F-35A Lightning II – CONTACT magazine

An F-35A Lightning II taxis in after a mission from RAAF Base Tindal during Exercise Arnhem Thunder 25. Story by Flight Lieutenant Kayla Walliss. Photos by Sergeant David Gibbs.

Lightning strikes twice in the Top End

02/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 490 Views 0 Comments Exercise Arnhem Thunder, F-35A Lightning II, No. 3 Squadron, No. 75 Squadron, RAAF Tindal

Arming multiple F-35A Lightning II aircraft for live weapons drops, twice a day, is no easy feat – but armament

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 2982 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

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 2143 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

A Royal Australian Air Force 77 Squadron F-35A Lightning II aircraft on the Nellis Air Force Base flightline during Exercise Red Flag Nellis 25-1. Story by Flying Officer Shanea Zeegers. Photos by Aircraftwoman Laura Flowers.

News Royal Australian Air Force USA Videos

High stakes in Exercise Red Flag over Las Vegas

20/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 4273 Views 0 Comments Exercise Red Flag, F-35A Lightning II, F/A-18F Super Hornet, No. 77 Squadron, RAF, USAF

The Royal Australian Air Force has joined the United States military and Royal Air Force (RAF) in Exercise Red Flag

RAAF armament technicians load explosive ordnance on to an F-35A Lightning II aircraft during Exercise Cope North 25, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Story by Flight Lieutenant Madeleine Magee. Photos by Aircraftwoman Mikaela Fernlund.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Lightning crews drop bombshell in Guam

12/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2381 Views 0 Comments Exercise Cope North, F-35A Lightning II, GBU-39 small-diameter bombs, No. 75 Squadron

The Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) 75 Squadron has launched into Exercise Cope North 25 with a bang, testing the

A RAAF F-35A Lightning II aircraft departs during Exercise Cope North 25 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Story by Flight Lieutenant Madeleine Magee. Photos by Aircraftwoman Mikaela Fernlund.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

Lightning strikes in Guam

12/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2480 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, Exercise Cope North, F-35A Lightning II, Guam, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 2 Squadron, No. 33 Squadron, No. 75 Squadron, RAAF Tindal, USAF

Hosted in the Indo-Pacific island of Guam, the last several iterations of Exercise Cope North have traditionally been an opportunity

A Royal Australian Air Force 77 Squadron F-35A Lightning II aircraft takes off from Nellis Air Force Base during Exercise Red Flag Nellis. Story. y Flying Officer Shanea Zeegers. US. Photos by Aircraftwoman Laura Flower.

News Royal Australian Air Force Videos

RAAF flies Red Flag over Nevada

11/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3898 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, EA-18G Growler, Exercise Red Flag, F-35A Lightning II, F/A-18F Super Hornet, No. 41 Wing, No. 77 Squadron

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has taken to the skies for Exercise Red Flag Nellis 25-1 with its biggest

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 6840 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

An F-35A Lightning II aircraft from 2 Operational Conversion Unit takes to the sky for a mission during Exercise High Sierra, RAAF Base Townsville. Story by Flying Officer Madeleine Magee. Photos by Sergeant Andrew Eddie.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Up, up and away for new pilots

13/12/202421/12/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2692 Views 0 Comments Exercise Crimson Dawn, Exercise High Sierra, F-35A Lightning II, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit, RAAF Townsville

The Royal Australian Air Force welcomed its newest F-35A Lightning II trainee fast jet pilots to Townsville as 2 Operational

A Philippine Air Force member works with a RAAF combat controller during Exercise Havoc Strike at Bulahdelah near RAAF Base Williamtown, NSW. Image has been modified for security. Story by Flight Lieutenant Grace Casey-Maughan. Photos by Corporal Samuel Miller.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Controller training a success at Havoc Strike

26/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2182 Views 0 Comments Exercise Havoc Strike, F-35A Lightning II, F/A-18F Super Hornet, No. 4 Squadron, Philippine Air Force, RAAF Williamtown, Royal Thai Air Force

The Royal Australian Air Force’s 4 Squadron has played host to the Philippine and Royal Thai Air Forces on Exercise

