The
Royal Australian Air Force (
RAAF) is the
air forceAn air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
branch of the
Australian Defence ForceThe Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the
Australian Flying Corps (AFC), which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts including both World Wars, the
Korean WarThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and the
Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. More recently the RAAF participated in the
2003 invasion of IraqThe 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
and is still involved with the
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
. The motto on the RAAF's coat of arms is the
LatinLatin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
phrase
Per ardua ad astraPer ardua ad astra is the motto of the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces such as the RAAF, RCAF, and RNZAF. It dates from 1912 and was used by the newly formed Royal Flying Corps.-Origin:The first Commanding Officer of the Royal Flying Corps was Colonel Frederick Sykes...
, which means "Through Struggle to the Stars".
Formation, 1912
The RAAF traces its history back to the Imperial Conference held in London in 1911, where it was decided aviation should be developed within the armed forces of the
British EmpireThe British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. Australia implemented this decision, the only country to do so, by approving the establishment of the
Central Flying SchoolThe Central Flying School RAAF is a Royal Australian Air Force training establishment, based at RAAF Base East Sale. It was formed in March 1913, and during the First World War it trained over 150 pilots, who fought in Europe and the Middle East....
at
Point Cook, VictoriaPoint Cook is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 25 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Point Cook had a population of 14,162, now it is estimated that the population of Point Cook is 32,167...
on 22 October 1912. The RAAF was the second air force to be officially formed.
World War I
Soon after the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the Australian Flying Corps sent aircraft to assist in capturing
German coloniesGerman New Guinea was the first part of the German colonial empire. It was a protectorate from 1884 until 1914 when it fell to Australia following the outbreak of the First World War. It consisted of the northeastern part of New Guinea and several nearby island groups...
in what is now north-east
New GuineaNew Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. These colonies surrendered quickly however, before the planes were even unpacked. The first operational flights did not occur until 27 May 1915, when the
Mesopotamian Half FlightThe Mesopotamian Half-Flight, or Australian Half-Flight was the first Australian Flying Corps unit to see active service.At the start of World War I, the air forces of the Allied forces were small and primitive. Most of the available aircraft and pilots were assigned to the Western Front...
was called upon to assist the
Indian ArmyThe British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
in protecting British oil interests in what is now
IraqIraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
The Corps later saw action in
EgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
,
PalestinePalestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
and on the
Western FrontFollowing the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
throughout the remainder of World War I. By the end of the war, four squadrons had seen active service. 460 officers and 2,234 other ranks served in the AFC, whilst another 200 men served as aircrew in the British flying services. Casualties included 175 dead, 111 wounded, 6 gassed and 40 captured.
Units of the AFC
| Operational Squadrons |
Training Squadrons |
| No. 1 Squadron AFC No. 1 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron based at RAAF Amberley. The squadron is currently being re-equipped with F/A-18F Super Hornet multi-role fighters.-World War I:...
|
No.5 (Training) Squadron AFC No. 5 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force training, army co-operation and helicopter squadron. The Squadron was first formed in 1917 and was disbanded in December 1989.-Squadron history:...
|
| No.2 Squadron AFC No. 2 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron. From its formation in 1916, it has operated a variety of aircraft types including fighters, bombers, and Airborne Early Warning & Control.-World War I:No...
|
No.6 (Training) Squadron AFCNo. 6 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force training and bomber squadron. The squadron was first formed in 1917 and served as a training unit based in England during World War I. It was disbanded in 1919 but re-formed at the start of 1939...
|
No.3 Squadron AFCNo. 3 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron. It was first formed in 1916 and currently operates F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, New South Wales.-World War I:...
|
No.7 (Training) Squadron AFC No. 7 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force flying training squadron of World War I and medium bomber squadron of World War II. The Squadron was first formed in October 1917 and was disbanded in December 1945 after seeing action during the Pacific War....
|
| No.4 Squadron AFC No. 4 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron responsible for training forward air controllers. The squadron was previously a fighter and army co-operation unit active in both World War I and World War II.-World War I:...
|
No.8 (Training) Squadron AFC No. 8 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force flying training squadron of World War I and medium bomber squadron of World War II. The Squadron was first formed in October 1917 and was disbanded in January 1946 after seeing action during the Pacific War....
|
AFC World War I
flying aceA flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
s include the following pilots:
- A. H. "Harry" Cobby
Air Commodore Arthur Henry Cobby CBE, DSO, DFC & Two Bars, GM was an Australian military aviator...
(29)
- Elwyn King
Elwyn Roy King DSO, DFC was a fighter pilot and ace in the Australian Flying Corps during World War I. He scored twenty-six victories in aerial combat, making him the fourth highest-scoring Australian aviator of the war. King entered service as a Lighthorseman in 1915, before transferring to the...
(26)
- Alexander Pentland
Alexander Augustus Norman Dudley Pentland MC, DFC, AFC , known as "Jerry" Pentland, was an Australian fighter ace in World War I. Born in Maitland, New South Wales, he commenced service as a Lighthorseman with the Australian Imperial Force in 1915, and saw action at Gallipoli...
(23)
- Edgar McCloughry
Air Vice Marshal Edgar James Kingston McCloughry CB, CBE, DSO, DFC & Bar was an Australian World War I fighter pilot and flying ace. He shot down 21 aircraft and military balloons during the war, making him the 6th highest-scoring Australian ace...
(21)
- Edgar Johnston
Edgar Charles Johnston DFC was an Australian fighter pilot in World War I, later on a leading member in civic aviation in Australia....
(20)
- Andrew Cowper
Andrew King Cowper MC & Two Bars was an Australian fighter pilot and flying ace of the First World War. Born in Bingara, New South Wales, he was educated in the United Kingdom at Eastbourne College...
(19)
- Cedric Howell
Cedric Ernest "Spike" Howell DSO, MC, DFC was an Australian fighter pilot and flying ace of the First World War. Born in Adelaide, South Australia, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in 1916 for service in the First World War and was posted to the 46th Battalion on the Western Front...
(19)
- Fred Holliday (17)
- Allan Hepburn
Wing Commander Allan Hepburn, DFC, was an Australian World War I flying ace, who was born in Melbourne, Victoria. He scored 16 victories during his flying career....
(16)
- Francis Ryan Smith (16)
- John Rutherford Gordon
John Rutherford Gordon MC was an Australian fighter pilot and ace of World War I.As a sergeant No 1 section, A Coy, 10 Battalion he took part in the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli, Turkey, 25 April 1915. He received his commission while serving at Gallipoli...
(15)
- Roy Cecil Phillipps (15)
Inter-war period
The Australian Flying Corps remained part of the
Australian ArmyThe Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
until 1919, when it was disbanded along with the
Australian Imperial ForceThe Australian Imperial Force was the name given to all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.* First Australian Imperial Force * Second Australian Imperial Force...
(AIF). Although the Central Flying School continued to operate at Point Cook, military flying virtually ceased until 1920, when the Australian Air Corps was formed. The Australian Air Force was formed on 31 March 1921.
King George VGeorge V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
approved the prefix "Royal" in June 1921 and became effective on 31 August 1921. The RAAF then became the second Royal air arm to be formed in the
British CommonwealthThe Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
, following the British
Royal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. When formed the RAAF had more aircraft than personnel, with 21 officers and 131 other ranks and 170 aircraft.
Europe and the Mediterranean
In 1939, just after the start of World War II, Australia joined the Empire Air Training Scheme, under which flight crews received basic training in Australia before travelling to Canada for advanced training. A total of 19 RAAF bomber, fighter, reconnaissance and other squadrons served initially in
BritainThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and/or with the
Desert Air ForceThe Desert Air Force , also known chronologically as Air Headquarters Western Desert, Air Headquarters Libya, AHQ Western Desert, the Western Desert Air Force, Desert Air Force, and the First Tactical Air Force , was an Allied tactical air force initially created from No...
, in
North AfricaNorth Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
and the Mediterranean. About nine percent of the personnel who served under British RAF commands in Europe and the Mediterranean were RAAF personnel.
