On December 18, 2024, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) welcomed its final three Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft at RAAF Williamtown, marking the completion of its fleet acquisition.
According to the Scramble magazine, the delivery concluded a six-year process, during which all 72 aircraft ordered by the RAAF were received, strengthening Australia’s air combat capabilities.
The newly delivered aircraft, bearing the serials A35-068, A35-069, and A35-071, are assigned to 75 Squadron, based at RAAF Tindal, Northern Territory. The fighters landed at RAAF Williamtown after a long journey from Hawaii, completing the last of three delivery groups that began arriving in late November 2024.
The RAAF’s F-35A fleet is distributed across three operational squadrons and one training squadron. Two of these, 3 Squadron (“Operta Aperta” – Secrets Revealed) and 77 Squadron (“Swift to Destroy”), are based at RAAF Williamtown. The third, 75 Squadron (“Seek and Strike”), operates from RAAF Tindal. The training squadron, 2 Operational Conversion Unit (“Juventus Non Sine Pinnis” – The Young Shall Have Wings), is also located at Williamtown.
The introduction of the F-35A into Australian service began in December 2018, with 3 Squadron achieving operational capability in 2021. The fleet replaces aging F/A-18A/B Hornets and enhances the RAAF’s ability to conduct air superiority, precision strike, and intelligence-gathering missions.
The RAAF’s F-35A program has been bolstered by rigorous pilot training. Since 2015, 37 RAAF pilots completed conversion courses led by the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. The program produced 21 RAAF instructors who have since conducted Australia-based operational conversion training, starting in 2021.
The RAAF’s investment in the F-35A program represents a significant leap forward in air combat capability, incorporating advanced stealth, situational awareness, and electronic warfare systems.