Australia's first two F-35 fighters arrived at their destination today at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base in Williamtown, marking the beginning of a new phase for the country's defense capabilities.
The F-35, the most advanced fighter ever built, will be the hub of the Australian Defense transformation (Australian Defense Force, ADF). Thanks to the use of sensors and its stealth capabilities, the aircraft will allow you to operate safely in enemy airspace and to share in real time a 360 ° view of the mission areas with the other means deployed in air, land and sea. In addition to the advanced war capability and the increased range of action, the fifth generation F-35 is the most effective, reliable and connected aircraft ever designed in the world.
"The arrival of the first permanently based F-35s in Australia is a historic achievement for us and we are proud of our role as a pioneer in the design of fifth generation aircraft and component manufacturers for the F-35", said Vince Di Pietro AM, Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin Australia.
"We congratulate the RAAF, the ADF and all the national industrial partners who have worked to turn this goal into reality".
Australia plays a major role in the F-35 program
More than 50 Australian companies contribute to the F-35's global production program, which includes more than 3.000 aircraft. To date, the F-35 program has helped create more than 2.400 highly skilled jobs and has generated more than 1,3 billion Australian dollars (AUD) in contracts for the country's companies.
"Thanks to the Australian pilots, the maintenance staff and the many last generation components produced right here in Australia, every citizen of this country can not be proud of the extraordinary results achieved" Di Pietro said.
"Australia plays a key role in the program, thanks to the technology and know-how guaranteed by the companies that have contributed to the production of hundreds of F-35s in flight today and that will contribute to the thousands of F-35s that will be built in future."
Lockheed Martin is the head of the F-35 international program and works in partnership with the Australian Defense Force and with national companies to ensure a support network for aircraft maintenance and to realize the potential of the F-35 as force multiplier for many decades to come.
Australia has committed to acquire 72 F-35As, which will be flown by Australian men and women and whose maintenance will be handled by a joint team of Australian personnel and partner companies, including Lockheed Martin Australia. Australia has received a total of 10 aircraft to date: the 8 not yet delivered to the RAAF are deployed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona to take part in international training and training operations.
The global impact of the F-35 Program
Currently ten nations are using F-35s and, with today's arrivals, Australia becomes the 7th country with F-35s permanently deployed in the country after the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Norway, Israel and Japan.
After the official entry into the Williamtown RAAF base, the F-35 now operate from 16 bases globally. More than 340 F-35 are already operational, over 700 pilots and 6.500 maintainers have already received training and, overall, the F-35 fleet has surpassed a total of 170.000 flight hours.