With British manufacturing targeted by the
LuftwaffeLuftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
, the Australian government created the Department of Aircraft Production (DAP; later known as the Government Aircraft Factory) to supply Commonwealth air forces and the RAAF was eventually provided with large numbers of locally-built versions of British designs like the
DAP BeaufortThe Bristol Beaufort was a British twin-engined torpedo bomber designed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, and developed from experience gained designing and building the earlier Blenheim light bomber....
torpedo bomberA torpedo bomber is a bomber aircraft designed primarily to attack ships with aerial torpedoes which could also carry out conventional bombings. Torpedo bombers existed almost exclusively prior to and during World War II when they were an important element in many famous battles, notably the...
.
In the
European Theatre of World War IIThe European Theatre of World War II was a huge area of heavy fighting across Europe from Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 until the end of the war with the German unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945...
, RAAF personnel were especially notable in
RAF Bomber CommandRAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
: they represented two percent of all RAAF personnel during the war, but accounted for 23% of the total number killed in action. This statistic is further illustrated by the fact that
No. 460 Squadron RAAFNo. 460 Squadron is an Royal Australian Air Force intelligence unit active within the Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation . It was first formed as a heavy bomber squadron during World War II on November 15, 1941 and disbanded on 10 October 1945 after seeing extensive combat over Europe. The...
, mostly flying
Avro LancasterThe Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...
s, had an official establishment of about 200 aircrew and yet had 1,018 combat deaths. The squadron was therefore effectively wiped out five times over.
Pacific War
The beginning of the
Pacific WarThe Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
— and the rapid advance of
JapanThe Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
ese forces — threatened the Australian mainland for the first time. The RAAF was quite unprepared for the emergency, and initially had negligible forces available for service in the Pacific.
In 1941 and early 1942, many RAAF airmen, including
21No. 21 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force general reserve squadron. It saw action as a fighter, dive bomber and heavy bomber unit during World War II.-History:...
and
453 SquadronNo. 453 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force air traffic control unit. It was first was formed at Bankstown in New South Wales on 23 May 1941 during World War II and was disbanded in March 1942 after suffering heavy losses in combat during the Battle of Malaya...
s, saw action with the RAF Far East Command in the
MalayanThe Malayan Campaign was a campaign fought by Allied and Japanese forces in Malaya, from 8 December 1941 – 31 January 1942 during the Second World War. The campaign was dominated by land battles between British Commonwealth army units, and the Imperial Japanese Army...
,
SingaporeThe Battle of Singapore was fought in the South-East Asian theatre of the Second World War when the Empire of Japan invaded the Allied stronghold of Singapore. Singapore was the major British military base in Southeast Asia and nicknamed the "Gibraltar of the East"...
and Dutch East Indies campaigns. Allied fighter pilots, in particular, performed well in the campaign, despite being outnumbered and the fact that many were allocated sub-standard examples of the
Brewster BuffaloThe Brewster F2A Buffalo was an American fighter aircraft which saw limited service early in World War II. Though the Buffalo won a competition against the Grumman F4F Wildcat in 1939 to become the US Navy's first monoplane fighter aircraft, it turned out to be a big disappointment...
.
The devastating air raids on Darwin on 19 February 1942 drove the point home. Some RAAF squadrons were transferred from the
northern hemisphereThe Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...
— although a substantial number remained there until the end of the war. Shortages of fighter and
ground attackIn military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
planes led to the acquisition of US-built
P-40The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational...
Kittyhawks and the rapid design and manufacture of the first Australian fighter, the
CAC BoomerangThe CAC Boomerang was a World War II fighter aircraft designed and manufactured in Australia between 1942 and 1945. The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation produced Boomerangs under the production contract numbers CA-12, CA-13, CA-14 and CA-19, with aircraft supplied under each subsequent contract...
. RAAF Kittyhawks came to play a crucial role in the
New GuineaNew Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
and
Solomon IslandsSolomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
campaigns, especially in operations like the
Battle of Milne BayThe Battle of Milne Bay, also known as Operation RE by the Japanese, was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II. Japanese marines attacked the Australian base at Milne Bay on the eastern tip of New Guinea on 25 August 1942, and fighting continued until the Japanese retreated on 5...
. As a response to a possible Japanese chemical warfare threat the RAAF imported hundreds of thousands of chemical weapons into Australia.
In the
Battle of the Bismarck SeaThe Battle of the Bismarck Sea took place in the South West Pacific Area during World War II. During the course of the battle, aircraft of the U.S. 5th Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force attacked a Japanese convoy that was carrying troops to Lae, New Guinea...
, imported
Bristol BeaufighterThe Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, often referred to as simply the Beau, was a British long-range heavy fighter modification of the Bristol Aeroplane Company's earlier Beaufort torpedo bomber design...
s proved to be highly effective ground attack and maritime strike aircraft. Beaufighters were later made locally by the DAP. Although it was much bigger than Japanese fighters, the Beaufighter had the speed to outrun them.
The RAAF's
heavy bomberA heavy bomber is a bomber aircraft of the largest size and load carrying capacity, and usually the longest range.In New START, the term "heavy bomber" is used for two types of bombers:*one with a range greater than 8,000 kilometers...
force was predominantly 287
B-24 LiberatorThe Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
s, which could bomb Japanese targets as far away as
BorneoBorneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
and the Philippines from airfields in Australia and New Guinea.
By late 1945, the RAAF had received or ordered about 500
P-51 MustangThe North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
s, for fighter/ground attack purposes. The
Commonwealth Aircraft CorporationThe Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation was an Australian aircraft manufacturer. The CAC was established in 1936, to provide Australia with the capability to produce military aircraft and engines.-History:...
initially assembled US-made Mustangs, but later manufactured most of those used. The RAAF's main operational formation, the
First Tactical Air ForceThe Australian First Tactical Air Force was formed on 25 October 1944 by the Royal Australian Air Force . Its purpose was to provide a mobile force of fighter and ground attack aircraft that could support Allied army and naval units fighting the Empire of Japan in the South West Pacific Area...
, comprised more than 18,000 personnel and 20 squadrons; it had taken part in the Philippines and
BorneoBorneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
campaigns and was scheduled to participate in the invasion of the Japanese mainland,
Operation DownfallOperation Downfall was the Allied plan for the invasion of Japan near the end of World War II. The operation was cancelled when Japan surrendered after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet Union's declaration of war against Japan. The operation had two parts: Operation...
. So too were the RAAF bomber squadrons in Europe, as part of the proposed
Tiger ForceTiger Force, also known as the Very Long Range Bomber Force, was the name given to a World War II British Commonwealth long-range heavy bomber force, formed in 1945, from squadrons serving with RAF Bomber Command in Europe, for proposed use against targets in Japan...
. However, the war was brought to a sudden end by the US
nuclear attackDuring the final stages of World War II in 1945, the United States conducted two atomic bombings against the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, the first on August 6, 1945, and the second on August 9, 1945. These two events are the only use of nuclear weapons in war to date.For six months...
s on Japan. As a result of the Empire Air Training Scheme, about 20,000 Australian personnel had served with other Commonwealth air forces in Europe during World War II. A total of 216,900 men and women served in the RAAF, of whom 11,061 were killed in action.
Service since 1945
During the Berlin Airlift, in 1948–1949, the RAAF Squadron Berlin Air Lift aided the international effort to fly in supplies to the stricken city; two RAF York aircraft were also crewed by RAAF crews. Although a small part of the operation, the RAAF contribution was significant, flying 2062 sorties and carrying 7030 tons of freight and 6964 passengers.
In the
Korean WarThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, from 1950–53, Mustangs from
No. 77 SquadronNo. 77 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron. The Squadron was formed in 1942 and currently operates F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from RAAF Base Williamtown.-History:...
(77 Sqn), stationed in Japan with the
British Commonwealth Occupation ForceThe British Commonwealth Occupation Force , was the name of the joint Australian, Canadian, British, Indian and New Zealand military forces in occupied Japan, from 21 February 1946 until the end of occupation in 1952...
