Stephen Kuper

This milestone flight marks the first, public successful flight of a sixth-generation combat aircraft, with Northrop Grumman describing the aircraft as the world’s “first sixth-generation aircraft” and a major step change for the US Air Force’s global strike capabilities.

The upgraded E-model Apache, known as Version 6.5 or V6.5, is the next configuration of the world’s premier attack helicopter. Australia plans to acquire 29 AH-64E Apaches to be built by Boeing as part of the multi-billion-dollar LAND 4503 Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter program to replace the Army’s troubled ARH Tiger helicopters.

The move is hugely significant for Australia, with the first delivery of the uncrewed aircraft set for next year and an inaugural flight imminent.

Repainting is the final step of the P-8A and E-7A’s deeper maintenance services performed by Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) around every 72 months and involves stripping the aircraft back to bare metal, inspecting and repairing for corrosion, defects and dents, and painting and applying decals.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Defence Minister Richard Marles, and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have confirmed Australia will deploy a Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail aircraft to Germany to help protect a vital gateway of international humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine.

With the government continuing to emphasise long-range strikes, why, then, has Air Force missed out on a quantum leap in capability? The B-21 Raider.