Fotos para la historia.-

Photo By Glynn Jones.

A formation of 20 RAAF F/A-18 Super Hornet fly over the Noosa township. The arrival of four new F/A-18F Super Hornets at RAAF Base Amberley, Qld, completes the fleet for 1 and 6 Squadrons bringing Australia's total to 24 jets. The four new jets were escorted to Amberley by 20 Super Hornets as they performed a mass flypast over the skies of Queensland to mark this significant event in Australia's aviation history.

The arrival of the latest aircraft fulfils the contractual acquisition to deliver 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets and associated support systems to the Royal Australian Air Force. The Super Hornet project has been consistently on time and on budget due to the combined efforts of the Defence Materiel Organisation, Royal Australian Air Force, United States Navy, Boeing and their industry partners General Electric, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon.

Photo By Glynn Jones.

The first five Super Hornets arrived in Australia on 26 March 2010 and have been progressively introduced since. The Super Hornet is a highly capable, battle proven, multi-role aircraft that has already proved its effectiveness in service with the US Navy. Its flexibility 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.

The total program investment is approximately $6 billion over ten years, which includes acquisition and all support costs as well as personnel. The acquisition component is approximately $2.7 billion for 24 aircraft, weapons, facilities upgrades and training.

The Super Hornet will give Australia an upgraded air combat capability for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions until the full introduction into service of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. Initial operational capability for the Super Hornets was achieved on 8 December 2010 following the retirement of the iconic F-111. Full operational capability is on schedule to be achieved by the end of 2012.