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Royal Australian Air Force Maj. (sic) Christopher Baker, 61st Fighter Squadron instructor pilot, and U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Tom Hayes, 61st FS commander, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. US Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Brooke Moeder.
Australian News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force USA 

Aussie F-35 pilots continue training in USA

16/10/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3949 Views 0 Comments

The Royal Australian Air Force still maintains a joint pilot-training and maintenance presence at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.

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F-35A Lightning II, A35-013 tail art.
Australian News Royal Australian Air Force 

First F-35A pilot transition course at Williamtown

13/10/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2979 Views 0 Comments

The first F-35A Lightning II Transition Course recently concluded at the Joint Strike Fighter precinct at RAAF Base Williamtown.

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The 30th F-35A Lightning II accepted from prime contractor Lockheed Martin.
Australian News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology 

RAAF’s 30th F-35A Lightning delivered

21/09/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2989 Views 0 Comments

Australia’s fifth-generation fighter capability continues to grow with the acceptance of the 30th F-35A Lightning II.

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Outgoing Commanding Officer No. 3 Squadron Wing Commander Darren Clare and incoming Commanding Officer No. 3 Squadron Wing Commander Matthew Harper fly over Newcastle shortly before their change-of-command ceremony. Photo by Sergeant David Gibbs.
Australian News Royal Australian Air Force 

Change of command at F-35 squadron

09/09/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3119 Views 0 Comments

One of the first Australian F-35A Lightning II pilots and the first F-35-era No. 3 Squadron commander handed over the

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One of the first two Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning Joint Strike Fighters flies overhead RAAF Base Williamtown on delivery day. Photo by Brian Hartigan.
Australian News Royal Australian Air Force 

First routine F-35 engine maintenance in Australia

20/07/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3607 Views 0 Comments F-35A Lightning II

Australia’s defence industry continues to fly high with a key milestone reached in the maintenance of the RAAF’s new F-35 fighter jets.

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One of the first two Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning Joint Strike Fighters flies overhead RAAF Base Williamtown on delivery day. Photo by Brian Hartigan.
Australian News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology 

Aussie companies win F-35 fleet grants

24/06/202024/06/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2408 Views 0 Comments

Three Australian companies have been awarded new grants to help build their capacity to support production and sustainment of the global F-35 fleet.

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Squadron Leader Chris Myles, left, the Australian Participant Maintenance Lead at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, and pilot Flight Lieutenant Adrian Herenda, with the F-35A A35-001 after the aircraft reached 1000 flying hours. Story by Alisha Welch.
Australian News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology 

First Aussie F-35 clocks up 1000 hours

05/06/202005/06/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3879 Views 0 Comments

The first Australian F-35A to roll off Lockheed Martin’s Texas production line back in 2014 has completed 1000 flying hours over the skies of Arizona.

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An F-35 prototype releases infrared countermeasure flares during test flights near Edwards AFB. Lockheed Martin photo.
Australian News Science & Technology 

Victorian company wins F-35 countermeasures contract

04/05/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3156 Views 0 Comments F-35

Geelong-based Chemring Australia has secured a USD$107.5 million contract to produce countermeasure flares for the global F-35 Program.

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Mk 82 500lb bombs ready for loading on a RAAF flightline. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Steve Duncan.
Australian News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology 

New F-35 bombs now made in Australia

30/04/202030/04/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 7758 Views 0 Comments

Thales Australia has completed the first production lot of a new Australian-made munition for the Royal Australian Air Force.

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A35-009 taxis through a fence at its home compound at RAAF Base Williamtown for the first time on 10 December 2018. Photo by Brian Hartigan.
Australian News Royal Australian Air Force 

RAAF F-35A damaged in Williamtown ground incident

09/03/202019/03/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 8627 Views 1 Comment F-35A Lightning II

Defence is investigating an incident at RAAF Base Williamtown that left an F-35A Joint Strike Fighter with ‘minor damage’ last

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison meets with Royal Australian Air Force personnel during a visit to RAAF Base Tindal, where he announced a new $1billion upgrade. Photo by Corporal Jessica de Rouw.
Australian News Royal Australian Air Force 

$1.1billion boost for Tindal to accomodate F-35As and Americans

28/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4627 Views 0 Comments

Prime Minister Scott Morrison visited RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory to announce a new $1.1billion upgrade to accomodate JSF and Americans.

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Six RAAF F-35A Lightning Its are expected to make touch-and-go landings at Richmond on 26 February 2020.
Australian News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology 

F-35A at Richmond – 26 Feb 2020

25/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2369 Views 0 Comments F-35A Lightning II

Six Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs from RAAF Base Williamtown will conduct diversion training into RAAF Base Richmond on 26 Feb 2020.

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A Pratt and Whitney F135 Engine being removed from A35-017 at RAAF Base Williamtown. Photo by Corporal Craig Barrett.
Australian News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology 

First homegrown F-35A engine removal

25/02/202025/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5866 Views 1 Comment F-35A Lightning II

The first removal of an F135 engine from an F-35A Lightning II by a Royal Australian Air Force unit happened RAAF Base Williamtown recently.

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One of the first two Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning Joint Strike Fighters flies overhead RAAF Base Williamtown on delivery day. Photo by Brian Hartigan.
Australian Europe News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology USA 

Aus/UK open splinter F-35 Reprogramming Laboratory

25/02/2020 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3748 Views 0 Comments F-35A Lightning II

Australia and the UK have officially opened an Australian and United Kingdom F-35 Reprogramming Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.

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Australia's biggest delivery yet of F-35A Lightning IIs at RAAF Base Williamtown. Photo by Corporal Melina Young.
Australian News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology 

7 new F-35s delivered to RAAF Williamtown

12/12/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5056 Views 0 Comments

The Liberal National Government – spending our money but happy to take all the kudos for their own party-political advancement

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An F-35A Joint Strike Fighter from No.3 Squadron at RAAF Base Richmond. Photo by Sergeant Christopher Dickson.
News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology USA 

F-35 price reductions locked in ahead of schedule

30/10/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2742 Views 0 Comments

The F-35 Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin have finalised a $34 billion agreement for the production and delivery of

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An F-35A Joint Strike Fighter from No.3 Squadron conducts instrument-landing-approach training at RAAF Base Richmond. Photo by Sergeant Christopher Dickson.
Australian News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology 

First-of-kind F-35 sustainment contract signed in Australia

05/08/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2851 Views 0 Comments

Defence and Lockheed Martin Australia reached an agreement last week to ensure the efficient delivery of sustainment support for the

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F-35A Joint Strike Fighters from No.3 Squadron conduct instrument-landing-approach training at RAAF Base Richmond. Photo by Sergeant Christopher Dickson.
Australian News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology 

First home-grown F-35 pilots take off

30/07/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2345 Views 0 Comments

Air Force’s first pilots to complete a RAAF F-35A Joint Strike Fighter transition course in Australia have flown the aircraft for the

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One of the first two Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning Joint Strike Fighters flies overhead RAAF Base Williamtown on delivery day. Photo by Brian Hartigan.
Australian News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology 

F-35s begin ground-attack training at Salt Ash

06/05/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4024 Views 0 Comments

No. 3 Squadron from RAAF Base Williamtown will conduct the first training for F-35A Joint Strike Fighter over the Salt Ash

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An F-35A Joint Strike Fighter conducts night operations at RAAF Base Richmond. Photo by Sergeant Christopher Dickson.
Australian News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology 

Two more F-35 Joint Strike Fighters land in Williamtown

08/04/201908/04/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 11661 Views 1 Comment

Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne and Minister for Defence Industry Linda Reynolds today announced the arrival of the next two

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