Out of the 10 successful graduates completing the Introductory Fighter Course (IFC), five will now go on to complete a conversion course to the F-35A, two to the Super Hornet, and another two to the Growler.
The event, overseen by Australian Aviation’s sister brand Defence Connect, was held at the National Convention Centre in Canberra on Thursday and run with support from Commonwealth Bank, the principal partner.
Three of the combat utility helicopters have been transferred to the Army Aviation Training Centre in Oakey, establishing the Army’s second UH-60M Black Hawk operating node.
One of the two Mobile Training Teams (MTT) focused on deployed air traffic control (ATC) operations, while the other examined airfield damage repair and airfield survey.
Stephen Parker, who earned a Master’s at Queensland University of Technology, had previously been managing the role in an interim capacity since the last department chief was ousted and has also been heavily involved with the 777X program.
AIM-120D-3 and AIM-120C-8 missiles can precisely strike targets at extended range, providing a significant deterrence to potential adversaries and enhancing the ADF’s strike capability, which is a key priority of the 2024 National Defence Strategy.
Thirty-seven pilots represented teams from the ADF, United Kingdom, Singapore and the United States in qualifying heats that culminated in an elimination final series.
ADF and Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade personnel conducted the flight out of Tel Aviv and through closed airspace over the country. It comes after the RAAF reportedly sent C-17 Globemasters to the region to assist in evacuations.