MARCH BIG PICTURE
F-35A
Photo by Corporal David Said A Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, off the coast of New South Wales.
• Despite it being a Public Holiday and in the middle of Defence’s Christmas stand-down, Australia’s F-35A Lightning II fleet officially achieved Initial Operational Capability on 28 December 2020. • Also confirmed in December is that all Australian F-35A initial pilot training is now conducted in Australia, with more than 30 jets and six networked simulators in place at RAAF Base Williamtown and four more simulators joining the network at RAAF Base Tindal this year. 6
• Three new F-35As arrived at RAAF Base Williamtown on 11 February, bringing the total fleet to 33. The new delivery is enough to see two operational squadrons fully equipped, plus training aircraft.
• The delivery in February, called Exercise Lightning Ferry 21-1, was conducted from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, beginning on 27 January to RAAF Base Williamtown,
supported by an RAAF KC-30A multirole tanker transport from No. 33 Squadron and a No. 36 Squadron C-17A Globemaster.
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