Aircraft
Australia Celebrates Decade of Super Hornet Operations
Acquired as a “capability gap-filler” to provide airpower between the F-111 and F-35, the F/A-18F has become a valuable and long-term asset for the RAAF.
A pair of No. 1 Squadron F/A-18Fs is seen during the multi-national Pitch Black exercise held in northern Australia. The aircraft carry inert laser-guided bombs. (Photo: Nigel Pittaway)
A pair of No. 1 Squadron F/A-18Fs is seen during the multi-national Pitch Black exercise held in northern Australia. The aircraft carry inert laser-guided bombs. (Photo: Nigel Pittaway)

On March 26 the Royal Australian Air Force marked the 10th anniversary of operations with its fleet of Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet fighters. In the first decade of operations, RAAF Super Hornets deployed to the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) twice, in September 2014 and May 2017, performing strike missions against Daesh/IS forces in Iraq and Syria under the Australian Defence Force’s Operation Okra. The aircraft have also been regular participants in multilateral air combat exercises such as Red Flag in the U.S. and Pitch Black in Australia.