F-35A Lightning II – CONTACT magazine

Royal Australian Air Force Avionics Technicians, Leading Aircraftwoman Rosalia Frichot and Aircraftman Izaak Mazurek during Exercise Bushido Guardian 2025, Misawa Air Base, Japan. Photo by Leading Aircraftwoman Paris Rigney.

Avionic technicians living the dream in Japan

24/10/202526/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 664 Views 0 Comments Exercise Bushido Guardian, F-35A Lightning II, Gap Year program, Japan, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, No. 3 Squadron

For two young RAAF avionic technicians, their decision to join the permanent air force after “dipping their toes” in the

An F-35A Lightning II from 75 Squadron flies alongside a Lear Jet as part of Trial Swagman in the NT. Story by Flight Lieutenant Kayla Walliss.

News Royal Australian Air Force Science & Technology

Swagman returns to the Top End

23/10/202523/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 697 Views 0 Comments Delamere Air Weapons Range, EA-18G Growler, F-35A Lightning II, Joint Electronic Warfare Operational Support Unit (JEWOSU), No. 6 Squadron, No. 75 Squadron, No. 80 Squadron, RAAF Tindal, Trial Swagman

On Trial Swagman, F-35A Lighting IIs and EA-18G Growlers used the vast Northern Territory airspace to test and advance their

Royal Australian Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force and the United States Air Force aircraft fly in formation during Exercise Bushido Guardian near Misawa Air Base, Japan. Story by Flight Lieutenant Rob Hodgson.

Japan News Royal Australian Air Force

Bushido Guardian builds trilateral strength

14/10/202514/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 743 Views 0 Comments Exercise Bushido Guardian, F-35A Lightning II, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport, No. 3 Squadron, No. 33 Squadron, US Air Force

Exercise Bushido Guardian 25 has proved to be a huge trilateral success, as Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-35A Lightning

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.

News Royal Australian Air Force

Lightning strikes twice in the Top End

02/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1001 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 3134 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 2278 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 4371 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 2504 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 2587 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 4015 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 7162 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 2815 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 2264 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 3995 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 3523 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 3235 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 2384 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 2380 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 2849 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 1731 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

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