, were among the first United Nations aircraft to be deployed, in ground support, combat air patrol, and escort missions. When the UN planes were confronted by
MiG-15The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 was a jet fighter developed for the USSR by Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich. The MiG-15 was one of the first successful swept-wing jet fighters, and it achieved fame in the skies over Korea, where early in the war, it outclassed all straight-winged enemy fighters in...
jet fighters, 77 Sqn acquired
Gloster MeteorThe Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
s, which enabled some success against the Soviet pilots flying for
North KoreaThe Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. However the MiGs were superior aircraft and the Meteors were relegated to ground support missions, as the North Koreans gained experience. The air force also operated transport aircraft during the conflict. No. 77 Squadron flew 18872 sorties, claiming the destruction of 3700 buildings, 1408 vehicles, 16 bridges, 98 railway carriages and an unknown number of enemy personnel. 3 MiG-15s were confirmed destroyed, and 2 others probably destroyed. RAAF casualties included 41 killed and 7 captured; 66 aircraft – 22 Mustangs and 44 Meteors – were lost.
In the
Malayan EmergencyThe Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
, from 1950–1960, 6 Lincolns from
No. 1 SquadronNo. 1 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron based at RAAF Amberley. The squadron is currently being re-equipped with F/A-18F Super Hornet multi-role fighters.-World War I:...
(1 Sqn) and a flight of Dakotas from
No. 38 SquadronNo. 38 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force transport squadron. The Squadron was formed in 1943 and saw active service in the Second World War, Korean War and Malayan Emergency. No. 38 Squadron has also supported Australian peacekeeping operations around the world including in Kashmir and East...
(38 Sqn) took part in operations against the CTs as part of the Far East Air Force (FEAF). The Dakotas were used on cargo runs, in troop movement and in paratroop and leaflet drops with in Malaya. The Lincolns, operating from bases in Singapore and from Kuala Lumpur, formed the backbone of the air war against the CTs, conducting bombing missions against their jungle bases. Although results were often difficult to assess, they allowed the government to harass CT forces, attack their base camps when identified and keep them on the move. Later, in 1958, Canberra bombers from
No. 2 SquadronNo. 2 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron. From its formation in 1916, it has operated a variety of aircraft types including fighters, bombers, and Airborne Early Warning & Control.-World War I:No...
(2 Sqn) were deployed to Malaya and took part in bombing missions against the CTs.
During the
Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, from 1964–72, the RAAF contributed squadrons of Caribou
STOLSTOL is an acronym for short take-off and landing, a term used to describe aircraft with very short runway requirements.-Definitions:There is no one accepted definition of STOL and many different definitions have been used by different authorities and nations at various times and for a myriad of...
transport aircraft (RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam, later
No. 35 SquadronNo. 35 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force transport unit. First formed in 1942, No. 35 Squadron saw action in World War II and the Vietnam War.-History:...
),
UH-1 IroquoisThe Bell UH-1 Iroquois is a military helicopter powered by a single, turboshaft engine, with a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor. The helicopter was developed by Bell Helicopter to meet the United States Army's requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter in 1952, and first flew...
helicopters (
No. 9 SquadronNo. 9 Squadron was a unit of the Royal Australian Air Force. The Squadron saw active service in World War II and the Vietnam War before being disbanded in 1989.-Fleet co-operation:...
) and
English Electric CanberraThe English Electric Canberra is a first-generation jet-powered light bomber manufactured in large numbers through the 1950s. The Canberra could fly at a higher altitude than any other bomber through the 1950s and set a world altitude record of 70,310 ft in 1957...
bombers (
No. 2 SquadronNo. 2 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron. From its formation in 1916, it has operated a variety of aircraft types including fighters, bombers, and Airborne Early Warning & Control.-World War I:No...
). The Canberras flew 11,963 bombing
sortieSortie is a term for deployment or dispatch of one military unit, be it an aircraft, ship, or troops from a strongpoint. The sortie, whether by one or more aircraft or vessels, usually has a specific mission....
s, and two aircraft were lost. One went missing during a bombing raid. The wreckage of the aircraft was recovered in April 2009, and the remains of Flying Officer Michael Herbert and Pilot Officer Robert Carver were found in late July 2009. The other was shot down by a surface to air missile, although both crew were rescued. They dropped 76389 bombs and were credited with 786 enemy personnel confirmed killed and a further 3390 estimated killed, 8637 structures, 15568 bunkers, 1267 sampans and 74 bridges destroyed. RAAF transport aircraft also supported anti-communist ground forces. The UH-1 helicopters were used in many roles including Dustoff (medical evacuation) and Bushranger Gunships for armed support. RAAF casualties in Vietnam included 6 killed in action, 8 non-battle fatalities, 30 wounded in action and 30 injured.
Military airlifts were conducted for a number of purposes in the intervening decades, such as the peacekeeping operations in
East TimorThe Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
from 1999.
Australia's combat aircraft were not used again in combat until the Iraq War in 2003, when 14 F/A-18s from
No. 75 SquadronNo. 75 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter unit based at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory. The squadron was formed in 1942 and saw extensive action in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II, operating P-40 Kittyhawks. It was disbanded in 1948, but reformed the...
operated in the escort and ground attack roles, flying a total of 350 sorties and dropping 122 laser guided bombs.
Since August 2007, a detachment of
No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit RAAFNo. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit is a Royal Australian Air Force radar unit. 114 MCRU is currently the RAAF's only easily deployable radar unit and regularly deploys into the field from its home base at RAAF Base Darwin during military exercises.-History:114MCRU was formed as 14 Fighter...
has been on active service at
Kandahar AirfieldKandahar International Airport is located 10 miles south-east of Kandahar City in Afghanistan. The airport was built by the United States in the 1960s, under the United States Agency for International Development program. It may have been intended to be used as a possible U.S...
in southern
AfghanistanAfghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Approximately 75 personnel deployed with the TPS 77 radar assigned with the responsibility to coordinate coalition combat air operations.
Ranks and uniform
The RAAF uses
Royal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(RAF)-derived ranks for both officers and other ranks, with the following exceptions:
- the RAAF does not use "Technician" ranks
- non-commissioned aircrew do not wear an eagle above their chevrons
- the insignia for Leading Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman (LAC/W) is a single chevron, rather than a two-bladed propeller
- there is no Senior Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman (SAC) rank.
Unlike their British and New Zealand counterparts, they do not wear a blue-grey uniform but a midnight blue color, which is one shade darker than navy blue.
AUSTRALIA on slip-on rank
epauletteEpaulette is a type of ornamental shoulder piece or decoration used as insignia of rank by armed forces and other organizations.Epaulettes are fastened to the shoulder by a shoulder strap or "passant", a small strap parallel to the shoulder seam, and the button near the collar, or by laces on the...
s or otherwise known as (SRI) 'Soft Rank Insignia' and are worn on the shoulders of the service dress uniform. When not in the service dress or "Ceremonial" uniform, RAAF personnel wear the Auscam DPCU, which has replaced the old working dress.
Roundel
Originally, the air force used the existing red, white and blue roundel of the
Royal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. However, during World War II, the inner red circle was removed after a No. 11 Squadron Catalina was mistaken for a Japanese aircraft by a US Navy Wildcat in the Pacific Theatre.
After the war, a range of options were proposed, including the Southern Cross, a boomerang, a sprig of wattle and the red kangaroo.
The current version of the RAAF roundel was formally adopted on 2 July 1956. The roundel exists of a white inner circle with a
Red KangarooThe Red Kangaroo is the largest of all kangaroos, the largest mammal native to Australia, and the largest surviving marsupial. It is found across mainland Australia, avoiding only the more fertile areas in the south, the east coast, and the northern rainforests.-Description:This species is a very...
surrounded by a royal blue circle. The kangaroo faces left, except when used on aircraft or vehicles, when the kangaroo should always face the front. Low visibility versions exist of the roundel, with the white omitted and the red and blue replaced with light or dark grey. Australian Army helicopters sometimes use just the Kangaroo, either in black or in one of the camouflage colours.
