The Minister for Defence, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, accompanied by the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia, His Excellency General Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (retd), Governor of NSW, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (retd), Minister for Defence Industry, the Honourable Steven Ciobo, MP, Assistant Minister for Defence, Senator the Honourable David Fawcett, Shadow Minister for Defence, The Honourable Richard Marles MP, Chief of Defence Force, General Angus Campbell AO DSC, and Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Gavin Davies, AO, CSC welcomed Australia’s first two F-35A aircraft into Australia on 10 December 2018.

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) was proud to showcase the first two F35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force Fleet. Royal Australian Air Force pilots and maintenance personnel are embedded within United States Air Force units and partnering with Lockheed Martin in preparation for the introduction of Australia’s first fifth-generation air combat capability.

The F-35A Joint Strike Fighter is the most advanced, affordable fifth generation multi-role stealth fighter to meet Australia’s need to defeat emerging threats well into the future. The F-35A is truly next-generation due to its stealth capability, advanced sensors, data fusion and its ability to share information with other aircraft, Army units and Navy ships. The Australian Government has approved the purchase of 72 F-35A aircraft to replace F/A18A/B Hornets. The F-35A aircraft will be operated by the Air Force’s Number 3 Squadron, part of the Air Combat Group at RAAF Base Williamtown.