Australian fighter jets and airforce personnel have arrived in the United Arab Emirates.

There are 400 Royal Australian Air Force officers, eight Super Hornets, a Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft, and a Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft in the contingent.

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The deployment is in addition to Hercules and Globemaster planes that have been carrying out humanitarian and weapons drops in northern Iraq.

Defence says the aircraft are on standby awaiting the go ahead for operations to combat Islamic State extremists.