Amberley: As the first international customer of F/A-18F Super Hornets, RAAF had clearly laid out ground rules and clear reasons for opting for the platform. Australia received its first batch of five jets in March this year. It is scheduled to have the entire contract order of 24 aircraft by end of 2011. Although RAAF is yet to declare its initial operational capability for the platform, which is still a few months away (in December), it is very clear about the role the platform will have in the 82 Wing of the Air Combat Group and how it would be integrated with the rest of the platforms, the PC-9, F-111 and Heron UAVs.

Group Captain Steve Roberton of the No. 1 Sqn, RAAF which was earlier flying the F-111 says that the air force has been very sure from the beginning that Super Hornets were not a replacement for the F-111s. “Super Hornets have always been for RAAF about better positioning Australia for the rest of the air combat transition that is still to come with the JSF,” he adds.
When RAAF decided to go for an ‘interim arrangement’ till the JSF got onboard, its reasons for choosing Super Hornet were clear. First and foremost being the capability of the jet. “It is the only jet with a no-kidding fifth generation sensor in the form of AESA radar which is infused so well. The effective range of this platform, in terms of not only how it can ferry but also how it can fight, penetrate through the enemy with its reduced signature is also what sets it apart,” Gp Capt. Roberton adds. Besides, the plane was already in production in the US so there were no issues regarding delays.

However, the deciding factor was capacity. “We had to get through that bridging transition before we got the JSF, which will be much bigger transition and will have larger ramifications for RAAF,” observed the officer.