Royal Australian Air Force badge
The RAAF badge was accepted by the
Chester HeraldChester Herald of Arms in Ordinary is an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. The office of Chester Herald dates from the 14th century, and it is reputed that the holder was herald to Edward, Prince of Wales, the Black Prince. In the reign of King Richard II the officer was attached...
in 1939. The badge is composed of the imperial crown mounted on a circle featuring the words Royal Australian Air Force, beneath which scroll work displays the Latin motto (shared with the
Royal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
)
Per Ardua Ad AstraPer ardua ad astra is the motto of the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces such as the RAAF, RCAF, and RNZAF. It dates from 1912 and was used by the newly formed Royal Flying Corps.-Origin:The first Commanding Officer of the Royal Flying Corps was Colonel Frederick Sykes...
. Surmounting the badge is a
wedge-tailed eagleThe Wedge-tailed Eagle , sometimes known as the Eaglehawk in its native range, is the largest bird of prey in Australia, but it is also found in southern New Guinea. It has long, fairly broad wings, fully feathered legs, and an unmistakable wedge-shaped tail...
. Per Ardua Ad Astra is attributed with the meaning “Through Struggle to the Stars” and is from
Sir Henry Rider Haggard'sSir Henry Rider Haggard, KBE was an English writer of adventure novels set in exotic locations, predominantly Africa, and a founder of the Lost World literary genre. He was also involved in agricultural reform around the British Empire...
novel
The People of the Mist.
Personnel
As of June 2011, the RAAF has 14,573 permanent full-time personnel and 2,800 part-time active reserve personnel.
Aircraft
As of 2010, the following aircraft are operated by the RAAF:
! style="text-align: left; background: #aabccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aabccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aabccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aabccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aabccc;"|In service
! style="text-align: left; background: #aabccc;"|Notes
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Fighter AircraftA fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
|-
| McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet
| 
USA
| Fighter/Attack
| Total
F/A-18A
F/A-18B
| 71
55
16
| Built in Australia under licence from McDonnell DouglasMcDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft. It formed from a merger of McDonnell Aircraft and Douglas Aircraft in 1967. McDonnell Douglas was based at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport...
. The F/A-18 fleet has been the subject of various upgrades since it entered service in the 1980s and remains capable, but fatigue issues mean that it may not remain a viable front-line air defence option until the planned retirement date of 2015, although this is being mitigated through a centre barrel replacement program. They will be replaced by F-35 Lightning IIThe Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of single-seat, single-engine, fifth generation multirole fighters under development to perform ground attack, reconnaissance, and air defense missions with stealth capability...
.
|-
| Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet
| USA
| Fighter/Attack
| Total
F/A-18F
F/A-18F+
| 24
12
12
| 24 F/A-18F aircraft will help avoid a gap in the Australian Air Force strike capability between the retirement of the F-111 in 2010 and delivery of the F-35A. The F/A-18F Super Hornets will enter service from the end of 2010. The RAAF's first five Super Hornets arrived at their home base, RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland, on 26 March 2010, with the second batch of six arrived on 6 July 2010. The third batch of four aircraft arrived at RAAF Base Amberley on 7 December 2010. These include the first three modified to allow later conversion to EA-18G GrowlerThe Boeing EA-18G Growler is an American carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft, a specialized version of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet. The EA-18G will replace the Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowlers in service with the United States Navy. The Growler's electronic warfare capability is...
, designated F/A-18F+, 12 of the 24 Super Hornets would be modified this way.
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | TrainingThe term training refers to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge that relate to specific useful competencies. It forms the core of apprenticeships and provides the backbone of content at institutes of...
|-
| BAE Systems Hawk
| UK
| Lead-in fighter trainer
| Hawk 127
| 33
| Fighter jet conversion trainer.
|-
| Pilatus PC-9The Pilatus PC-9 is a single-engine, low-wing tandem-seat turboprop training aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Switzerland.-Design and development:...
|
Australia
| Advanced trainer
| PC-9
| 65
| Produced under licence in Australia by de Havilland AustraliaDe Havilland Aircraft Pty Ltd was part of de Havilland, then became a separate company. It was purchased by Boeing and is now Hawker de Havilland Aerospace Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Boeing Australia Ltd-Early Years and WWII:...
.
|-
| Beechcraft Super King AirThe Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation . The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model 100 series , Model 200 series and Model 300 series...
| USA
| Navigational trainer
| B350
| 8
|
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Airborne early warning and control
|-
| Boeing 737 AEW&C
| Australia
| Airborne early warning and control (AEW&C)
| 737 AEW&C
| 6
| All aircraft delivered by July 2011.
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Aerial RefuelingAerial refueling, also called air refueling, in-flight refueling , air-to-air refueling or tanking, is the process of transferring fuel from one aircraft to another during flight....
|-
| Airbus A330 MRTTThe Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport is an aerial refuelling tanker aircraft based on the civilian Airbus A330-200. The A330 MRTT has been ordered by the Royal Australian Air Force , Royal Air Force , United Arab Emirates Air Force, and Royal Saudi Air Force...
| 
EU
| Aerial refuellingAerial refueling, also called air refueling, in-flight refueling , air-to-air refueling or tanking, is the process of transferring fuel from one aircraft to another during flight....
(AAR)
| Total
KC-30A
To Deliver
| 5
3
2
| First aircraft delivered to RAAF Amberley in June 2011.
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Maritime PatrolMaritime patrol is the task of monitoring areas of water. Generally conducted by military and law enforcement agencies, maritime patrol is usually aimed at identifying human activities....
|-
| AP-3C OrionThe Lockheed AP-3C Orion is a variant of the P-3 Orion used by the Royal Australian Air Force for tasks such as naval fleet support, maritime surveillance, search and survivor supply and anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare...
| USA
| Maritime patrol/Strike
| Total
AP-3C
P-3C
| 21
18
3
| All aircraft to be withdrawn by 2018. Will probably be replaced by 8 BoeingThe Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
P-8 Poseidon and 7 large UAVs.
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | UAVAn unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
|-
| IAI HeronThe IAI Heron is a Medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle developed by the Malat division of Israel Aerospace Industries. It is capable of Medium Altitude Long Endurance operations of up to 52 hours' duration at up to 35,000 feet...
|
Canada
| Reconnaissance/Surveillance
| Heron 1The IAI Heron is a Medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle developed by the Malat division of Israel Aerospace Industries. It is capable of Medium Altitude Long Endurance operations of up to 52 hours' duration at up to 35,000 feet...
| 3
| Long term lease agreement with Canada. Two aircraft are operating in Afghanistan, while a third example has now been acquired for training in Australia.
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Transport
|-
| Boeing Business Jet|-External links:* .* .*...
| USA
| VIP transport
| 737–700 BBJ
| 2
| Long term lease, transport for government leaders and senior executives travelling on official business
|-
| Boeing C-17 Globemaster IIIThe Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas, the C-17 is used for rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward operating bases throughout...
| USA
| Strategic transport
| C-17
| 5 + (1)
| US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced the possible sale of sixth aircraft to Australia for $300 million.
|-
| Bombardier Challenger 600The Bombardier Challenger 600 series is a family of business jets designed by Bill Lear and produced first by Canadair until that company was bought by Bombardier Aerospace in 1986.-Development:...
| Canada
| VIP transport
| CL 604
| 3
|
|-
| Lockheed C-130 Hercules
| USA
| Transport
| C-130H
| 8
| 4 have been retired.
|-
| Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules
| USA
| Transport
| C-130J-30
| 12
| First entered service in 1999
|-
| Beechcraft Super King AirThe Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation . The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model 100 series , Model 200 series and Model 300 series...
| USA
| Light transport
| B350
| 8
|Interim replacement for Caribou transports, 3 of which were transferred from Army Aviation.
|}
Small arms
- L9A1/L9A3 Self Loading Pistol (Browning Hi-Power)
The Browning Hi-Power is a single-action, 9 mm semi-automatic handgun. It is based on a design by American firearms inventor John Browning, and completed by Dieudonné Saive at Fabrique Nationale of Herstal, Belgium. Browning died in 1926, several years before the design was finalized...
