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'{{Short description|None}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2012}} This is a list of the current [[Royal Australian Air Force]] aircraft in operation: ==Current aircraft== [[File:Australian EA-18G at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in 2017.jpg|thumb|An Australian EA-18G in 2017]] {| class="wikitable" |- ! Aircraft ! Unit operating ! Number of aircraft ! Origin |- ! colspan="4" style="" | Combat aircraft |- |[[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II]] stealth multirole fighter aircraft | [[No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit RAAF|No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit]] ([[RAAF Base Williamtown]]) [[No. 3 Squadron RAAF|No. 3 Squadron]] ([[RAAF Base Williamtown]]) [[No. 77 Squadron RAAF|No. 77 Squadron]] ([[RAAF Base Williamtown]]) [[No. 75 Squadron RAAF|No. 75 Squadron]] ([[RAAF Base Tindal]]) | 63 in service (72 total ordered) |United States |- |[[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet]] strike fighter aircraft | [[No. 1 Squadron RAAF|No. 1 Squadron]] ([[RAAF Base Amberley]])<br> | 24 |United States |- ! colspan="4" style="" | Patrol aircraft |- |[[Boeing P-8A Poseidon]] maritime patrol and anti submarine warfare aircraft | [[No. 11 Squadron RAAF|No. 11 Squadron]] ([[RAAF Base Edinburgh]]) |12 (2 on order)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Two more P-8A Poseidon aircraft boosts maritime patrol capability|url=https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/lreynolds/media-releases/two-more-p-8a-poseidon-aircraft-boosts-maritime-patrol-capability}}</ref> | United States |- ! colspan="4" style="" | AEW&C and EW aircraft |- |[[Boeing 737 AEW&C|Boeing E-7A Wedgetail]] Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft | [[No. 2 Squadron RAAF|No. 2 Squadron]] ([[RAAF Base Williamtown]]) |6<ref>Waldron, Greg. [http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pictures-raaf-receives-final-wedgetail-aewc-aircraft-372622/ "RAAF receives final Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft"]. ''Flight International'', 5 June 2012.</ref> |Australia |- |[[Boeing EA-18G Growler]] Electronic Warfare aircraft | [[No. 6 Squadron RAAF|No. 6 Squadron]] ([[RAAF Base Amberley]]) |12<ref>{{Cite web|last=McLaughlin|first=Andrew|date=1 October 2021|title=Australia to buy one Growler attrition aircraft|url=https://adbr.com.au/australia-to-buy-one-growler-attrition-aircraft/|access-date=1 October 2021|website=ADBR}}</ref> |United States |- |[[MC-55A Peregrine]] Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare (ISREW) aircraft | [[Surveillance and Response Group RAAF|Surveillance and Response Group (SRG)]] ([[RAAF Base Edinburgh]]) |4 on order <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.contactairlandandsea.com/2019/03/18/raaf-buys-mc-55a-peregrine-for-2-46billion/ |title=RAAF buys four MC-55A Peregrine – for $2.46billion |date=18 March 2019 |first=Brian |last=Hartigan |publisher=Contact Publishing |website=contactairlandandsea.com}}</ref> |United States |- ! colspan="4" style="" | Transport aircraft |- |[[Alenia C-27J Spartan]] battlefield airlifter | [[No. 35 Squadron RAAF|No. 35 Squadron]] ([[RAAF Base Amberley]]) |10 |Italy |- |[[Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules|Lockheed C-130J Hercules]] medium transport | [[No. 37 Squadron RAAF|No. 37 Squadron]] ([[RAAF Base Richmond]]) |12 (20 on order to replace and expand current fleet)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Shane |date=2023-07-23 |title=Australia to spend $10 billion on new fleet of Hercules planes |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-to-spend-10-billion-on-new-fleet-of-hercules-planes-20230723-p5dqkx.html |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref> |United States |- |[[C-17 Globemaster III|Boeing C-17 Globemaster]] heavy transport | [[No. 36 Squadron RAAF|No. 36 Squadron]] ([[RAAF Base Amberley]]) |8 |United States |- |[[Airbus A330 MRTT|Airbus KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport]] | [[No. 33 Squadron RAAF|No. 33 Squadron]] ([[RAAF Base Amberley]]) |7 (1 VIP configured<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/inside-shark-one-scott-morrisons-new-dollar250million-plane-is-revealed-after-a-commercial-jetstar-airbus-a330-is-transformed-into-a-100-seater-tanker-for-the-prime-minister/ar-AAH1PYT|title=Inside 'Shark One': Scott Morrison's new $250MILLION plane is revealed after a commercial Jetstar Airbus A330 is transformed into a 100-seater tanker for the prime minister|website=www.msn.com|access-date=2019-10-07}}</ref>) |Spain/France |- |[[Boeing Business Jet|Boeing BBJ (Boeing Business Jet)]] VIP transport | [[No. 34 Squadron RAAF|No. 34 Squadron]] ([[Defence Establishment Fairbairn]]) |2 |United States |- |[[Dassault Falcon 7X]] VIP transport | [[No. 34 Squadron RAAF|No. 34 Squadron]] (Defence Establishment Fairbairn) |3 |France |- |[[Beechcraft Super King Air|Beechcraft King Air 350]] light transport | [[No. 32 Squadron RAAF|No. 32 Squadron]] ([[RAAF Base East Sale]]) |12<ref>{{Cite web |title=KA350 King Air |url=https://www.airforce.gov.au/aircraft/ka350-king-air |access-date=5 April 2024 |website=Royal Australian Air Force}}</ref> |United States |- ! colspan="4" style="" | Helicopters |- | [[AgustaWestland AW139]] SAR helicopter | [[RAAF Base Amberley]] [[RAAF Base East Sale]] [[RAAF Base Pearce]] [[RAAF Base Tindal]] [[RAAF Base Williamtown]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=CHC awarded RAAF SAR contract extension|url=https://australianaviation.com.au/2018/04/chc-awarded-raaf-sar-contract-extension/|access-date=2021-03-26|website=Australian Aviation|language=en-AU}}</ref> | 6 (contracted with [[CHC Helicopter]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessairnews.com/mag_story.html?ident=15291|title=CHC introduces half dozen AW139s for RAAF work|publisher=Business Air News|date=11 March 2019|access-date=17 June 2019}}</ref> | Italy |- ! colspan="4" style="" | Training aircraft |- |[[Diamond DA40 Diamond Star|Diamond DA40NG]] |[[Australian Air Force Cadets]] |8 (under civilian registrations) |Austria |- |[[Pilatus PC-21]] |[[Central Flying School RAAF|Central Flying School]] ([[RAAF Base East Sale]]) [[No. 2 Flying Training School RAAF|No. 2 Flying Training School]] ([[RAAF Base Pearce]]) [[No. 4 Squadron RAAF|No. 4 Squadron]] (FAC training) ([[RAAF Base Williamtown]]) |49<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.contactairlandandsea.com/2019/12/06/raaf-welcomes-final-pc-21-to-east-sale/|title=RAAF welcomes final PC-21 to East Sale|last=Hartigan|first=Brian|date=2019-12-06|website=CONTACT magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-15}}</ref> |Switzerland |- |[[BAE Systems Hawk|BAe Hawk 127]] lead-in fighter trainer |[[No. 79 Squadron RAAF|No. 79 Squadron]] ([[RAAF Base Pearce]])<br>[[No. 76 Squadron RAAF|No. 76 Squadron]] ([[RAAF Base Williamtown]]) |33 |United Kingdom |- | [[Beechcraft King Air 350]] navigation & specialised trainer | [[No. 32 Squadron RAAF|No. 32 Squadron]] (RAAF Base East Sale) |12 |United States |- ! colspan="4" style="" | Remotely piloted aircraft |- | rowspan="1" |[[Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton|MQ-4C Triton]] | [[No. 92 Wing RAAF|No. 92 Wing]] | rowspan="1" |6 on order; 1 more planned<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/WhitePaper/Docs/2016-Defence-Integrated-Investment-Program.pdf|title=Australian Government, Defense Department, 2016 Integrated Investment Program, p.32}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/26/australia/australia-spy-drones-south-china-sea-intl/index.html|title=Australia invests in unmanned spy drones to fly over South China Sea|author=Jamie Tarabay|website=CNN|access-date=2019-05-09}}</ref> | rowspan="1" |United States |- |[[Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat|MQ-28 Ghost Bat]] |TBD |5 (6 prototypes to be acquired) <ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-02|title=Australia makes another order for