The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has officially retired the F/A-18A/B Classic Hornet after more than three decades of service.
A farewell ceremony was held at RAAF Base Williamtown and was attended by Air Force aviators and other industry partners, besides several other dignitaries.
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Australia Chief of Air Force (CAF) Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld said that the Classic Hornets provided a great capability to the country’s air power.
Hupfeld said: “The Hornet’s first operational deployment was in November 2001 to May 2002 under Operation Slipper, following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks.
“The Australian Government agreed to deploy F/A-18A/Bs to protect the major United States Air Force air base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, which was being used to stage operations in Afghanistan.”
The fifth-generation combat capability F-35A Joint Strike Fighters are replacing the ageing F/A-18A/B Classic Hornets.
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By GlobalDataThe replacement is being carried out as part of the $17bn AIR 6000 Phase 2A/B programme, under which Australia seeks to purchase 72 F-35s.
The No 75 Squadron operating from RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory was the last unit to fly the F/A-18A/B Hornets.
The unit will changeover to the F-35A aircraft from next year.
Hupfeld added: “It is quite fitting that in Air Force’s Centenary year we say goodbye to the Classic Hornet, a fighter jet that has been an integral part of Australia’s defence capability for more than three decades.
“As the time of the Classic Hornet draws to a close after nearly 408,000 total flying hours, it’s time to for the transition to the advanced lethality, survivability, and supportability delivered by the F-35A Lightning II.”
In March 2020, RAAF’s Base Williamtown agreed to sell its retired F/A-18 Classic Hornet jets to training company ‘Air USA’.
