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CONTACT magazine
ersonnel from the Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Brunei Armed Forces during a visit to Brunei Darussalam. Story by Flight Lieutenant Deanna Ellick./ Photos by Leading Aircraftman Campbell Latch.
Asia News Royal Australian Air Force 

Australian F-35As visit Brunei

25/09/202527/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3111 Views 0 Comments Brunei, F-35A Lightning II, Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBLF)

In a demonstration of growing Defence cooperation, two Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft landed in Brunei Darussalam

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Aircraft technician Corporal Samuel Perrin, of 3 Squadron, conducts acceptance testing on the Integrated Training Centre F-35A engine training aids received from the US. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers. Photos by Corporal Cath Kelly.
News Royal Australian Air Force 

Hands-on aids boost F-35A maintenance

20/06/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1934 Views 0 Comments F-35A Maintenance, Integrated Training Centre (ITC), No. 3 Squadron, RAAF Base Williamtown

Aviation technicians will be able to hone their skills on the most accurate F-35A maintenance training aids, with the arrival

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Inside an F-35 simulator. Image supplied by Lockheed Martin.
News Royal Australian Air Force 

Williamtown and Tindal F-35 sims connected

14/05/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2245 Views 0 Comments F-35A Lightning II

The Australian Department of Defence in partnership with Lockheed Martin have connected F-35 simulators at RAAF Bases Williamtown and Tindal

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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.
News Royal Australian Air Force Videos 

All 72 RAAF F-35s now delivered

30/12/202408/01/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 7121 Views 3 Comments F-35A Lightning II

The delivery of the final nine of Australia’s fleet of 72 F-35A Lightning II aircraft that occurred earlier in December

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Aircraftman Nicholas Thorpe, of 25 Squadron, and Squadron Leader James Wheeler, of 3 Squadron, speak with Eliwana mine staff during a visit to Eliwana airport in the Pilbara region of WA. Story and photos by Stephanie Hallen.
News Royal Australian Air Force 

F-35s visit Pilbara

02/10/202405/10/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2357 Views 1 Comment F-35A Lightning II, No. 25 Squadron, No. 3 Squadron, RAAF Pearce

You wouldn’t typically expect to see F-35A Lightning II aircraft flying around in some of the most remote parts of

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A US Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 214 is refuelled by a RAAF 33 Squadron KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft over the Pacific ocean in transit to Australia. Photo: USMC Corporal Nicholas Johnson
News Royal Australian Air Force 

RAAF and USMC F-35s train together in NT

12/07/202414/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 6298 Views 0 Comments 33 Squadron, Exercise Magpie Lightning, F-35A Lightning II, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 3 Squadron, No. 75 Squadron, RAAF Amberley, RAAF Tindal, USMC

The skies over the Northern Territory came alive with different variants of the F-35 Lightning II in May and June

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Leading Aircraftwoman Indianna Biles and Leading Aircraftwoman Olivia Jacobs conduct a stocktake prior to sealing the container holding the spares pack, ready for transportation to RAAF Base Tindal, Northern Territory.
News Royal Australian Air Force 

F-35A readiness boosted with deployed spares pack

20/02/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 3494 Views 0 Comments F-35A Lightning II

A team of aviators have successfully built a second deployed spares pack for the F-35A Lightning II, enhancing supply-chain resilience

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A RAAF F-35A Lightning II pilot gives the thumbs up during Exercise Red Flag Nellis in Nevada, US. Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Burnet.
News Royal Australian Air Force USA 

F-35s fly back from Nevada

02/02/202403/02/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2996 Views 0 Comments Exercise Red Flag, F-35A Lightning II, No. 114MRCU, No. 3 Squadron, RAF, US Air Force

Exercise Red Flag Nellis 24-1 has concluded after three weeks of high-intensity air combat training at Nevada and airspace in

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A Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II is refuelled by a United States Air Force tanker at Exercise Red Flag Nellis 24-1 in Nevada, USA. USAF photo.
News Royal Australian Air Force USA 

RAAF F-35s in US for debut Red Flag exercise

16/01/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2494 Views 0 Comments Exercise Red Flag

Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightening II fighters are in America for the world’s toughest air-combat training exercise, alongside counterparts

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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.
News Royal Australian Air Force Sovereign industry 

Newcastle set to become regional F-35 servicing hub

01/01/2024 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3791 Views 0 Comments F-35A Lightning II

