Having an embarked helicopter can expand the area observed from a patrol boat by a factor of up to 12 times. A helicopter can also conduct covert surveillance while vectoring the patrol boat to a position where effective response, including collection of evidence for subsequent legal proceedings, can be initiated. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be launched from patrol boats but the challenge is recovery. Unless the UAV can be landed on-shore after conducting its patrol, the possibility of a sea-based recovery is very limited, probably non-existent in most cases.
The burden of surveillance of and response to illegal fishing along with unauthorised maritime arrivals in the sea approaches to Australia's northern coast falls mainly on patrol boats operated by the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service. Additionally, offshore facility security patrols are required to protect vital oil and gas assets in Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and in the Joint Petroleum Development Area.
The Border Protection Command has responsibility for operational coordination and control of both civil and military maritime enforcement activities within the EEZ. In the northern area of Australia, command and control is delegated to the commander of the ADF's Northern Command (NORCOM).
Customs uses Bay class patrol vessels, aircraft and satellite surveillance. Typically the patrol boats respond to threats identified from the air, although there are times when surface surveillance alone has resulted in successful enforcement action.
The ADF's contribution is Operation RESOLUTE which commits Defence assets and involves 450-500 personnel at any one time. RESOLUTE consolidates previous ADF operations CRANBERRY (illegal fishing and smuggling), RELEX II (unauthorised boat arrivals), CELESTE and MISTRAL (southern ocean EEZ) and oil and gas infrastructure patrols. The main burden of surveillance falls on RAAF AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft while Armidale class patrol boats conduct both surveillance and, more importantly, response. Other RAN warships, including mine hunters and heavy landing craft, are committed on an opportunity basis.