Two RAAF C-17s have been transporting a remotely operated water cannon system to Japan which will be used in efforts to cool the Fukushima no 1 nuclear powerplant.
“Last night and early this morning, at the request of Japan and the United States, two Royal Australian Air Force C-17 aircraft departed RAAF Pearce near Perth for Yokota Air Base west of Tokyo, carrying equipment to assist Japan’s efforts at the Fukushima No 1 Nuclear Power Plant,” Defence Minister Stephen Smith said in a statement.
Both C-17s are transporting a remotely operated water cannon system supplied by the Bechtel Corporation, which comprises a series of pumps and trailers that can be remotely manoeuvred into location, to help deal with Fukushima’s malfunctioning nuclear power plant. Smith noted that one C-17 landed at Yokota Air Base this morning (March 22), while the second aircraft was due to arrive later today.
A third RAAF C-17 is already operating in Japan operating disaster relief flights.
