First International Customer For The Multirole Fighter
The first five Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets for Australia landed
at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Amberley on March 26,
bringing the next generation in air combat capability to the
multirole fighter's first international customer.
The Super Hornets, piloted by RAAF aircrews, departed U.S. Naval
Air Station Lemoore, CA, on March 18 and made scheduled stops in
Hawaii, Pago Pago and New Zealand on the way to Amberley.
The Australian Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner,
welcomed the RAAF Super Hornets to Australia at a ceremony on the
base. Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space
& Security, joined Faulkner at the event. "The men and women of
Boeing are honored to provide the next generation in air combat
capability to the Royal Australian Air Force and proud to deliver
it on time and on budget for all Australians," said Muilenburg.
"The arrival of these Super Hornets marks a new chapter in a
partnership between Boeing and Australia that has endured for more
than 80 years.The exceptional collaboration and teamwork between
Australia's Defence Materiel Organization, the Royal Australian Air
Force, the U.S. Navy and the Hornet Industry Team was the
foundation that ensured these new Super Hornets are now ready to
begin their RAAF service."
Among the other officials attending the event were Australian
Defence Secretary Ian Watt; Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, Chief
of the Defence Force; Air Marshal Mark Binskin, Chief of Air Force;
and U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Mark Skinner.
Australia announced its intent to acquire 24 Super Hornets in
March 2007. The remaining 19 aircraft, each equipped with the
Raytheon-built APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA)
radar, will arrive in Australia throughout 2010 and 2011. "The
on-schedule arrival of the new Australian Super Hornets marks the
beginning of a new generation of air power for the RAAF," said
Group Captain Steven Roberton, Officer Commanding the Super Hornet
Wing. "The multirole Super Hornet is an advanced, networked weapons
system that provides a major leap in capability for the RAAF.
"We are looking forward to the new operational capability,"
Roberton continued. "The Super Hornet employs advanced networked
sensors that provide its two aircrew with total situational
awareness, enabling them to conduct simultaneous air-to-air and
air-to-ground operations."