The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has now received 14 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, with the aircraft type on track to achieve initial operating capability (IOC) in December 2020, according to the commanding officer of the RAAF’s first operational F-35A unit.
Australia has ordered 72 F-35As, the first of which was delivered to the RAAF in the United States in December 2014. By the end of April this year RAAF F-35As had flown more than 2,900 hours and 1,750 sorties, primarily with the F-35 International Training Centre at Luke Air Force Base (AFB) in Arizona.
The first two Australian F-35As arrived at RAAF Base Williamtown north of Sydney in December 2018.
(Jane's)