Next seven F-35As arrive in Australia

摘要

SEVEN MORE F-35As arrived at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, on December 11, bringing the locally stationed Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) fleet to 13 aircraft. The aircraft departed Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, and travelled to their new home with tanker support via Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, and Anderson AFB, Guam. As well as the 13 Joint Strike Fighters assigned to No 3 Squadron at Williamtown, another five Australian aircraft are based at Luke for international pilot training. The additional jets mean that No 2 Operational Conversion Unit can begin a first Operational Conversion Course (OPCON) on the type, scheduled for late 2020/early 2021.