Newcastle’s eye in the sky

The salt air and sight of cargo ships floating at anchor, waiting to come alongside and dock in Newcastle, can put people at ease, especially on a warm sunny day.

Life in the coastal city can have a regular rhythm, with regular hours, but for one Novocastrian this was not enough.

LT Samuel Parker set his sights higher and further and now he is literally an eye in the sky providing high-quality intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to support military decision-making across a range of operations.

Newcastle born and bred, LT Parker grew up with a distinct love of the beaches and the surf. However, there was also the call of the air, brought on by the regular appearance of Royal Australian Air Force fighters and surveillance aircraft operating from nearby RAAF Base Williamtown.

“Seeing all the fighter jets pass by definitely told me that the air is a good place to be,” he said.

However, it was a more personal experience that helped him take the next step towards wearing a military uniform.

“I actually joined because of my mate’s dad,” LT Parker said.

“He’s an officer in the Air Force, and the way he carried himself, the way people respected him and he respected other people.

“He was a genuine and humble person, and I really respected that and the values he had. They are the same as our Defence values, and I wanted to be more like that.”

In January 2024, LT Parker entered the Royal Military College – Duntroon in Canberra.

After graduating he was promoted from staff cadet to lieutenant and posted to 20 Regt RAA, operating the Integrator A61 Tactical uncrewed aerial system conducting surveillance and target acquisition.

LT Parker said the Integrator provides persistent, high-quality intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, giving commanders a real-time view of their operating environments.

“We observe targets, provide targeting data, and undertake battle damage assessments in order to help superior commanders make informed decisions,” he said.

“We can target, or contribute to the targeting of, equipment and troop movements by a large range of systems, including Army’s new battlefield helicopters and HIMARS rocket artillery. We can also work with our Air Force and coalition partners.”

LT Parker said a key function of the role was to assess information and provide intelligence.

“We’ll provide a level of analysis, and based on the discussion we have and the commander’s assessment, we will send off the data package to the asset best positioned to respond,” he said.

The Integrator gunners have also been called upon to contribute to national security measures that sit outside Army’s traditional warfighting roles.

LT Parker said the biggest real-world task his regiment had been involved in was Operation Resolute, Defence’s contribution to the whole-of-government effort to protect Australia’s borders and offshore maritime interests.

“Since late 2024, we have had opportunities to operate in northern Queensland, where we were supporting Australian Border Force in detecting illegal fishing and illegal immigrants entering Australia,” he said.

“Supporting the sovereignty of Australia’s maritime borders and domain is something we take pride in. Operations such as this demonstrate the values we hold as soldiers, and allows me to fulfil the very reasons which led me to join the Australian Army.”