F-35s for Australia reach IOC milestone
Almost half of the 72 aircraft on order have been delivered.
Australia has become the seventh country to declare IOC for the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II multirole fighter aircraft.
‘This IOC ushers in a new era of Australian air power that gives the RAAF [Royal Australian Air Force] transformational and game-changing capabilities,’ Joe North, Lockheed Martin Australia chief executive, declared in a 28 December statement.
The RAAF ordered 72 F-35As for $5 billion through the AIR 6000 programme to replace F/A-18A/B Hornet aircraft. It took delivery of the first pair in 2014.
The F-35A fleet is expected to reach FOC for the RAAF by 2023. An 18-aircraft option in the contract is also expected to be exercised, according to Shephard Defence Insight.
Australia currently has a fleet of 33 F-35As, and RAAF crews have surpassed more than 8,780 flight hours to date, with more than 45 pilots and 600 maintenance personnel supporting the fleet.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Panama approves $187 million purchase of Airbus and Embraer aircraft]()
Panama approves $187 million purchase of Airbus and Embraer aircraft
The C295 and Super Tucano deals for its National Aeronaval Service were approved as part of an emergency procedure by the government on 11 March.
-
![US Navy tests new comms pod for Marine Corps’ MQ-9A Reaper]()
US Navy tests new comms pod for Marine Corps’ MQ-9A Reaper
The pod, named SkyTower II (STII) was tested ahead of the system’s initial operational capability (IOC) in 2026.
-
![US Air Force and Air National Guard test Northrop Grumman solution to increase performance for air tankers]()
US Air Force and Air National Guard test Northrop Grumman solution to increase performance for air tankers
The voice and data interoperability system has been built to enable operations in contested environments.
-
![US Navy Next-Generation Jammer approaches full-rate production]()
US Navy Next-Generation Jammer approaches full-rate production
Raytheon is currently finalising the production of NGJ-MB lot 5 while working with the US Navy on contract requirements over multiple years.
-
![Australian Army aviation veers heavily towards the US]()
Australian Army aviation veers heavily towards the US
Sikorsky’s UH-60M Black Hawk and Boeing’s AH-46 Apache will soon form the bedrock of the Australian Army’s rotorcraft capabilities, as the army awaits further delivery of both types.