Hunter Region’s future as the Indo-Pacific hub for sustainment of F-35 Lightning II aircraft has been secured after the Australian

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Two RAAF F-35A Lightning II's from 75 Squadron fly with two TNI-AU F-16 Fighting Falcons during Exercise Elang Ausindo 2023. Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Campbell. Photos by Corporal Kieren Whiteley.
Asia News Royal Australian Air Force Videos 

RAAF F-35s in Indonesia

06/10/202308/10/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 3176 Views 0 Comments Exercise Elang Ausindo, F-16, F-35A Lightning II, No. 75 Squadron, TNI-AU

RAAF aircrew have built confidence sharing knowledge and developing tactics with their Indonesian counterparts. CAPTION: Two RAAF F-35A Lightning II’s from

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An F-35A Lightning II from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron during sunset at RAAF Base Tindal. Story by Squadron Leader Eamon Hamilton.
News Royal Australian Air Force Videos 

Historic Australian first for Japan’s F-35As

08/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 3780 Views 1 Comment Chief of Air Force, F-35A Lightning II, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Japan-Australia Reciprocal Access Agreement, No. 75 Squadron, RAAF Tindal

A warm Northern Territory welcome greeted the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) on the first international deployment of its F-35A

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News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force 

F-35s’ big role in Philippines exercise

05/09/202307/09/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 3653 Views 0 Comments Armed Forces of the Philippines, C-130J Hercules, E-7A Wedgetail, Exercise Alon, F-35A Lightning II, Philippines, US Marines

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was a critical force enabler during Exercise Alon, with the E-7A Wedgetail and F-35A

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An Air Force Hawk 127 and F-35A Lightning II prepare to take off during Exercise High Sierra at RAAF Base Townsville in Queensland. Story by Flying Officer Sharon Sebastian. All photos by LAC Ryan Howell.
News Royal Australian Air Force 

New F-35 pilots graduate

04/07/202305/07/2023 Posted by Mike Hughes 2375 Views 0 Comments Exercise High Sierra, F-35A Lightning II, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, RAAF Townsville

Exercise High Sierra is back gracing Townsville airspace once again, following a two-year hiatus, to graduate the latest cadre of

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Flight Lieutenant Joshua Fuad, 17 Squadron, at RAAF Base Tindal, Northern Territory. Photo by Corporal Hayden Young.
ADF People 

Out of the kitchen into F-35 support

26/05/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1516 Views 0 Comments

Fighter jets and frying pans have as much in common as bombs and biscuits, but a “why can’t I” attitude

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News Science & Technology USA 

2000th F-35 pilot fitted with custom flight ensemble

19/03/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3010 Views 0 Comments F-35A Lightning II

In a significant milestone for the Joint Strike Fighter Programme and leading survival-technology company Survitec,  the 2000th F-35 pilot has been

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A wooden mock-up of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II in Canadian markings at the Classic Air Rallye, Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Rockcliffe Airport, Ottawa. Photo by Ahunt, via Wikimedia.
News Overseas 

Canada joins F-35 club

10/01/202310/01/2023 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3081 Views 0 Comments F-35A Lightning II

Despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s promise to never buy F-35, the Government of Canada yesterday signed a contract to procure

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The latest four Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft to roll off the Lockheed Martin production line in Texas, have headed straight to Alaska to participate in Exercise Red Flag Alaska 21-3 at JPARC.
Europe News 

Germany joins F-35 club

18/12/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2740 Views 1 Comment

Germany has announced it will buy 35 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft. FILE PHOTO (2021): Four Royal Australian Air

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Joint Strike fighter A35-11 departs for a night sortie from RAAF Base Williamtown. Photo by Corporal Craig Barrett.
Australian News Royal Australian Air Force 

Government pays BAE to expand F-35 maintenance capacity

03/11/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2848 Views 0 Comments BAE Syatems, F-35A Lightning II

The Australian government has signed a Facility Services Deed worth more than $100 million with BAE Systems Australia to expand

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Australia's newest F-35A Lightning II aircraft A35-053 and A35-054 arrive at RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales, at the end of their ferry flight during exercise Lightning Ferry 22-3. Photo by Corporal Craig Barrett.
News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology USA Videos 

Four more F-35s delivered to Australia

17/09/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 3507 Views 0 Comments F-35A Lightning II

Exercise Lightning Ferry 22-3 was conducted from 24 August to 2 September 2022, seeing the arrival of four more F-35A

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