The US Navy’s Program Executive Office, Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC), has awarded a…

RAAF receives final F-35As
The RAAF has received the last nine of 72 F-35A Lightning IIs currently ordered. These aircraft, built as part of Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) Lot 15, were also the first in the RAAF fleet to be built with Technology Refresh 3 avionics, enabling Block 4 upgrades to support new and enhanced combat capabilities.
The remainder of the fleet will be upgraded to TR 3 level at RAAF Base Williamtown, according to Lockheed Martin sources. Those earlier aircraft were delivered from Lockheed Martin’s Ft Worth facility under LRIP Lot 6 and fitted with Technology Refresh 2 avionics.
The RAAF program of record is 100 aircraft, but Lockheed Martin says the current requirement is for 72 aircraft. The current price of a Lot 15 aircraft is about US82.5 million, including the engine, the company says.
“The F-35A continues to be Australia’s most capable and survivable aircraft for conducting air-to-air combat missions against advanced threat aircraft and air surface missions against well-shielded targets,” according to a Defence spokesperson. “Continued investment in the F-35A fleet will provide incremental improvements to the aircraft’s capabilities for decades to come.”
The spokesperson also said the Life of Type of the F/A-18F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler will be extended to 2040: “Both capabilities will receive lethality and survivability upgrades, while maintaining their interoperability with the United States and other key partners.”
In February 2024, Defence awarded a $399 million contract to Boeing Defence Australia for ongoing development of the MQ-28A Ghost Bat semi-stealthy Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) and delivery of three Block 2 aircraft with enhanced design and improved capabilities. This contract also includes further development of the MQ-28A mission payloads, integrated combat system, and autonomous systems.
“It also includes a series of events throughout 2025 to demonstrate operational integration of these capabilities with in-service assets.”
It’s not clear at this stage which platform – the Super Hornet, Growler or Lightning II – will be used for this capability demonstration.