Air combat/ Air mobility

Question 1

What are the air combat aircraft?

Answer 1

• F35A joint strike fighter
• EA- 18g Growler
• F/A- 18 A/B Hornet
• F/A- 18 F Super Hornet

Question 2

What are the air mobility aircraft?

Answer 2

• 737 Boeing Business Jet
• C-130J Hercules
• C-17 A Globemaster III
• C-27J Spartan
• CL604 Challenger
• KA 350 King Air
• KC- 30A multi role tanker transport

Question 3

Specifications of F-35A

Answer 3

• Joint strike fighter
• Fleet of 72
• 3 operational squadrons, Williamtown and tindal
• 1 training squadron at williamtown
• Number 3 Squadron, will be operational in 2021. expected to be fully operational by 2023
• fourth operational squadron will be considered for RAAF Base Amberley, for a total of 100 F-35A aircraft
• most suitable aircraft to replace the ageing F/A-18A/B Hornets.

Question 4

Specifications of EA- 18G

Answer 4

• Fleet of 11
• Growler
• electronic attack aircraft
• Operated by No. 6 Squadron RAAF Base Amberley
• Based on the F/A-18F Super Hornet airframe fitted with:
  
  • ALQ radio-frequency jamming pods which enable it to jam enemy systems.

Question 5

Specifications of F/A-18A/B

Answer 5

• Hornets
• Fleet of 71
• multi-role fighter aircraft, capable of air-to-air and air-to-ground missions
• Based at Williamtown:
  
  • number 2 operational conversion unit
  • number 3 squadron
  • number 77 squadron
• also Tindal, number 75 squadron
• ops in the last 2 years:
  
  • Exercise Bersama Lima and Exercise Bersama Shield
  • Exercise Red Flag in Alaska
  • Exercise Pitch Black in the Northern Territory
• will be replaced with 72 advanced F-35A Lightning II

Question 6

Specifications of F/A-18F

Answer 6

• Super Hornets
• Fleet of 24
• Number 1 Squadron at RAAF Base Amberley
• bridging until the full introduction of the F-35A Lightning II.
• larger than the F/A-18A/B Hornet
• ops since 2012
  
  • Exercise Pitch Black in the Northern Territory;
  • Exercise Bersama Shield on the Malaysian Peninsula;
  • Operation OKRA in the Middle East.

Question 7

Specifications of C-17A

Answer 7

• Globemaster III
• Fleet of 8
• Based at RAAF Base Amberley operated by No. 36 Squadron
• provide a logistics backbone for Australian Defence Force operations overseas
• can be refuelled in-flight by the KC-30A, extending its range further/can be converted to a medical rescue aircraft
• Op Bring Them Home (2014) Malaysian Airlines flight MH17;
• Op Pacific Assist (2011) earthquake/tsunami in Japan;
• Op Queensland Flood Assist (2011);
• Op Christchurch Assist (2011);
• Op Philippines Assist (2013)
• Op Southern Indian Ocean (2014).

Question 8

Specifications of C-130J

Answer 8

• Hercules
• Fleet of 12
• operated from RAAF Base Richmond by No. 37 Squadron
• medium-sized tactical air-lifter
• deliver cargo to airfields with short unsurfaced runways
• airdrop cargo and paratroops by parachute
• two aircraft deployed in the Middle East to provide assistance to medical treatment locations
• Op Queensland Flood Assist (2011);
• Op Philippines Assist (2013); and
• Op OKRA (2014) used to airdrop humanitarian supplies to Iraqi civilian.

Question 9

Specifications of C-27J

Answer 9

• Spartan
• arrived in Australia in 2015
• currently based at RAAF Base Richmond, operated by No. 35 Squadron
• the squadron will relocate to RAAF Base Amberley once permanent facilities are completed in 2019

Question 10

Specifications of KC-30A

Answer 10

• Fleet of 6
• based at RAAF Base Amberley, No. 33 Squadron
• heavily modified Airbus A330 airliner
• enables air-to-air refuelling
• provides strategic air lift
• purchase of a sixth and seventh KC-30A aircraft and under the 2016 Defence White Paper
• a single KC-30A has been deployed to the Middle East Region for Operation OKRA

Question 11

What Aircraft can a KC-30A transfer fuel to?

Answer 11

• F-35A Lightning II
• F/A-18A/B Hornets;
• F/A-18F Super Hornets;
• E/A-18G Growlers;
• E-7A Wedgetails;
• C-17A Globemaster III
• Other KC-30As.
• P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft

Question 12

Specifications of 737

Answer 12

• Boeing Business Jet
• Fleet of 2
• Defence Establishment Fairbairn (ACT) operated by No. 34 Squadron
• special purpose aircraft fleet
• use of Air Force Special Purpose Aircraft allows Government to attend international forums and conduct state visits easily

Question 13

Specifications of KA350

Answer 13

• King Air
• fleet of 16
  
  • 8; No. 38 Squadron Townsville; eight passengers, can provide surveillance
  • 8; No. 32 Squadron East Sale, for navigation training of air combat officers and maritime aviation warfare officers, 7 passengers
• flexible light transport capability and training and development of aircrew and passenger transport
• East Timor
• Papua New Guinea
• Solomon Islands

Question 14

Specifications of CL604

Answer 14

• Challenger
• fleet of 3
• part of the Special Purpose Aircraft fleet, operated by No. 34 Squadron (Fairbairn, ACT)
• offers an adaptive and short-notice means of reaching constituents and wider communities
• can access regional airfields within Australia and the immediate Asia-Pacific region > commercial aircraft