TSAMTO, June 24. On June 21, the Australian Ministry of Defense announced an increase in the fleet of F-35A Lightning-2 multipurpose fighters. Another batch of two planes arrived at the Williamstown Air Base.
Thus, at the moment, the Australian Air Force has received 50 of the 72 aircraft of this type planned for delivery. The arriving fighters became part of the 77th Fighter Squadron. Before leaving the USA, the planes took part in the Black Flag 22-1 exercises.
As reported by TSAMTO, the Australian government decided to approve the purchase of the first batch of 14 F-35 Lightning-2 fighters in November 2009. They will replace the F/A-18A/B Hornet aircraft, which are scheduled to be decommissioned by 2022.
Aircraft assembly began in 2011. The first pair (AU-1 and AU-2) was transferred at the end of 2014 and was used for training personnel and testing at the USAF Air Base "Luke" (Arizona). These aircraft arrived in Australia on December 10, 2018 to re-equip the 3rd Air Squadron of the country's Air Force. The second pair of F-35A "Lightning-2" arrived in Australia on April 8, 2019.
At the moment, the military and political leadership of Australia has approved the purchase of 72 aircraft. The delivery of the last 24 fighters was approved in December 2019. Purchase of 72 new fighters within the framework of the AIR-6000 Phase 2A/2B project stages, the cost of which is estimated at 17 billion. austr. dollars, will allow the formation of three combat and one training squadron. They will be stationed at Williamstown and Tyndall Air Bases.
The full readiness of the Australian Air Force F-35A for combat use is scheduled for 2023.
In total, the Australian Air Force can receive up to 100 F-35A fighters. Another batch of 28 aircraft to equip the fourth combat squadron can be purchased later at the AIR-6000 Phase 2C stage to replace the F/A-18F "Super Hornet".
