Australia’s ministers for defense, Linda Reynolds, and defense industry, Melissa Price, jointly declared that the Royal Australian Air Force’s Lockheed Martin F-35 had achieved initial operational capability. The December 28 announcement means that Australia joins the U.S., Israel, Italy, Norway, South Korea, and the UK in reaching IOC for the type. Another two countries—Japan and the Netherlands—are operating F-35s on home soil.
Australia ordered the first 14 of a planned 72 F-35As in 2009 under Project Air 6000 Phase 2A, committing to the remaining 58 with Phase 2B in 2014. The first Australian aircraft, serial A35-001, flew in September that year. In December 2018 the first aircraft arrived in Australia, and by the end of 2020 33 F-35As had been handed over to the RAAF. More than 45 pilots and 600 maintenance technicians are assigned to the fleet, which has accomplished more than 8,780 flight hours.
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