Royal Australian Air Force 77 Squadron members on the apron with the F-35A Lightning II at Paya Lebar Air Base during Exercise Bersama Lima 2024, Singapore. Story by Captain Andrew Page. Photos by Corporal Lisa Sherman.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Videos

Bersama Lima success across air, land and sea

13/11/202416/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 3884 Views 0 Comments Exercise Bersama Lima, F-35A Lightning II, Five Power Defence Arrangements, No. 77 Squadron, Singapore

Exercise Bersama Lima 2024 has concluded with all activities conducted across air, land and sea a resounding success. CAPTION: Royal Australian

EA-18G Growlers from 6 Squadron and F-35A Lightning IIs from 75 Squadron on the flight line at RAAF Base Tindal, NT, during Trial Swagman. Story by Flight Lieutenant Claire Campbell. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Brandon Murray.

News Royal Australian Air Force Sovereign industry

Top End hosts electronic warfare trial

08/11/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 3417 Views 0 Comments EA-18G Growler, F-35A Lightning II, Joint Electronic Warfare Operational Support Unit (JEWOSU), No. 6 Squadron, No. 75 Squadron, RAAF Tindal

Launching from RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory, 6 and 75 Squadron recently conducted Electronic Warfare (EW) testing of

Two 77 Squadron F-35A Lightning II aircraft on the 19 Squadron apron at Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Butterworth during Exercise Elangaroo 24. Story by Squadron Leader Tina Turner. Photos by Leading Aircraftwoman Maddison Scott.

Asia News Royal Australian Air Force

Lightning strikes twice in Malaysia

18/10/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 3141 Views 0 Comments Exercise Elangaroo, F-35A Lightning II, No. 77 Squadron, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Butterworth

The RAAF and Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) joined forces once again to conduct Exercise Elangaroo 24 at RMAF Butterworth

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 2290 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

Indonesian military personnel and members of the public watch as an RAAF F-35A Lightning II starts up for a flying display at the Bali International Air Show. Story. y Squadron Leader Eamon Hamilton. Photo supplied by Indonesian Air Force Information Service.

News Overseas Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF flies into Bali to show off

25/09/202405/10/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2307 Views 0 Comments Air Show, F-35A Lightning II, Indonesian Air Force, No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit

Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs made their first appearance in an overseas air show in Bali from September

An aviator marshalls a 75 Squadron F-35A Lightning II at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Photos by Sergeant Hayden Young.

News Royal Australian Air Force USA

Strengthening international ties on Exercise Red Flag

23/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 2767 Views 0 Comments E-7A Wedgetail, Exercise Red Flag, F-35A Lightning II, No. 75 Squadron, US Air Force

RAAF aircraft and personnel are in Alaska for Exercise Red Flag, a large-scale air-combat exercise hosted by the United States

Angus, from the Starlight Children’s Foundation, tries on an F-35A helmet with the help of Corporal Daniel Lake, a 3 Squadron life support fitter, at the Pitch Black open day at RAAF Base Darwin. Story by Flying Officer Jamie Wallace. Photos by Sergeant David Gibbs.

News Royal Australian Air Force

RAAF helps make a wish come true

02/08/202406/08/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1684 Views 0 Comments Community Engagement, Exercise Pitch Black, F-35A Lightning II, No. 3 Squadron, RAAF Darwin, Starlight Children’s Foundation

The Royal Australian Air Force has teamed up with international partners and the Starlight Children’s Foundation to grant the wish

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 6225 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

Royal Air Force Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton (L) and Royal Australian Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Robert Chipman shake hands at the 80 Squadron re-formation ceremony at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Story by Flight Lieutenant Rachael Blake. Photos by USAF Samuel King Jr.

News Royal Australian Air Force UK USA

Two air forces re-form an 80 Squadron together

03/05/202404/05/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 3246 Views 0 Comments Chief of Air Force, F-35A Lightning II, No. 80 Squadron, RAF, US Air Force

In a significant move for allied air capability, the Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Air Force have re-formed their

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 3439 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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