RAAF WILLIAMTOWN, Australia -- The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) fleet of F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft continues to grow with the arrival of three additional jet fighters at RAAF Williamtown airbase in New South Wales on November 18. The delivery of the three new units brings the total RAAF inventory up to 44 of the 72 aircraft on order.
The first three "full combat" F-35s were handed over to the RAAF on April 9, 2018. These joined early-production units initially delivered in 2015 and assigned to training duties at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. The first two operational F-35As delivered to the RAAF in Australia arrived at RAAF Williamtown in New South Wales on December 10, 2018.
The entire 72-unit F-35A inventory is slated to reach Full Operational Capability (FOC) d by 2023. Once this target is achieved Australia will determine whether to order a further 28 units.