Page 55 - Australian Defence Magazine Feb-Mar 2023

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2023 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
AIRPOWER F-35A LIGHTNING II 55
In terms of infrastructure to support F-35A operations at Williamtown and Tindal, all facilities – which includes working facilities, aircraft shelters and airfield improve- ment works – have now been delivered. In addition, recent exercises such as Diamond Storm and Pitch Black (held in the NT in August and September) have demonstrated the aircraft’s ability to operate from forward operating bases.
While the Defence spokesperson referred ADM to the US Air Force for verification of the 20:1 kill ratio against current F-15 and F-16 fighters (which is what it officially admits to – anecdotally the figure is much higher), they did express satisfaction of the F-35A’s performance thus far.
“Air Force has participated in a range of exercises, both do- mestic and international, in the last couple of years. This has improved our ability to deploy and operate from different en- vironments, essential to validate the capability prior to FOC. Integration of the F-35A’s advanced capabilities into Australia’s air combat fleet has resulted in improved integrated tactical procedures across mission sets,” the spokesperson explained.
“The leap to fifth-generation capability is proving neces- sary with global military offensive and defensive capabili- ties improving at pace. Consequently, coalition integration has also been routinely exercised to
validate our 4th – 5th generation
integration improvements and to re-
main in lock-step with our partners.”
“LOCKHEED MARTIN The pathway to FOC will see all IS WORKING WITH
72 aircraft delivered to Australia and
INTERNATIONAL F-35 what Defence refers to as the “matu-
PARTNERS INCLUDING ration and normalisation” of the local
F-35A enterprise. Additionally, 2023
AUSTRALIA TO MAKE SURE will provide the first opportunity to THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUES consolidate and reinforce staff num- TO MEET EMERGING THREATS bers without simultaneously having AROUND THE WORLD”
to stand up an additional squadron.
The RAAF will continue its opera-
tional and suitability testing up to
NIGEL PITTAWAY
(and beyond) FOC, but risks remain.
“Growing a suitably sized and experienced workforce
within the F-35A enterprise will remain a challenge. Aus-
tralia always seeks to extract the most capability from every
system we operate and the F-35A program is no exception,”
“As of December 2022, 81 Wing (the parent unit) has
the spokesperson added. “Our skilled workforce is rapidly learning how to maximise effectiveness from the F-35 glob- accepted 60 of 72 aircraft [and] the Australian fleet has ac-
al program. It is a complex ecosystem, with new systems crued over 23,000 flight hours, with all pilot and technical
training being undertaken in Australia,” a Defence spokes-
and processes continuing to evolve globally.”
person said. “The first Australian-based F-35A operational course (training pilots who have not previously flown fight- ers) was undertaken in the first half of 2021, graduating F-35A combat-ready fighter pilots.”
The first F-35A Combat Instructor Course, an element of the RAAF Air Warfare Instructors Course (AWIC) was completed during Exercise Diamond Storm held in the Northern Territory in June 2022.
The spokesperson also revealed that the maintenance technician training pipeline, which is conducted through the Integrated Training Centre at Williamtown, has com- pleted the training of all current squadron technicians af- ter their conversion from the ‘Classic’ Hornet.
AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT
Australia’s defence industry is of course an integral part of the global F-35 ecosystem and has grown over the time of the international F-35 enterprise to the point today where, according to Lockheed Martin, over $3 billion of contracts have been awarded to local industry.
The company’s Director, Combat Air INDOPACOM and CENTCOM Business Capture Steve Over, says this figure
ABOVE: 2 OCU completed the first F-35A Combat Instructors course during Exercise Diamond Storm in June 2022