- Glock 19 Jet Aircrew Pistol
The Glock pistol, sometimes referred to by the manufacturer as Glock "Safe Action" Pistol, is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and produced by Glock Ges.m.b.H., located in Deutsch-Wagram, Austria. The company's founder, engineer Gaston Glock, had no experience with firearm design or...
- Heckler & Koch MP5 Sub-Machine Gun
The Heckler & Koch MP5 is a 9mm submachine gun of German design, developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the German small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar....
- Remington 870 shotgun
The Remington Model 870 is a U.S.-made pump-action shotgun manufactured by Remington Arms Company, Inc. It is widely used by the public for sport shooting, hunting, and self-defense. It is also commonly used by law enforcement and military organizations worldwide.-Development:The Remington 870 was...
- F88 Austeyr rifle (Steyr AUG)
The AUG is an Austrian bullpup 5.56mm assault rifle, designed in the early 1970s by Steyr Mannlicher GmbH & Co KG . The AUG was adopted by the Austrian Army as the StG 77 in 1977, where it replaced the 7.62mm StG 58 automatic rifle...
- SR-98 Sniper Rifle
The Accuracy International Arctic Warfare rifle is a family of bolt-action sniper rifles designed and manufactured by the British company Accuracy International...
- F89 Light Support Weapon (Minimi)
The Minimi is a Belgian 5.56mm light machine gun developed by Fabrique Nationale in Herstal by Ernest Vervier. First introduced in 1974, it has entered service with the armed forces of over thirty countries...
- MAG58 General Service Machine Gun
The FN MAG is a Belgian 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun, designed in the early 1950s at Fabrique Nationale by Ernest Vervier. It has been used by more than 80 countries, and it has been made under licence in countries such as Argentina, Egypt, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the...
- M203 grenade launcher
The M203 is a single shot 40 mm grenade launcher designed to attach to a rifle. It uses the same rounds as the older M79 break-action grenade launcher, which utilize the High-Low Propulsion System to keep recoil forces low. Though versatile, and compatible with many rifle models, the M203 was...
Current flying squadrons
- No. 1 Squadron
No. 1 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron based at RAAF Amberley. The squadron is currently being re-equipped with F/A-18F Super Hornet multi-role fighters.-World War I:...
– Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet (Multi-Role Fighter)
- No. 2 Squadron
No. 2 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron. From its formation in 1916, it has operated a variety of aircraft types including fighters, bombers, and Airborne Early Warning & Control.-World War I:No...
– Boeing Wedgetail (AEW&C)
- No. 3 Squadron
No. 3 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron. It was first formed in 1916 and currently operates F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, New South Wales.-World War I:...
– McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (Multi-Role Fighter)
- No. 4 Squadron
No. 4 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron responsible for training forward air controllers. The squadron was previously a fighter and army co-operation unit active in both World War I and World War II.-World War I:...
– Pilatus PC9/A (Forward Air Controller Training)
- No. 5 Flight
No. 5 Flight is a Royal Australian Air Force aircraft flight which was raised in January 2010. It is located at RAAF Base Amberley and forms part of No. 82 Wing. The flight is responsible for preparing Australian Defence Force personnel to operate the detachment of two RAAF IAI Heron unmanned...
- Heron UAV
- No. 6 Squadron
No. 6 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force training and bomber squadron. The squadron was first formed in 1917 and served as a training unit based in England during World War I. It was disbanded in 1919 but re-formed at the start of 1939...
– Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet (Super Hornet Conversion)
- No. 10 Squadron
No. 10 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol squadron based at RAAF Base Edinburgh. The Squadron was first formed in 1939 and has seen active service in World War II, East Timor, the War on Terrorism and the 2003 Gulf War.-Second World War:...
– Lockheed P-3C Orion (Maritime Patrol)
- No. 11 Squadron
No. 11 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol squadron based at RAAF Base Edinburgh. It was formed in 1939 and has seen active service in World War II, East Timor, the War on Terrorism and the 2003 Gulf War...
– Lockheed P-3C Orion (Maritime Patrol)
- No. 32 Squadron
No. 32 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force unit based at RAAF East Sale in Victoria. It currently flies training and transport operations.- World War II :...
– Beechcraft King Air 350 (School of Air Warfare Support)
- No. 33 Squadron
No. 33 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force transport squadron. It was formed in 1942 for service during World War II. Following the completion of hostilities the squadron was disbanded in 1946. In 1981 the squadron was re-raised as a flight-sized organisation before being expanded to a full...
– is equipped with KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker TransportsThe Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport is an aerial refuelling tanker aircraft based on the civilian Airbus A330-200. The A330 MRTT has been ordered by the Royal Australian Air Force , Royal Air Force , United Arab Emirates Air Force, and Royal Saudi Air Force...
- No. 34 Squadron
No. 34 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force transport squadron. It is currently based at Canberra International Airport in the Australian capital Canberra, where it operates two Boeing 737 Business Jets and three Bombardier Challenger 604s.-History:...
– Boeing 737 BBJ, Bombardier Challenger 604 (VIP Transport)
- No. 36 Squadron
No. 36 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force transport squadron. It currently operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from RAAF Base Amberley. The Squadron has seen active service flying transport aircraft during World War II, the Berlin Airlift, Korean War, Vietnam War and the invasion of Iraq...
– Boeing Globemaster III (Transport)
- No. 37 Squadron
No. 37 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force transport squadron. Formed in July 1943 at RAAF Station Laverton, Victoria, it currently operates C-130H and C-130J Hercules aircraft from RAAF Base Richmond, New South Wales. The unit saw active service flying C-60 Lodestars and C-47 Dakotas in...
– Lockheed C-130H/C-130J-30 Hercules (Transport)
- No. 38 Squadron
No. 38 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force transport squadron. The Squadron was formed in 1943 and saw active service in the Second World War, Korean War and Malayan Emergency. No. 38 Squadron has also supported Australian peacekeeping operations around the world including in Kashmir and East...
– Beechcraft King Air 350 (Transport)
- No. 75 Squadron
No. 75 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter unit based at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory. The squadron was formed in 1942 and saw extensive action in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II, operating P-40 Kittyhawks. It was disbanded in 1948, but reformed the...
– McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (Multi-Role Fighter)
- No. 76 Squadron
No. 76 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force flight training squadron. Established in 1942, the squadron operated P-40 Kittyhawk fighter aircraft and saw combat during World War II. Following the war it formed part of Australia's contribution to the occupation of Japan until it was...
– BAE Systems Hawk 127 (Lead-in Fighter Training/ADF Support)
- No. 77 Squadron
No. 77 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter squadron. The Squadron was formed in 1942 and currently operates F/A-18 Hornet aircraft from RAAF Base Williamtown.-History:...
– McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (Multi-Role Fighter)
- No. 79 Squadron
No. 79 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force flight training unit which has been formed on four occasions since 1943. The squadron was established in May 1943 as a fighter unit equipped with Supermarine Spitfires, and subsequently saw combat in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II...
– BAE Systems Hawk 127 (Hawk Conversion/ADF Support)
- No. 285 Squadron
No. 285 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force training squadron. The Squadron was formed in 1999 and is responsible for providing training to Air Lift Group's aircrew and ground support staff. While the Squadron does not operate any flying aircraft it manages flight simulators which are used to...
- Lockheed C-130H/C-130J-30 Hercules (Transport)
- No. 292 Squadron
No. 292 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force operational conversion unit based at RAAF Base Edinburgh. The squadron was formed on 1 January 1977 as the Maritime Analysis Training School. The Squadron was renamed No. 292 Squadron on 27 October 1980....
– Lockheed P-3C Orion (Training/Maritime Patrol)
- CFS
The Central Flying School RAAF is a Royal Australian Air Force training establishment, based at RAAF Base East Sale. It was formed in March 1913, and during the First World War it trained over 150 pilots, who fought in Europe and the Middle East....