Boeing's Loyal Wingman drones after a successful first flight|url=https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/03/02/australia-makes-another-order-for-boeing-made-loyal-wingman-drones-after-a-successful-first-flight/|access-date=2021-04-03|website=Defence News|language=en-AU}}</ref> |Australia |- |} ==Heritage aircraft== [[File:CAC CA-18 Mk.23 Mustang, RAAF Museum JP6950877.jpg|right|thumb|CAC CA-18 Mustang of the Air Force Heritage Squadron]] Ownership of 12 historic aircraft was transferred from [[Temora Aviation Museum]] to the RAAF in July 2019; they continue to be maintained by museum staff but operated by the RAAF as the Temora Historic Flight with pilots inducted into the RAAF Reserve.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aviationmuseum.com.au/may-2019-newsletter/|title=May 2019 News|publisher=Temora Aviation Museum|access-date=10 February 2021}}</ref> [[No. 100 Squadron RAAF|No. 100 Squadron]] was reformed in March 2021 as the Air Force Heritage Squadron to operate airworthy [[warbird]]s based at the [[RAAF Museum]] and Temora.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/dchester/media-releases/raaf-re-establishes-no-100-squadron|title=RAAF re-establishes No. 100 Squadron|publisher=Department of Defence|date=6 February 2021}}</ref> ==Future acquisitions== [[File:RAAF F-35 taking off during the Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition 2017.jpg|thumb|A F-35 taking off during the Australian International Airshow]] * AIR 6000: [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II]] multirole fighter<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/raaf/aircraft/jsf.htm |title=JSF Joint Strike Fighter |access-date=2008-03-13 |work=Royal Australian Air Force website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080227030640/http://www.defence.gov.au/raaf/aircraft/jsf.htm |archive-date=27 February 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft AIR 6000 Phase 2A/B |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/jsf/ |publisher=Defence Materiel Organisation |date=May 2011 |access-date=27 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707033234/http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/jsf/ |archive-date=7 July 2012 }}</ref> ** A possible total of 100 F-35As are to be purchased under Project Air 6000 to replace the Hornets and Super Hornets. *** AIR 6000, Phase 2A/2B, Stage 1: 14 F-35A fighters have been approved for purchase for service entry from 2014. *** AIR 6000, Phase 2A/2B, Stage 2: 58 F-35A fighters have been approved for purchase bringing total on order to 72 aircraft. Stage 1&2 will replace all F/A-18A/B fighters in service. *** AIR 6000, Phase 2C: around 28 additional F-35A fighters planned for purchase. These will replace all F/A-18F fighters in service. [[File:P 8 and P 3 over Pax River.jpg|thumb|Air 7000 Ph2B: P-8A and P-3C|alt=]] * AIR 7000: ADF Maritime [[ISTAR|ISR]] capability replacement<ref>{{cite web | title=AIR 7000 Phase 1B/2B | url=http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/asd/air7000/air7000.cfm | publisher=Defence Materiel Organisation | date=June 2011 | access-date=27 June 2011}}</ref> ** Programme to replace the [[AP-3C Orion]] maritime patrol aircraft with a crewed [[Maritime patrol aircraft|MPA]]/[[Unmanned aerial vehicle|UAV]] mix. *** AIR 7000, Phase 1B: Purchase of 7 high altitude, long endurance maritime surveillance [[Unmanned aerial vehicle|UAV]]. The [[Northrop Grumman MQ-4C|MQ-4C Global Hawk]] was originally selected for the role, but the decision has been delayed until after the crewed portion is introduced. *** AIR 7000, Phase 2B: Purchase of 8 [[Boeing P-8 Poseidon|Boeing P-8A Poseidon]] crewed MPA has been given first-pass approval for service entry from 2018. * AIR 5428: Pilot Training System<ref>{{cite web | title=AIR 5428 Ph 1 Pilot Training System | url=http://www.defence.gov.au/dmo/id/dcp/html_dec10/air/AIR5428.html | publisher=Defence Materiel Organisation | date=December 2010 | access-date=27 June 2011}}</ref> ** Programme to replace PC-9/A training aircraft and training syllabus. *** Air 5428, Phase 1: 49 [[Pilatus PC-21]] ordered in 2015 for entry into service by 2019.