Soar point: milestone arrives for Williamtown's next-gen fighters

SUCCESSOR: The F35A Lightning II aircraft will replace the F/A-18 Hornets (pictured), which marked the end of decades of service over the Hunter earlier this month. Picture: CPL Melina Young

THE next generation of military hardware based at Williamtown has passed a major milestone.

The F-35A Lightning II jets have officially achieved initial operational capability, the first step in having them come into service after Squadron 877 marked the retirement of the F/A-18 Hornets earlier this month.

Australia has committed to 72 F-35A aircraft for three operational squadrons: two at Williamtown, including a training squadron, and one at RAAF Base Tindal.

Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds said the milestone was an important one.

OFF THE GROUND: Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning II conduct a flypast off the coast of New South Wales, Australia. Picture: LSIS Leon Baumgartner

"I would like to thank everyone that has worked so hard to get us to this point; to have accomplished all the required testing and materiel delivery is remarkable," she said.

"The Australian Defence Force now has an F-35A squadron ready to conduct technologically advanced strike and air combat roles, and another squadron dedicated to providing world-class training here in Australia."

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