Defence Minister Richard Marles has confirmed that an Australian E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft, deployed to the Middle East, is feeding critical intelligence into a United States-run command centre coordinating regional military responses.
Speaking in Canberra following high-level talks with New Zealand officials, Marles acknowledged that data collected by the RAAF aircraft is processed through the Combined Air Operations Centre in Qatar, a facility central to the Pentagon's command and control.
While the Minister insisted the deployment is strictly in a “defensive capacity” to protect Gulf states—specifically the United Arab Emirates—from Iranian missile and drone threats, the revelation has sparked concerns regarding the "ringfencing" of Australian intelligence.
When pressed on whether this data could be utilised by the US or Israel for offensive strikes against Iran, Marles maintained that the information flow is a necessary component of "integrated defensive measures."
He argued the mission serves Australia's national interest, citing the large expatriate community and the ADF’s presence at Al Minhad air base.
The deployment, which includes the supply of medium-range air-to-air missiles to the UAE, has drawn sharp criticism from those who fear Australia is being drawn into another "forever war."