The works will take place in both Amberley, Queensland and Delamere, Northern Territory; and are expected to deliver new and upgraded facilities for the operation of EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft.
The aircraft now features the RNZAF Kiwi Roundel and No. 40 Squadron’s mariner’s compass, after finishing work at the Lockheed Martin production line in Georgia, United States, according to a public statement on 15 February.
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Birmingham, Shadow Minister for Defence Andrew Hastie, and deputy chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, David Fawcett, issued the ultimatum on 14 February.
The Camcopter S-100 has become the first vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) system to receive the approval and will now be able to operate in Australian civil aerospace. The capability received a Defence Aviation Safety Authority Permit in 2017, granted to the Royal Australian Navy.
The new F-35 aircraft are designed with a Technology Refresh-3 package which includes additional munitions capabilities, target recognition, jamming, cyber security, sensor and user interface improvements, processing and data storage enhancements.
The program of works includes the upgrade or rebuild of infrastructure and facilities at the base in North Queensland.