Super Hornets preparing for flight to Australia

Thursday, Mar 04, 2010

The first group of Air Force's next-generation Super Hornets will arrive in Australia later this month, Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin announced today.

The Super Hornets arrival will represent a major leap in Air Force capability.  They are Australia's first new air combat aircraft in 25 years.

A detachment of aircrew and maintenance personnel from RAAF's No. 1 Squadron is currently at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California, preparing the aircraft for the series of flights to Australia.

"This is the beginning of a new chapter for Air Force. The Super Hornet is a true multi-role aircraft that, when flown and supported by RAAF's high-calibre people, will ensure Australia's regional air combat capability edge through to the introduction of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter," Air Marshal Binskin said.

"Reaching this stage of the project on time and on budget has been due to a great partnership between the Royal Australian Air Force, Defence Materiel Organisation, United States Navy, The Boeing Company and their industry partners, General Electric, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon.

"The next few weeks will be a very busy time for the Super Hornet aircrew and maintainers at Lemoore.  The detachment is conducting acceptance flights and ground tests on each of the aircraft.

"Another key task for the detachment will be working with an air-to-air tanker, conducting day and night refuelling flights to ensure they are ready for the journey to Australia," Air Marshal Binskin said.

Air Force is acquiring 24 Super Hornets which will progressively arrive at their home base, RAAF Amberley near Ipswich, during 2010 and 2011.

The Super Hornets are an interim replacement for the ageing F-111s.  The F-111s have served Australia well, but are now approaching the end of their operational life, and will be retired at the end of this year.

Details of the Super Hornet welcome activities are being finalised and will be announced closer to the arrival time.

Source: Australian Government