Australia has a full fleet of 72 F-35A Lightning II fighter jets, with the final aircraft delivered in late 2024, making them a cornerstone of the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) air combat capability alongside Super Hornets and Growlers, according to the Australian Defence Force and other sources.
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The RAAF's F-35A 'Lightning II'. THE Royal Australian Air Force is hosting six F-22 Raptor aircraft from the United States Air Force 19th Fighter Squadron over the period of 8-21 August 2024.
In April, the defence department said Australian companies have been paid about $5bn for their contributions to the F-35 supply chain so far. This is a relatively small proportion of the overall program. Last year, the US government accountability office said the F-35s would cost “more than $2tn over several decades”.
Australia's Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) operates 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets (twin-seat, multi-role fighters) and 11 EA-18G Growlers (electronic warfare aircraft), complementing their newer F-35A fleet, with the older F/A-18A/B Classic Hornets having been retired by late 2021. The Super Hornets and Growlers are based at RAAF Base Amberley and provide key air combat and electronic attack capabilities.
It allows Australia to rapidly deploy troops, supplies, combat vehicles, heavy equipment and helicopters anywhere in the world. Based at RAAF Base Amberley, all eight C-17As are operated by No. 36 Squadron, and provide a logistics backbone for Australian Defence Force operations overseas.
Neither the Gripen nor the F-35 is definitively "better"; they excel in different areas, with the F-35 generally superior in stealth, advanced sensors, and networking (fifth-gen tech), while the Gripen E offers lower costs, simpler maintenance, and exceptional ruggedness for dispersed operations, leading to debates over which fits a nation's needs best. In recent evaluations, like Canada's, the F-35 dominated overall military capability scores, but critics argue the Gripen's operational flexibility and cost-effectiveness are often overlooked.
What many critics complain about with the F-35 is that it has too small wings (in order to be stored compactly on an aircraft carrier), which gives the aircraft little lift. The critics say that small wings give the F-35 bad lift because the wing area is crucial for an aircraft to achieve a good lift.
An Australian SAS soldier (Special Forces Operator) earns a competitive salary, with new recruits receiving paid training and, upon completion, earning a base salary starting around $103,000+ per year, plus significant benefits like housing assistance, excellent superannuation (16.4%), and free healthcare, with earnings increasing with rank, experience, and allowances.
Israel operates a unique variant of the aircraft, the F-35I “Adir,” which incorporates Israeli-developed electronic warfare, avionics, and mission systems, and Israeli firms contribute components to the broader program.
F-35A Lightning II.
Neither the F-22 nor the F-35 is universally "better"; they are designed for different primary roles, with the F-22 excelling at air superiority (dogfighting, speed, climb) and the F-35 shining as a versatile, multi-role strike fighter with superior sensors, electronic warfare, and data fusion for ground attack and broader missions, though the F-35 is also capable in air-to-air combat. Think of the F-22 as a pure air-to-air hunter and the F-35 as a networked battlefield commander that can also hunt.
United States - The Global Air Power Leader
The United States continues to make significant investments in its aerial capabilities, which solidifies its position as the leading military aviation power and accounts for around 40% of worldwide defense spending.
There's no single "most dangerous" fighter jet, but the F-22 Raptor is often cited for air superiority due to its unmatched stealth, speed (Mach 2.25), supercruise, and maneuverability, making it dominant in air-to-air combat. Other contenders include the multirole F-35 Lightning II, known for connectivity and versatility; the agile Sukhoi Su-57, Russia's stealth fighter; and the powerful F-15EX Eagle II, the most heavily armed.
In summation, the F-35 and Su-57 represent two distinct philosophies in modern air combat design and execution. The F-35 excels in versatility, stealth, and advanced technology, while the Su-57 offers impressive speed and maneuverability.
Carries just 5,700 pounds of internal weapons to minimize its radar cross-section. Once air superiority secured, can deploy external hardpoints, boosting its payload. Can carry up to 14 AMRAAMs and six 2,000-pound JDAM bombs. Only negative is Beast Mode cuts operational range in half.
Soldiers conduct the live-fire phase of the Basic Sniper Course with the SR98 Sniper Rifle. The Australian Army sniper is issued the SR98, with folding butt, which provides the capability to engage targets beyond 800 metres. It can also be used in the suppressed role.
Yes, $130k is a very good salary in Australia, placing you well above the median income and in the top earnings bracket, but whether it's "comfortable" depends heavily on your location (high-cost cities like Sydney/Melbourne vs. regional areas) and lifestyle, as high rents can still strain finances, though it generally allows for a solid middle-class life with budgeting.
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Billie Flynn spent years as a pilot in the testing program for the F-35 stealth fighter jet. He said the aircraft was very easy to fly and compared operating it to playing a video game. The fighter jet, he said, is incredibly capable and changed the understanding of what's possible in aerial warfare.
Their answer was the Yakovlev Yak-38, a VTOL aircraft that performed relatively well. But the integration of the Yak-38's rear thrust engine and two lift turbofans made the jet deathly difficult to handle. If either of the lift fans failed, the Yak-38 would spin out of control.
Meet the F-35's $400K Helmet 👀
A French Dassault Rafale achieved a simulated "kill" against a U.S. F-35 fighter jet during the Atlantic Trident 25 military exercises in June.
As the Canadian government reviews its commitment to purchase American-made Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets, a new poll shows what Canadians think should be prioritized in procuring replacements to the aging CF-18s.
Deficiencies with the MiG-35's radar and its RD-33MK engines led to the fighter being ousted from the contest in April 2011.