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lockheed's "Team 21" finally confirmed as AIR 5428 winning bidder|url=http://australianaviation.com.au/2015/09/lockheeds-team-21-finally-confirmed-as-air-5428-winning-bidder/|publisher=Australian Aviation}}</ref> *Project AIR 555: Gulfstream G550 **In late 2015 the RAAF ordered two Gulfstream G550 aircraft to be delivered by 30 November 2017. The aircraft will be used for signals and electronic intelligence gathering.<ref name="Defence confirms G550s">{{cite news|title=Defence confirms acquisition of two ISR and EW Gulfstreams|url=http://australianaviation.com.au/2016/01/defence-confirms-acquisition-of-two-isr-and-ew-gulfstreams/|access-date=8 January 2016|work=Australian Aviation|date=7 January 2015}}</ref> Both [[Australian Aviation]] and [[FlightGlobal]] have reported that the aircraft will possibly form the replacement for the electronic intelligence-gathering role performed by 2 of RAAF's AP-3 Orions.<ref name="Defence confirms G550s" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Waldron|first1=Greg|title=L-3 G550 contract suggests new Australian surveillance deal|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/l-3-g550-contract-suggests-new-raaf-elintsigint-jet-420465/|access-date=6 January 2016|work=Flightglobal|date=4 January 2016}}</ref> **In March 2019, Defence Minister Christopher Pyne claimed that Australia will acquire four modified Gulfstream G550 business jets to strengthen the country's electronic warfare capabilities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://australianaviation.com.au/2019/03/raaf-to-get-four-modified-gulfstream-g550s-for-electronic-warfare-support/|title=RAAF to get four modified Gulfstream G550s for electronic warfare support|date=2019-03-18|website=Australian Aviation|language=en-AU|access-date=2019-07-16}}</ref> The $2.46 billion acquisition of the 4 G550s will be designated as the [[MC-55A Peregrine]] variant. It will be operated by the RAAF's Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group (SRG). ==See also== * [[List of aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force]] * [[Boeing C-17 Globemaster III in Australian service]] * [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules in Australian service]] * [[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet in Australian service]] ==Notes== :B {{Note|NoteB||The aircraft are leased from the Canadian firm [[MacDonald Dettwiler|Macdonald Dettwiler and Associates]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Walters|first=Patrick|title=Heron on the wing to guide Diggers|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/heron-on-the-wing-to-guide-diggers/story-e6frg6so-1225770412272|access-date=7 September 2010|newspaper=The Australian|date=8 September 2010}}</ref> Training on the UAVs is provided by a third aircraft operated by [[No. 5 Flight RAAF]].<ref name="Aust_aviation_April10">{{cite magazine|last=McLaughlin|first=Andrew|date=April 2010|title=Nankeen. The RAAF enters the UAV era with Heron lease|magazine=Australian Aviation|publisher=Phantom Media|location=Fyshwick|issue= 270|page=31|issn=0813-0876}}</ref>}} ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} ==External links== {{commons category|Aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force}} * [http://www.airforce.gov.au/aircraft/index.aspx Royal Australian Air Force website - Aircraft] {{RAAF}} {{ADF Aircraft}} {{Australian Defence Force}} {{lists of aircraft|military}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Current Royal Australian Air Force Aircraft}} [[Category:Lists of military aircraft|Australia current RAAF Aircraft]] [[Category:Australian military aircraft|*]] [[Category:Royal Australian Air Force lists]] [[Category:Aircraft in Royal Australian Air Force service]] [[Category:Lists of currently active military vehicles|Australia]]'