– Pacific Aerospace CT4B, Pilatus PC9/A (Flying Instructor Training)
- ADFBFTS
The Australian Defence Force Basic Flying Training School is located in Tamworth in northern New South Wales. It is currently run by BAE Systems Flying Training Academy, which conducts tri-service flight screening and basic flying training for the Australian Defence Force aircrew from the...
– Pacific Aerospace CT4B (Basic Navy, Army, and Air Force Flying Training)
- No. 2 FTS
No. 2 Flying Training School is the main flying training school of the Royal Australian Air Force . Formed under its present name in 1969, it is located at RAAF Base Pearce, Western Australia. The unit operates a fleet of Pilatus PC-9 turboprop trainers...
– Pilatus PC9/A (Advanced Air Force and Navy Flying Training)
- No. 2 OCU
No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit is a Royal Australian Air Force training unit located at RAAF Base Williamtown. 2OCU's main role is to train pilots to operate the F/A-18 Hornet. New RAAF pilots enter 2OCU for training after first qualifying to fly jet fighters in No. 76 Squadron...
– McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (Hornet Conversion and Weapons Officer Course)
- ARDU
The Royal Australian Air Force's Aircraft Research and Development Unit was responsible for the test and evaluation of aircraft and weapons used by the RAAF. The ARDU was first established as the Special Duties and Performance Flight in 1941. ARDU also operated the Woomera Test Facility located...
- Various Aircraft Types (Flight Testing)
Non-flying squadrons
- No. 1 AFDS
No 1 Airfield Defence Squadron is an Royal Australian Air Force military unit whose primary role is to protect and defend airfields, buildings, equipment, and personnel.-Crest:...
- Airbase Defence (See Airfield Defence GuardsThe Airfield Defence Guard mustering of the Royal Australian Air Force performs specialist ground defence tasks to protect air power assets from hostile ground action. The mustering is composed of non-commissioned members, commonly called 'ADGies,' most of whom are employed within an Airfield...
)
- No. 1 AOSS - Air Terminal Operations, Airfield Engineering
- No. 1 ATHS - Health Operations
- No. 1 CCS
Number 1 Combat Communications Squadron was formerly known as Air Transportable Telecommunications Unit . It is a unit of the Royal Australian Air Force....
- Combat Communications
- No. 1 RSU
No. 1 Radar Surveillance Unit is the Royal Australian Air Force unit responsible for operating the Jindalee Operational Radar Network...
- Wide Area Surveillance
- No. 1 RTU - Airman Ab Initio
The Ab Initio software is a fourth generation data analysis, batch processing, data manipulation graphical user interface -based parallel processing product which is commonly used to extract, transform, and load data...
Training
- No. 2 AFDS
No. 2 Airfield Defence Squadron is an Australian military unit whose primary role is to protect and defend airfields, buildings, equipment, and personnel.-Crest:...
- Airbase Defence (See Airfield Defence GuardsThe Airfield Defence Guard mustering of the Royal Australian Air Force performs specialist ground defence tasks to protect air power assets from hostile ground action. The mustering is composed of non-commissioned members, commonly called 'ADGies,' most of whom are employed within an Airfield...
)
- No. 2 ATHS - Health Operations
- No. 3 ATHS - Health Operations
- No. 3 CRU
No. 3 Control and Reporting Unit is a Royal Australian Air Force surveillance unit. 3CRU is currently located at RAAF Base Williamtown near Newcastle, New South Wales and is primarily responsible for conducting surveillance of the air-sea gap between Australia and its northern neighbours...
- Air Defence Ground Environment
- No. 4 ATHS - Health Operations
- No. 13 (City of Darwin) Squadron
No. 13 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron. The Squadron saw combat during World War II as a bomber and maritime patrol squadron and is currently active as a mixed regular and reserve RAAF unit located in Darwin, fulfilling both operational support and training duties.-History:No. 13...
- RAAF DarwinRAAF Base Darwin is a Royal Australian Air Force base located in the city of Darwin, Northern Territory. The base shares its runway with Darwin International Airport.-History:...
Airbase Operations
- No. 21 (City of Melbourne) Squadron
No. 21 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force general reserve squadron. It saw action as a fighter, dive bomber and heavy bomber unit during World War II.-History:...
- RAAF WilliamsRAAF Williams comprises the two bases of Point Cook and Laverton. Both establishments previously existed as separate RAAF Bases until 1999 when they were amalgamated to form RAAF Williams...
Airbase Operations
- No. 22 (City of Sydney) Squadron
No. 22 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force mixed regular and reserve squadron that provides support for the RAAF in the Sydney region. Formed in 1936, the squadron served in Papua New Guinea during the Second World War, and later followed the Pacific war as far as the Philippines...
- RAAF RichmondRAAF Base Richmond is one of Australia's oldest and largest air force bases. It is located within the City of Hawkesbury in the north-western fringe of Sydney, New South Wales, between the towns of Windsor and Richmond. The base is home to the Royal Australian Air Force's transport headquarters,...
Airbase Operations
- No. 23 (City of Brisbane) Squadron
No. 23 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force is a non-flying base operations and training squadron headquartered at RAAF Base Amberley near Brisbane, Queensland. The Squadron was formed in 1937 and saw action during World War II as a bomber squadron.-History:No...
- RAAF AmberleyRAAF Base Amberley is a Royal Australian Air Force base located southwest of Ipswich, Queensland and southwest of Brisbane. It is currently home to No. 1 Squadron and No. 6 Squadron , No. 33 Squadron and No. 36 Squadron...
Airbase Operations
- No. 24 (City of Adelaide) Squadron
No. 24 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron. The Squadron was formed in 1940 and saw action as a bomber squadron during World War II. Since the end of the war the Squadron has been an RAAF Reserve squadron located near Adelaide, South Australia....
- RAAF EdinburghRAAF Base Edinburgh is located in Edinburgh, 25km north of the centre of Adelaide.It is primarily home to No 92 Wing's AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft that conduct surveillance operations throughout Australia's airspace....
Airbase Operations
- No. 25 (City of Perth) Squadron
No. 25 Squadron is a general reserve squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force. The squadron is based at RAAF Base Pearce in Perth, Western Australia and forms part of the Combat Reserve Wing. The squadron has been based at Pearce since 1938. 25 Squadron was originally formed at RAAF Base...
- RAAF PearceRAAF Base Pearce is the main RAAF base in Western Australia. The base is located in Bullsbrook, north of Perth. It is used for training by the Royal Australian Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Air Force...
Airbase Operations
- No. 26 (City of Newcastle) Squadron
No. 26 Squadron RAAF is a Royal Australian Air Force reserve squadron, headquartered at RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales, Australia. The squadron's role is to provide trained personnel to regular RAAF units during operations. It was formed on 1 July 1981 and is responsible for air force...
- RAAF WilliamtownRAAF Base Williamtown is a Royal Australian Air Force base and headquarters to Australia's Tactical Fighter group. The base is located north of the coastal city of Newcastle, New South Wales in the Local Government Area of Port Stephens. The military base shares its runway facilities with...
Airbase Operations
- No. 27 (City of Townsville) Squadron
No. 27 Squadron RAAF is a Royal Australian Air Force reserve and ground support squadron located at RAAF Base Townsville. The squadron was formed on 1 July 1981 to recruit and train RAAF reservists in the Townsville area and in July 2010 took on the additional role of providing support services to...
- RAAF "Garbutt" TownsvilleRAAF Base Townsville is, along with RAAF Base Tindal and RAAF Base Darwin, one of northern Australia's primary defence installations. It is also Headquarters for No...
Airbase Operations
- No. 28 (City of Canberra) Squadron
No 28 Squadron is a RAAF Active Reserve Squadron, based at HMAS Harman in the Australian Capital Territory.It was raised in 1984 at RAAF Base Fairbairn, and relocated to Harman upon the closure of RAAF Base Fairbairn in May 2004....
- Administrative Support Operations
- No. 29 (City of Hobart) Squadron
No. 29 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force reserve squadron located in Hobart, Tasmania. The squadron was formed in September 2001 and has the role of training Tasmanian RAAF reservists for air base protection tasks.-History:...
