Australia Now Has A ‘Full-Fleet’ of 72 F-35 Stealth Fighters

We support our Publishers and Content Creators. You can view this story on their website by CLICKING HERE.

F-35 Fighter At Full Force Down Under: Australia has received its complete fleet of 72 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, marking a milestone in the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) air defense and strike capabilities. The final aircraft arrived at RAAF Base Williamtown, supported by KC-30A and C-17A aircraft.

-Delayed due to the TR-3 update, the fleet includes enhanced capabilities through Block 4 upgrades, ensuring readiness against evolving threats.

-Assigned to RAAF’s No. 75 Squadron, the aircraft demonstrates Australia’s advanced military posture, with over $4.8 billion in contracts awarded to 75 Australian companies for production and sustainment, underscoring significant domestic defense industry contributions.

Australia Has Received its Full F-35 Fleet

U.S. ally and partner Australia now has a full force of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation stealth fighters, it was announced this week. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is now one of the largest operators of multirole combat aircraft; and is now nearly double that of the UK’s Royal Air Force.

“The final nine of Australia’s full fleet of 72 F-35A Lightning II aircraft have arrived at RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales, marking a significant milestone in Air Force’s ability to defend our nation,” the Australian government announced. “The F-35A aircraft fleet, in conjunction with the EA-18G Growler and F/A-18F Super Hornets, are the cornerstone of Australia’s air defence and strike capability, as outlined in the 2024 National Defence Strategy.”

The RAAF shared a video of the arrival in a post on X, writing, “The last three F-35A II aircraft have arrived at RAAF Base Williamtown. Six years ago the first of our F-35A aircraft arrived with hundreds of people waiting airside to see the new fifth generation aircraft. #AusAirForce has now received all its 72 F-35A aircraft.”

The RAAF added, “The final addition to the fleet has travelled all the way from Nellis Air Force Base, USA, supported by a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft from 33 Squadron, and a C-17A Globemaster from 36 Squadron, making it a real team effort.”

Worth the Wait

The RAAF had originally been set to receive the aircraft by the end of last year, but deliveries were pushed back due to delays with the fifth-gen aircraft’s Technology Refresh-3 (TR-3) update. The U.S. Department of Defense refused to accept any Lightning IIs – including for foreign military sales (FMS) – until a truncated version of the software/hardware upgrade was made available.

Aircraft are now being delivered to customers in a “phased” manner, the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) stated in July, after it reached an agreement with the Pentagon.

“Defence has undertaken the rapid introduction of this important capability since the first two F-35A Lightning II aircraft arrived in Australia on 10 December 2018,” the Australian government added. “The arrival of the final nine aircraft also demonstrates an enhancement of the warfighting capability of Australia’s F-35A fleet, with these aircraft the first in the fleet to receive Technology Refresh 3, enabling Block 4 upgrades that will support the new and enhanced capabilities required to meet the evolving threats of the future.”

Ready for RAAF No. 75 Squadron

The final aircraft, which arrived at RAAF Base Williamtown between November 29 and December 18, were spotted with the insignia of the RAAF’s No. 75 Squadron, which was first formed in 1942 when it operated the Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk.

The unit was later reactivated during the Cold War and has flown such aircraft as the de Havilland Vampires and later the Dassault Mirage IIIs. Prior to adopting the F-35A – the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant of the Lightning II – it operated the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet.

“The delivery of the final F-35A Lightning II aircraft is a practical demonstration of the Air Force’s ability to deliver highly effective air power as part of an integrated and focused force, in line with the National Defence Strategy,” Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, chief of the RAAF.

F-35 stealth fighter. Image Credit: Creative Commons.

“Australians should be proud that our Air Force is flying the most advanced multi-role fighter in the world,” Chappell added. “Australian defence industry has been integral to the successful introduction of the F-35A, with more than 75 Australian companies having shared in over $4.8 billion in contracts to support production, sustainment and follow-on development, including as part of the F-35 global supply chain.”

Author Experience and Expertise: Peter Suciu

Peter Suciu is a Senior Editor focusing on defense issues for 19FortyFive. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,500 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on X: @PeterSuciu – and on Bluesky: @petersuciu.bsky.social.