fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) matting to cap crater repairs.
The matting enables aircraft to land or take off within hours of an airfield being damaged.
Leading Aircraftman Jimmy Egan, a member of one of the integrated repair teams, said the task was both technically demanding and highly rewarding.
"We were handed a crater and had to make it safe for aircraft again," Leading Aircraftman Egan said.
"We cleared the debris, compacted the layers then laid down the FRP matting. Every step mattered.
"The goal was always the same: get the jets back in the air as fast and as safely as possible."
The exercise was also the first time RCAF engineers from 2 Wing had joined a large-scale ADR activity on Australian soil.
Master Corporal David Lowe said the integration between partner nations was seamless.
"We had Canadians, Australians and Americans working side by side in every task," Master Corporal Lowe said.
"We all brought something different. And we shared techniques, adapted to each other's tools and procedures and got the job done as one team."
The concept and construction of the training site were driven by Air Force Headquarters' Air Combat Capability Enablers Branch (ACCEB), which partnered with USAF engineering squadrons to bring the vision to life.
Squadron Leader Ben Whyte, from ACCEB, said the exercise filled a critical gap in the ability to practise and perfect airbase recovery on home soil.
"Until now, these skills were only practised overseas in limited numbers," Squadron Leader Whyte said.
"We wanted to walk away from this not just with trained personnel, but with the tools to train others sustainably in Australia."
With the Woolshed site now established, future iterations of Exercise Bronze Crocodile are already being planned. The facility is expected to become a key training location for airbase recovery activities.
Meanwhile, the exercise also introduced new vertical construction elements, including a deployable hangar built using a DomeShelter system, water purification tasks using expeditionary systems, and the creation of a Durabase aircraft apron.
