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A new intake of pilots will this week undergo the final stages of their training to fly F-35s at RAAF Base Amberley and Rockhampton.
Exercise Rogue Ambush will take place from 21 November to 6 December and aims to graduate a new generation of aviators qualified to fly Australia’s fifth-generation fighters for 81 Wing.
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The training program will also support operational conversion courses for E-7A Wedgetail co-pilots, surveillance and control officers (SCOs) and electronic support measures operators (ESMOs).
Commanding Officer 2 Operational Conversion Unit, Wing Commander Jordon Sander, said it was “essential” that crews are challenged during the final phase of their six-month training.
“Exercise Rogue Ambush aims to graduate combat-ready F-35A fighter pilots and E-7A crews, who are prepared to operate in complex environments,” Wing Commander Sander said.
“Eastern Queensland airspaces offer excellent training areas for us to put the crews through war-like scenarios and conduct a wide range of tactical flying activities.
“The crews will be faced with complex planning and application of offensive and defensive manoeuvres, targeting both enemy airborne aircraft and missile systems on the ground.”
Other aircraft included in Rogue Ambush include the EA-18G Growler, Hawk 127 lead-in fighter, Pilatus PC-21, C-27J Spartan and KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport.
“Support for aerial refuelling and multiple aircraft platforms in the airspace provides diversity to increase complexity and advance training scenarios,” WGCDR Sander said.
The F-35 is the country’s newest fighter, purchased to replace the RAAF’s F/A-18A/B Classic Hornets that were in service since 1985 and retired in late 2021.
Over the coming years, Australia will buy 72 as part of the $17 billion AIR 6000 Phase 2A/B program, with all expected to be fully operational by 2023.
In September, Australia took delivery of four more, taking its current fleet to 54.
The aircraft comes in three variants: the F-35A — purchased by Australia — is a conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) version; the F-35B is a short take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) variant, and the final F-35C is the carrier type (CV).
It comes after the F-35s took part in their very first Exercise Pitch Black in August.
The three-week training program in the Northern Territory was conducted at Bases Darwin and Tindal, with Base Amberley in Queensland also included. It also included counterparts from 15 countries.
