List of Current Royal Australian Air Force Aircraft - Future Acquisitions

Future Acquisitions

• AIR 6000: Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II multirole fighter
  • A possible total of 100 F-35As are to be purchased under Project Air 6000 to replace the Hornets and Super Hornets.
    • AIR 6000, Phase 2A/2B, Stage 1: 14 F-35A fighters have been approved for purchase for service entry from 2014.
    • AIR 6000, Phase 2A/2B, Stage 2: 58 additional F-35A fighters planned for purchase. Stage 1&2 will replace all F/A-18A/B fighters in service.
    • AIR 6000, Phase 2C: around 28 additional F-35A fighters planned for purchase. These will replace all F/A-18F fighters in service.

• AIR 7000: ADF Maritime ISR capability replacement
  • Programme to replace the AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft with a manned MPA/UAV mix.
    • AIR 7000, Phase 1B: Purchase of 7 high altitude, long endurance maritime surveillance UAV. The MQ-4C Global Hawk was originally selected for the role, but the decision has been delayed until after the manned portion is introduced.
    • AIR 7000, Phase 2B: Purchase of 8 Boeing P-8A Poseidon manned MPA has been given first-pass approval for service entry from 2018.

• AIR 8000: Battlefield Airlift
  • Programme to replace or purchase additional air transport aircraft.
    • AIR 8000, Phase 2: Purchase of about 10 tactical medium-sized aircraft to replace the de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou. The Australian Defence Minister has announced the purchase of 10 C-27J Spartan and not the C-295 (procurement dragged on for over a decade since original Air 5190 requirement). The Spartans are due to start arriving in 2015.

• AIR 5428: Pilot Training System
  • Programme to replace PC-9/A training aircraft and training syllabus.
    • Air 5428, Phase 1: Unknown number of advanced training aircraft, along with flight training screening and syllabus. Aircraft numbers are to be determined by the winning bidder, but aircraft type selected by RAAF.