- Administrative Support Operations
- No. 30 (City of Sale) Squadron
No. 30 Squadron is a squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force . Raised in 1942 as a fighter unit, the Squadron saw action in the Second World War and later served in the target towing and surface-to-air missile roles. After a long period of disbandment lasting from the late 1960s, No...
- RAAF East SaleRAAF Base East Sale is one of the main training establishments of the Royal Australian Air Force, including where Australian Air Force Cadets have their annual General Service Training. It is home to the Roulettes aerobatic team. It is also now the home of the RAAF's Officers' Training School ...
Airbase Operations
- No. 31 (City of Wagga Wagga) Squadron
No. 31 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force airbase support squadron re-raised in July 2010. The Squadron was first formed in August 1942 and was disbanded in July 1946 after seeing action in the South West Pacific Theatre of World War II.-History:No...
- RAAF "Forrest Hill" WaggaRAAF Base Wagga is located in the New South Wales town of Wagga Wagga, in the suburb of Forest Hill.The RAAF no longer controls the airfield which, although still owned by the Commonwealth of Australia, is currently leased to the Wagga Wagga City Council...
Airbase Operations
- No. 87 Squadron
No. 87 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force air intelligence squadron. The Squadron saw action during World War II as a photo reconnaissance squadron.-World War II:...
- Intelligence Operations
- No. 114 MCRU
No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit is a Royal Australian Air Force radar unit. 114 MCRU is currently the RAAF's only easily deployable radar unit and regularly deploys into the field from its home base at RAAF Base Darwin during military exercises.-History:114MCRU was formed as 14 Fighter...
- Air Defence Ground Environment
- No. 278 Squadron
No 278 Squadron formed on 1 July 2003. The squadron's formation removes day-to-day management responsibility of No. 78 Wing RAAF Technical Training and Operational Flight Trainer support elements from the Wing Headquarters....
- Operational Training
- No. 321 ECSS
No. 321 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force ground support squadron based at RAAF Base Darwin near Darwin, Northern Territory....
- Expeditionary Airbase Operations
- No. 322 ECSS - RAAF Tindal
RAAF Base Tindal is a Royal Australian Air Force air base located near the town of Katherine in the Northern Territory. The base is currently home to No...
Airbase Operations
- No. 323 ECSS - Expeditionary Airbase Operations
- No. 324 CSS
No. 324 Combat Support Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force ground support squadron based at Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Butterworth in Penang. 324CSS was formed on 30 January 1999 and is responsible for providing support to Australian Defence Force exercises and deployments in South-East...
- Butterworth Airbase Operations
- No. 325 ECSS
No. 325 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force ground support squadron. It was formed on 30 September 2008 by combining Combat Support Unit Richmond and Combat Support Unit Glenbrook...
- No. 381 ECSS
381ECSS is an expeditionary combat support squadron of the RAAF formed at RAAF Williamtown, NSW in May 1998. It is a fully deployable airbase operations unit that provides airbase-specific operations support and common 'close' combat support functions to one or more collocated flying units at a...
- Expeditionary Airbase Operations
- No. 382 ECSS
The No. 382 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron RAAF was a Royal Australian Air Force combat support squadron established in 1998, and based at the RAAF Base Amberley, southwest of Ipswich, Queensland. It is a fully deployable unit which provides operational support to a forward operating base...
- Expeditionary Airbase Operations
- No. 452 Squadron
No. 452 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force air traffic control unit. It was originally formed in 1941 fighter unit formed in accordance with Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme during World War II, in England. The squadron flew Supermarine Spitfires for the entire war, initially over...
- Aerospace Control Operations
- No. 453 Squadron
No. 453 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force air traffic control unit. It was first was formed at Bankstown in New South Wales on 23 May 1941 during World War II and was disbanded in March 1942 after suffering heavy losses in combat during the Battle of Malaya...
- Aerospace Control Operations
- No. 460 Squadron
No. 460 Squadron is an Royal Australian Air Force intelligence unit active within the Defence Imagery and Geospatial Organisation . It was first formed as a heavy bomber squadron during World War II on November 15, 1941 and disbanded on 10 October 1945 after seeing extensive combat over Europe. The...
- Intelligence Operations
- No. 462 Squadron
No. 462 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron which forms part of the Information Warfare Wing in the RAAF's Aerospace Operational Support Group. The squadron was first formed in 1942 as a heavy bomber unit and saw combat in this role in the Mediterranean area until it was disbanded in...
- Information Warfare Operations
- ASCEA - Aircraft/Stores Compatibility Engineering Development
- AMTDU - Air Movements Training and Development
- ASES - Aircraft Systems Engineering Development
- CSTS
Combat Survival Training School RAAF is a combat survival training school for the Royal Australian Air Force. Its base is at RAAF Base Townsville. Its motto is "Adapt and Return"....
- Combat Survival Training
- RAAF AIS - Aeronautical Information
- RAAF BAND - RAAF Ceremonial Band
- DEOTS - Exposive Ordnance Training
- AVMED - Aviation Medicine Research and Development
- JEWOSU - Electronic Warfare Operations and Development
- OTS
Officers' Training School is the unit responsible for preparing recruits, senior airmen and Warrant Officers for careers as commissioned officers in the Royal Australian Air Force...
- Officer Ab Initio Training
- RAAF MUSEUM
RAAF Museum is the official museum of the Royal Australian Air Force, the second oldest air force in the world, located at RAAF Williams Point Cook. The museum displays aircraft of significance to the RAAF from its inception as the Australian Flying Corps to the present...
- Royal Australian Air Force Museum
- RAAF SFS - Security and Fire Training
- SAW - Air Combat Officer and Observer Training
- RAAFSALT - Administrative and Logistics Training
- RAAFSATC - Air Traffic Control Training
- RAAFSPS - Officer and Airman Post Graduate Professional Training
- RAAFSTT - Air Technical Training
- SACTU
The Surveillance and Control Training Unit is a training unit of the Royal Australian Air Force. It is provides training and training development of air defence....
- Air Defence Training
- Woomera Test Facility - Augmented Testing Range
Current Wings
- No. 41 (Air Defence) Wing
Component units*No. 1 Radar Surveillance Unit RAAF*No. 3 Control and Reporting Unit RAAF*No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit RAAF*Surveillance and Control Training Unit RAAF...
- No. 42 (AEW&C) Wing
No. 42 Wing is a Royal Australian Air Force wing which will be responsible for operating the RAAF's Boeing 737 AEW&C aircraft once they enter service. The wing was first formed during World War II on 1 February 1943 at RAAF Base Townsville where it remained until it was disbanded on 1 October 1944....
- No. 44 (Aerospace Control) Wing
No. 44 Wing is a Royal Australian Air Force wing responsible for providing air traffic control services to the Australian Defence Force. It directly commands two squadrons which in turn command 11 air traffic control flights located across the country at nine RAAF bases, HMAS Albatross and Oakey...
- No. 78 (Fighter Training) Wing
No. 78 Wing is the Royal Australian Air Force's operational training wing. It is headquartered at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, and operates the BAE Hawk 127 lead-in fighter. The wing was formed in 1943 and operated P-40 Kittyhawk fighters in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II...
- No. 84 (Fighter) Wing
No. 81 Wing is the Royal Australian Air Force's air superiority wing. Formed during World War II, it operated in the South West Pacific theatre, flying P-40 Kittyhawks. Following the end of hostilities, it converted to P-51 Mustangs and was based in Japan as part of the Allied occupational forces...
- No. 82 (Strike) Wing
No. 82 Wing is the Royal Australian Air Force's strike and reconnaissance wing. It is headquartered at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland, and operates the F/A-18F Super Hornet multirole fighter and Pilatus PC-9 forward air control aircraft. The wing was formed in August 1944, flying B-24 Liberator...
- No. 84 (Airlft) Wing
No. 84 Wing is a Royal Australian Air Force wing. It consists of three air transport squadrons and two training units . No. 84 Wing's headquarters are located at RAAF Base Richmond in Sydney.-References:*...
