Air Force’s transition to next-generation air combat capability has advanced further with today’s arrival of another six F/A-18F Super Hornets at RAAF Base Amberley, Minister for Defence Senator John Faulkner announced.
Today’s touch-down followed a four-day journey from Naval Air Station Lemoore in California.
“The Super Hornet acquisition project continues to be a major success. It is delivering a quantum leap in air combat capability to Air Force, on-time and on-budget,” Senator Faulkner said.
“This project is a great example of what can be achieved through a strong Defence and Industry partnership.”
“This is the culmination of the hard work and dedication of the Royal Australian Air Force, Defence Materiel Organisation, United States Navy, The Boeing Company and their industry partners, Raytheon, General Electric and Northrop Grumman,” Senator Faulkner said.
“No. 1 Squadron’s transition from operating the venerable F-111 to the highly sophisticated Super Hornet has delivered a new and potent air combat capability that will serve Australia for many years to come”.
Twelve of the RAAF Super Hornets have now been delivered by Boeing. The first Super Hornet delivered, A44-201, remains in the United States conducting ongoing advanced software development trials with the United States Navy. It is anticipated that this development activity will be completed later this year and the aircraft will be ferried to Australia before December to bring our in-service complement to twelve aircraft.
The Boeing Company is continuing to assemble Australia’s F/A-18F Super Hornets at its St Louis production facility.
No. 1 Squadron is working with the Australian Super Hornet project team, the Air Combat Transition Office and Air Combat Group to achieve Initial Operating Capability at the end of this year.
