Australia will take delivery of six additional F/A-18F Super Hornets from the US at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Amberley at the beginning of July.
A detachment of RAAF aircrew and maintenance personnel from No 1 Squadron is currently conducting work-ups with the new aircraft at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California.
The detachment will complete comprehensive flight testing, which will include up to 96 hours of test and evaluation flying and two weeks of electronic warfare flight trials from Lemoore.
The team will also carry out air-to-air tanker refuelling flights in day and night, in preparation for the flight to Australia.
The F/A-18F is a multirole aircraft that will enhance Australia’s air combat capability, through maritime and land strike, suppression of enemy air defence, reconnaissance, air-to-air combat and close air support.
Australia expects delivery of all 24 Super Hornets to RAAF Amberley by the end of 2011.
