A Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan has deployed with supporting personnel to the Cook Islands and Tonga for a multinational Pacific maritime surveillance mission under Operation Solania. The Australian Defence Department confirmed the deployment on 9 June 2026, describing it as the first ADF mission to the Cook Islands under the operation.
The surveillance effort is focused on detecting and deterring illegal fishing across the region. During the mission, crews detected 12 vessels of interest near the Cook Islands and Tonga, while air riders from the Cook Islands’ Ministry of Marine Resources joined the airborne activity alongside Royal Australian Air Force and Australian Defence Force personnel.
The mission also involved the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, reflecting a broader regional approach to maritime security and fisheries enforcement. Defence said the integration of Cook Islands personnel into airborne operations is intended to support capability building while extending surveillance coverage across the Pacific.