The Royal Australian Air Force is on track to receive a next eight F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft in 2018.

On the final assembly line of Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, there are eight fifth-generation F-35A Lightning-2 fighter aircraft expected to be delivered to the Australian Air Force ahead of schedule in 2018.

The new F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft will significantly transform the Royal Australian Air Force’s operational capabilities. Australia is acquiring 72 F-35As to replace the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF’s) F/A-18 Hornet aircraft.

Every F-35 built contains parts and components manufactured in Australia – local companies are already realizing the industrial benefits of the program.

By operating the same aircraft as allies in the Asia-Pacific and around the world, the RAAF will take advantage of the F-35’s powerful sensors to share data to an unprecedented level of interoperability. The global fleet of F-35s will also give Australia advantages in economies of scale on production and sustainment of more than 3,000 F-35s for decades to come.