The RAAF has resumed flying its fleet of Hawk lead-in fighter trainer aircraft after they were grounded on February 4 following an engine incident. The aircraft were suspended from flying as a safety precaution after the pilot of a Hawk operating a routine training flight from RAAF Base Pearce “noticed an engine warning light”. According
The RAAF marked 10 continuous years of Hercules deployments to the Middle East on February 11. Two C-130H aircraft arrived in the Middle East on February 11 2003 to support Operation Bastille in the Persian Gulf, since then RAAF C-130Hs and C-130Js have transported 220,000 passengers and some 43,000 tonnes of cargo in the Middle
The first former RAAF C-130H is being prepared for transfer to the Indonesian air force. Photographed by H-model fan Joshua Williams at RAAF Base Richmond, A97-006 was seen departing the base on a test flight following deep-level maintenance. With evidence of significant work having been performed on the aircraft by Qantas Defence Services, it is
No. 35 squadron has been re-established at RAAF Richmond in readiness for the delivery of the RAAF’s 10 C-27J Spartans in 2015. Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Geoff Brown welcomed the squadron’s re-formation, saying: “No.35 Squadron has provided combat airlift for Australia in several conflicts, and the C-27J is ideally suited to continue this
Lockheed Martin has been awarded a US$3.68bn modification to the previously awarded low rate initial production lot 6 advance acquisition contract (LRIP 6) for the procurement of 31 F-35 Lightning II aircraft. The 31 aircraft comprise 18 F-35A conventional take-off and landing aircraft; six F-35B short take-off vertical landing aircraft; and seven F-35C carrier variant
The Williams Foundation think tank has questioned the government’s decision to further delay a decision on Australia’s air combat capability transition plan and to submit an LOR to the US government for 24 more Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets. In a December 17 release, the foundation laid out the four options which government considered before announcing