Australia's newest F-35A Lightning II aircraft A35-053 and A35-054 arrive at RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales, at the end of their ferry flight during exercise Lightning Ferry 22-3. Photo by Corporal Craig Barrett.

Four more F-35s delivered to Australia

17/09/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 2873 Views 0 Comments F-35A Lightning II

Exercise Lightning Ferry 22-3 was conducted from 24 August to 2 September 2022, seeing the arrival of four more F-35A Lightning II aircraft at RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales.

CAPTION: Australia’s newest F-35A Lightning II aircraft A35-053 and A35-054 arrive at RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales, at the end of their ferry flight during exercise Lightning Ferry 22-3. Photo by Corporal Craig Barrett.

The new aircraft will join the No 77 Squadron fleet.

They travelled from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, United States, supported by a RAAF KC-30A multi-role tanker transport from No 33 Squadron, and a C-17A Globemaster III from No 36 Squadron.

Australia has now received 54 of its planned 72 F-35A Lightning II aircraft.

Two aircraft delivered in June first participated in Exercise Black Flag 22-1 in Florida – a large-force integration activity, and opportunity for the USAF to ‘play with’ an Australian E-7A Wedgetail ahead of Wedgetail’s replacement of E-3 Sentry, which is expected to start in 2027.

Watch the first two F-35As arrive in Australia, December 2018…