While most Australians were relaxing during the Christmas break, on December 28 Defence Minister Linda Reynolds made an announcement of considerable significance: the RAAF have concluded that their F-35A aircraft are combat-ready. More formally known as achieving Initial Operational Capability, this is a statement that they can be deployed on active operations. This does not mean that they are at 100% of their capability – that is expected to come in 2023 – but that they are good enough in their current state to be sent in harm’s way.
Different air forces – and indeed different service chiefs – can have divergent views on what represents IOC. The first service to make such a declaration about their F-35s was the U.S. Marine Corps operating the B variant way back in July 2015. This was not because of the technical maturity of the aircraft but rather because of the somewhat aggressive, risk-taking nature of the Marines, aided by the deployable logistic support package available for shipboard deployments. By comparison, the USAF declared IOC in August 2016 and then the USN in February of 2019.
Asked for an update on the program, Defence said that 33 F-35A aircraft built by Lockheed Martin have been accepted by Australia so far, with 30 of them now at RAAF Base Williamtown, and three remaining in the US awaiting ferry to Australia in 2021. Eight aircraft are set to be delivered between January and June 2021, and an additional 15 Australian aircraft are programmed for delivery in the 2021/22 financial year.
Read the story here in APDR.
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