Australian Aviation

Amid the rising defence drone revolution, it is no surprise the RAAF purchased the MQ-4C Triton, an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), high altitude, long endurance (HALE), which will be essential for next generation maritime and surveillance roles.

The BAE Systems Hawk 127 is a low-wing, all-metal aircraft and is the air force’s lead-in fighter jet. It is used to train pilots converting to F/A-18A and F/A-18B Hornets and F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft.

The 737 Boeing Business jet is the classiest of them all, serving as a special purpose aircraft to transport government officials within Australia and overseas for state visits and international forums.

The Pilatus PC-21 aircraft is one of the RAAF’s most iconic training jets. It is often referred to as the ‘twenty-first century trainer’, because it can be applied to more training capacities than its competitors.

After completing ten years of service in the Middle East in 2012, the AP-3C Orion aircraft, , which is considered the best maritime patrol aircraft in the world, is now based at the RAAF base Edinburgh, and is deployed for many high-profile missions.

The KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) serves as an air-to-air refuelling aircraft, which doubles up to provide the RAAF with strategic airlift capabilities. It was first flown by the RAAF in September 2011. The RAAF currently has six KC-30A aircraft operated by No. 33 Squadron, based at Amberley. Since 2014, one additional KC-30A has been