Final Delivery of Australia’s F-35A Fleet Highlights Defence Commitment

Defence Media

The delivery of the final nine F-35A Lightning II aircraft completes the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) fleet of 72, underscoring a broader strategy to ensure the Australian Defence Force (ADF) remains equipped to counter evolving threats and safeguard the nation.

Since the arrival of the first two F-35A aircraft on December 10, 2018, Defence has rapidly introduced this cutting-edge capability. The F-35A, along with the EA-18G Growler and F/A-18F Super Hornets, now forms the backbone of Australia’s air defence and strike capacity, as outlined in the 2024 National Defence Strategy. These aircraft provide unparalleled versatility, performing both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions while leveraging stealth technology, electronic warfare capabilities, and advanced countermeasures to ensure both lethality and survivability in contested environments.

Enhancing Warfighting Capabilities

The final nine F-35A aircraft to arrive in Australia represent a significant enhancement in capability. These aircraft are the first in the fleet to feature Technology Refresh 3 (TR3), enabling Block 4 upgrades. These advancements will allow the F-35A fleet to adapt to future operational demands and threats more effectively, ensuring Australia maintains a strategic edge in the Indo-Pacific region.

The upgrades are crucial to maintaining Australia’s strategic advantage in the region by ensuring the ADF has the latest technological advancements to meet future challenges.

A Year of Accelerated Defence Capability Delivery

The delivery of the final F-35A aircraft marks the culmination of a year focused on accelerating ADF capability delivery.

Throughout 2024, significant progress has been made across various defence domains:

• Naval Capabilities: Three new missile types – Tomahawk guided missiles, Standard Missile 6, and Naval Strike Missiles – were successfully fired from Navy ships for the first time. Construction also began on the first Hunter Class Frigate, and two shipbuilders were selected to progress designs for a new general-purpose frigate following the Surface Fleet Review.
• Undersea Warfare: The Navy took delivery of the first prototype of the Ghost Shark, an autonomous robotic undersea vehicle, enhancing Australia’s maritime surveillance and deterrence capabilities.
• Land Capabilities: The Army received 46 new M1A2 Abrams main battle tanks, further strengthening Australia’s ground forces. Additionally, the delivery of seven new UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters from the United States increased the Army’s fleet to ten, with more to come in 2025.
• Aerospace Capabilities: A $200 million deep maintenance facility for Boeing 737 variants commenced construction at RAAF Edinburgh. Australia also took possession of its first Triton remotely piloted aircraft system, delivered from the United States, enhancing long-range surveillance capabilities.

Record Defence Investment

The 2024-25 Budget increased Defence funding to $764.6 billion over the decade, reflecting a commitment to a capable and self-reliant ADF. The 2023-24 financial year saw Defence’s largest-ever acquisition result, with $16.6 billion spent on new capabilities and 54% of that funding contributing to Australian industry. Sustainment efforts amounted to $16.4 billion, with 79% of those funds supporting local industries.

Thousands of uniformed ADF members, members of the Australian public service, and workers in the Australian defence industry all play a vital role in delivering these capabilities and ensuring the defence of the nation.

Building a Sovereign Defence Industry

Beyond enhancing the ADF’s operational capabilities, the focus remains on building a sovereign defence industry. By investing in local manufacturing, maintenance, and innovation, the goal is to create long-term jobs and ensure Australia’s defence needs are met domestically.

This approach ensures that Australia’s defence strategy is not only focused on immediate needs but also on securing a self-reliant future. Through this investment, the groundwork is being laid for a resilient defence industry that will support national security and economic growth for decades to come.

In summary, the completion of Australia’s F-35A fleet marks a significant milestone in the nation’s defence strategy. It highlights the ongoing commitment to providing the ADF with cutting-edge capabilities while fostering a sovereign defence industry that will bolster Australia’s security and prosperity well into the future.