Australia's equivalent to Air Force One isn't a single dedicated aircraft but rather modified Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, specifically the KC-30A, converted for VIP transport, providing the Prime Minister and other dignitaries with a secure, capable airborne command post, often dubbed 'Bubble Bus' or 'Air Force One' colloquially, replacing older VIP jets.
Yes, Australia has its own dedicated VIP aircraft, often called its "Air Force One," which is a fleet of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) planes, primarily including modified Airbus A330s (KC-30A) for long haul and Boeing 737 Business Jets (BBJ) for shorter trips, used by the Prime Minister, Governor-General, and dignitaries for secure, in-air government operations.
Australia's most elite military unit is widely considered to be the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR), often referred to as Australia's Tier 1 Special Forces, alongside the 2nd Commando Regiment, both operating under the Special Operations Command (SOCOMD). The SASR specializes in long-range reconnaissance, direct action, and counter-terrorism, while the 2nd Commando Regiment focuses on strike and recovery operations, with both units handling the most demanding missions.
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was created in 1921. The National Archives holds RAAF service records from this year onward. Each service record documents an individual's career with the RAAF.
It was decided not to reengine the F-111 and the American ones were retired in the late 90s; the Australia Air Force flew theirs until 2010. It is the Australian ones that were buried in the accompanying pictures. Only the fuselage was buried. The wings and stabilizers as well the tail were removed for scrap.
🇺🇸 United States The U.S. Air Force and Navy combined operate over 13,000 aircraft, making it the largest and most advanced air fleet in the world. With 183 F-22 Raptors, more than 450 F-35 Lightning II, 750+ F-16 Fighting Falcons, and hundreds of F-15s and A-10s, America maintains unmatched dominance.
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.
Australia has operated the F-35A since 2014 with initial training and operations at Luke Air Force Base in the US. The first 2 Australian F-35A aircraft landed at RAAF Base Williamtown in December 2018, commencing the transition to an Australian-based operation.
Special Air Service Regiment (SASR), Australian special forces unit that exists within Australia's Special Operations Command. The unit was formed in July 1957 as the 1st Special Air Service Company, Royal Australian Infantry, and it was modeled on the British Special Air Service.
Today, the Australian military is on par with the best in the world in terms of technology, training and readiness. The RAAF, for example, can execute more mission sets than the RAF.
The Special Air Service Regiment, officially abbreviated SASR though commonly known as the SAS, is a special forces unit of the Australian Army. Formed in 1957 as a company, it was modelled on the British SAS with which it shares the motto, "Who Dares Wins".
The United States is consistently ranked as having the #1 most powerful military in the world for 2025 by organizations like Global Firepower and Business Insider. This ranking stems from its massive defense budget, advanced technology, global power projection, and dominance in air, sea, and cyber warfare, though China has the largest number of active personnel.
Formed at the height of the Second World War, the Special Boat Service is the Royal Navy's answer to the SAS. They are among the most elite and capable soldiers in the entire British military.
F-35A Lightning II.
Air Force One is nearly impossible to shoot down because of its advanced defense systems like missile jammers and flares, constant fighter jet escorts, secure and secretive flight routes, and top-secret onboard technology.
The mission of the VC-25 aircraft — Air Force One — is to provide air transport for the president of the United States. Features. The presidential air transport fleet consists of two specially configured Boeing 747-200B's — tail numbers 28000 and 29000 — with the Air Force designation VC-25.
Neither SAS nor SBS is definitively "more elite"; they are equally elite but specialized, with the SAS focusing on land/air and the SBS on maritime/amphibious roles, both part of the UK's UK Special Forces (UKSF) and sharing the same rigorous Joint Special Forces Selection process, with SBS adding extra maritime training like swimmer-canoeist skills. Think of them as the Army's and Navy's top-tier counterparts within the same elite special forces framework.
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins USA. `Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins USA' takes the celebrity version of the show stateside. It follows 16 recruits as they battle some of the hardest, and most gruelling challenges taken directly from the playbook of the special forces selection process.
In the Australian Army, a signaller is often referred to as a Chook (Australian Slang for Chicken) by soldiers outside the Signal Corps, because the Morse code used by Signallers has been likened to the chirping of chickens.
Neither the Gripen nor the F-35 is definitively "better"; they excel in different areas, making the choice dependent on a nation's specific needs, but recent Canadian evaluations heavily favored the F-35 for overall capability, while the Gripen is often praised for lower cost, easier operation from dispersed bases, and superior electronic warfare (EW). The F-35 is a 5th-gen stealth fighter superior in sensor fusion and high-end warfare, while the Gripen E offers agility, lower operational costs, and robust EW/data-sharing, ideal for vast territories with dispersed operations.
The United States leads the world in fighter jet technology. Its F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II are the most technologically advanced fighters today.
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.
Can the Eurofighter Typhoon beat the F-22 Raptor in a dogfight? The answer is an unequivocal yes. It's a very capable jet and, under the right set of rare and unusual circumstances, just about anything could beat the F-22.
In November 2008, Gates stated that the F-22 lacked relevance in asymmetric post-Cold War conflicts, and in April 2009, under the Obama Administration, he called for production to end in FY 2011 after completing 187 F-22s.
Suitable would be Su57. Performance will be the F35. The Su57 will be completely customisable and will not be subject to regulations and embargoes. It's not a question of suitability of the fighter jet.