- No. 86 (Airlift) Wing
No. 86 Wing is a Royal Australian Air Force transport wing. Coming under the aegis of Air Lift Group, it is headquartered at RAAF Base Richmond, New South Wales. The wing comprises No. 36 Squadron, operating Boeing C-17 Globemasters, and No. 38 Squadron, flying Beechcraft Super King Airs...
- No. 92 (Maritime Patrol) Wing
No. 92 Wing is the maritime patrol wing of the Royal Australian Air Force. It is headquartered at RAAF Base Edinburgh. It is part of the Surveillance and Response Group, and consists of No. 10 Squadron, No. 11 Squadron and No. 292 Squadron. The wing also has a permanent detachment at RMAF Base...
- No. 395 ECSW
No. 395 Expeditionary Combat Support Wing is a ground support wing of the Royal Australian Air Force . Part of the Combat Support Group, it is responsible for the provision of combat and base support services, including command and control of airbases and airspace, force protection, communications...
- Expeditionary Combat Support
- No. 396 ECSW - Fixed Base Combat Support
- AMCC - Airlift Coordination
- ATW - Flying Training
- ASDTWG - Aerospace Systems Development
- CSCC - Combat Support Coordination
- GTW - Ground Training
- HSW - Health Operations
- IWWG - Information Warfare and Intelligence
- RAAFCOL - Ab initio, career development, promotion and leadership training
Current Force Element Groups
- ACG
The Royal Australian Air Force's Air Combat Group is the group which administers the RAAF's fighter and bomber aircraft. ACG was formed on 7 February 2002 by merging the RAAF's Tactical Fighter Group and Strike Reconnaissance Group in an attempt to improve the speed with which the RAAF can deploy...
- Air Combat Capability
- ALG
Air Lift Group is one of five Groups in the Royal Australian Air Force, which is responsible for Airlift and Air-to-Air refuelling capabilities.Airlift capabilities can be classified as:...
- Air Lift Capability
- AOSG
The Aerospace Operational Support Group is a support group of the Australian Defence Force based at RAAF Base Edinburgh.-External links:*...
- Information Warfare, Intelligence and Capability Development
- CSG - Combat Support and Airbase Operations Capability
- SRG
The Surveillance and Response Group is a Force Element Group of the Royal Australian Air Force with its headquarters at RAAF Base Williamtown....
- Surveillance and Reconnaissance Capability
- AFTG - Air Force Training Capability and Development
Current Headquarters
- AFHQ - Air Force Executive
- HQAC
Air Command is the operational arm of the Royal Australian Air Force . It is headed by the Air Commander Australia, whose role is to manage and command the RAAF's Force Element Groups , which contain the operational capability of the Air Force...
- Air Force Combat Forces
Disbanded squadrons
- No. 5 Squadron RAAF
No. 5 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force training, army co-operation and helicopter squadron. The Squadron was first formed in 1917 and was disbanded in December 1989.-Squadron history:...
- No. 9 Squadron RAAF
No. 9 Squadron was a unit of the Royal Australian Air Force. The Squadron saw active service in World War II and the Vietnam War before being disbanded in 1989.-Fleet co-operation:...
- No. 12 Squadron RAAF
No. 12 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force general purpose, bomber and transport squadron. The squadron was formed in 1939 and saw combat in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II. From 1941-1943, it mainly conducted maritime patrols off northern Australia...
- No. 35 Squadron RAAF
No. 35 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force transport unit. First formed in 1942, No. 35 Squadron saw action in World War II and the Vietnam War.-History:...
Future equipment
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- Up to 100 Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
F-35A Lightning IIThe Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of single-seat, single-engine, fifth generation multirole fighters under development to perform ground attack, reconnaissance, and air defense missions with stealth capability...
(CTOLCTOL is an acronym for conventional take-off and landing, and is the process whereby conventional aircraft take off and land, involving the use of runways. The aircraft will taxi along the runway until its rotation speed is reached, then climb into the air...
variant) — are scheduled to be delivered from 2014. In a first stage not fewer than 72 aircraft will be acquired to equip three operational squadrons. The remaining aircraft will be acquired in conjunction with the withdrawal of the F/A-18F Super Hornets after 2020 to ensure no gap in Australia's overall air combat capability occurs. On 25 November 2009, Australia committed to placing a first order for 14 aircraft at a cost of A$The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
3.2 billion with deliveries to begin in 2014.
- Eight Maritime patrol aircraft to replace Lockheed AP-3C Orions
The Lockheed AP-3C Orion is a variant of the P-3 Orion used by the Royal Australian Air Force for tasks such as naval fleet support, maritime surveillance, search and survivor supply and anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare...
. Australia is participating in the development of the Boeing P-8 Poseidon to fill this role, but has not committed to purchase the aircraft.
- Seven large HALE (high-altitude, long-endurance) UAVs to expand the surveillance of Australia's maritime approaches.
- Five Airbus
Airbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker TransportThe Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport is an aerial refuelling tanker aircraft based on the civilian Airbus A330-200. The A330 MRTT has been ordered by the Royal Australian Air Force , Royal Air Force , United Arab Emirates Air Force, and Royal Saudi Air Force...
s — to replace the dated Boeing 707s in aerial refuelling and strategic transport roles entering service in 2010.
- 10 battlefield tactical lift aircraft to replace the DHC-4 Caribou
The de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou is a Canadian-designed and produced specialized cargo aircraft with short takeoff and landing capability...
aircraft. In October 2011, the Department of Defence issued a formal request seeking price and availability information on the C-27J from the United States, though Airbus Military's proposed C-295 has not been ruled out of consideration.
- A possible sixth C-17 Globemaster airlifter is being sought, with the Department of Defence requesting information regarding costs and availability. The sixth aircraft would cost $300 million.
- Replacement aircraft for PC-9 training aircraft under Project AIR 5428, with a decision due between 2012–2015. Contenders include the Pilatus PC-21
|-See also:-External links:*http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com*http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/pc_21**...
.
See also
- Australian Air Traffic Control
Air traffic control in Australia is provided by two different agencies, one civilian and one military. The civilian provider is Airservices Australia, which controls civilian airfields and airspace. The military provider is the Royal Australian Air Force, which controls military airfields and...
- Airfield Defence Guards
The Airfield Defence Guard mustering of the Royal Australian Air Force performs specialist ground defence tasks to protect air power assets from hostile ground action. The mustering is composed of non-commissioned members, commonly called 'ADGies,' most of whom are employed within an Airfield...
- Australian Air Force Cadets
The Australian Air Force Cadets , known as the Air Training Corps until 2001, is a Federal Government funded youth organisation. The parent force of the AAFC is the Royal Australian Air Force...
- Australian Defence Force ranks and insignia
This article lists the ranks of officers and enlisted personnel in the Australian Defence Force 's three service branches. The ADF comprises the:*Royal Australian Navy *Australian Army*Royal Australian Air Force...
- B-24 Liberators in Australian service
The B-24 Liberator was a heavy bomber in service in the air force of Australia during World War II and subsequent years. The B-24 was the main component of heavy bomber support in the Pacific theatre following a decision to remove B-17s from the theatre due to their shorter ranges and for logistic...
- Royal Australian Air Force VIP aircraft
The Royal Australian Air Force has operated a number of specialised aircraft to transport members of the Royal Family, the Governor General of Australia, senior members of the Australian government, and other dignitaries....
Lists:
Memorials and Museums:
- Royal Australian Air Force Memorial, Canberra
The Royal Australian Air Force Memorial is on ANZAC Parade, the principal ceremonial and memorial avenue of Canberra, the capital city of Australia....
- Royal Australian Air Force Memorial, Brisbane
Queens Gardens is located on a city block between George Street, Elizabeth Street and William Street in the Brisbane central business district...
- RAAF Museum
RAAF Museum is the official museum of the Royal Australian Air Force, the second oldest air force in the world, located at RAAF Williams Point Cook. The museum displays aircraft of significance to the RAAF from its inception as the Australian Flying Corps to the present...
- List of Australian military memorials
External links
The source of this article is
wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the
GFDL.
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