Royal Australian Air Force

.

Royal Australian Air Force
Badge of the Royal Australian Air Force
Active	31 March 1921–present
Country	Australia
Allegiance	HM Queen Elizabeth II
Type	Air Force
Size	17,375 personnel, 254 aircraft (2011)
Part of	Australian Defence Force
Air Force Headquarters	Canberra
Motto	Per Ardua ad Astra "Through Struggle to the Stars"
Mascot	Kangaroo
Commanders
Chief of Air Force	Air Marshal Geoff Brown AO
Deputy Chief of Air Force	Air Vice Marshal Gavin Davies CSC
Air Commander Australia	Air Vice Marshal Mel Hupfeld DSC
Notable commanders	AIRMSHL Sir Richard Williams ACM Sir Frederick Scherger ACM Sir Neville McNamara ACM Angus Houston AIRMSHL Mark Binskin
Insignia
Ensign
Ensign (1948-1982)
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Electronic warfare	Boeing 737 AEW&C
Fighter	F/A-18 Hornet, F/A-18F Super Hornet
Patrol	AP-3C Orion
Reconnaissance	Heron UAV
Trainer	PC-9, Hawk 127, B300
Transport	C-130 Hercules, C-17 Globemaster III, Boeing 737, B300, Challenger 600, Airbus A330 MRTT

Serny, France, November 1918. A score board recording the claims for enemy aircraft destroyed by No. 80 Wing RAF from July–November 1918. The squadrons listed include No. 2 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps and No. 4 Squadron, AFC. The other columns are headed "In Flames", "Crashed", "O.O.C." (Out of Control), "Driven Down" and "Balloons Destroyed"."

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps (AFC), which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts including both World Wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. More recently the RAAF participated in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and is still involved with the War in Afghanistan (2001–present). The motto on the RAAF's coat of arms is the Latin phrase Per ardua ad astra, which means "Through Struggle to the Stars".

History

Formation, 1912

The RAAF traces its history back to the Imperial Conference held in London in 1911, where it was decided aviation should be developed within the armed forces of the British Empire. Australia implemented this decision, the only country to do so, by approving the establishment of the Central Flying School at Point Cook, Victoria on 22 October 1912. The RAAF was the second air force to be officially formed.^{[citation needed]}

World War I

Soon after the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the Australian Flying Corps sent aircraft to assist in capturing German colonies in what is now north-east New Guinea. These colonies surrendered quickly however, before the planes were even unpacked. The first operational flights did not occur until 27 May 1915, when the Mesopotamian Half Flight was called upon to assist the Indian Army in protecting British oil interests in what is now Iraq.
The Corps later saw action in Egypt, Palestine and on the Western Front throughout the remainder of World War I. By the end of the war, four squadrons had seen active service. 460 officers and 2,234 other ranks served in the AFC, whilst another 200 men served as aircrew in the British flying services. Casualties included 175 dead, 111 wounded, 6 gassed and 40 captured.

Units of the AFC

Operational Squadrons	Training Squadrons
No. 1 Squadron AFC	No.5 (Training) Squadron AFC
No.2 Squadron AFC	No.6 (Training) Squadron AFC
No.3 Squadron AFC	No.7 (Training) Squadron AFC
No.4 Squadron AFC	No.8 (Training) Squadron AFC

AFC World War I flying aces include the following pilots:

• A. H. "Harry" Cobby (29)
• Elwyn King (26)
• Alexander Pentland (23)
• Edgar McCloughry (21)
• Edgar Johnston (20)
• Andrew Cowper (19)
• Cedric Howell (19)
• Fred Holliday (17)
• Allan Hepburn (16)
• Francis Ryan Smith (16)
• John Rutherford Gordon (15)
• Roy Cecil Phillipps (15)

Inter-war period

The Australian Flying Corps remained part of the Australian Army until 1919, when it was disbanded along with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Although the Central Flying School continued to operate at Point Cook, military flying virtually ceased until 1920, when the Australian Air Corps was formed. The Australian Air Force was formed on 31 March 1921. King George V approved the prefix "Royal" in June 1921 and became effective on 31 August 1921. The RAAF then became the second Royal air arm to be formed in the British Commonwealth, following the British Royal Air Force. When formed the RAAF had more aircraft than personnel, with 21 officers and 131 other ranks and 170 aircraft.

World War II

Europe and the Mediterranean

In 1939, just after the start of World War II, Australia joined the Empire Air Training Scheme, under which flight crews received basic training in Australia before travelling to Canada for advanced training. A total of 19 RAAF bomber, fighter, reconnaissance and other squadrons served initially in Britain, and/or with the Desert Air Force, in North Africa and the Mediterranean. About nine percent of the personnel who served under British RAF commands in Europe and the Mediterranean were RAAF personnel.
With British manufacturing targeted by the Luftwaffe, the Australian government created the Department of Aircraft Production (DAP; later known as the Government Aircraft Factory) to supply Commonwealth air forces and the RAAF was eventually provided with large numbers of locally-built versions of British designs like the DAP Beaufort torpedo bomber.
In the European Theatre of World War II, RAAF personnel were especially notable in RAF Bomber Command: they represented two percent of all RAAF personnel during the war, but accounted for 23% of the total number killed in action. This statistic is further illustrated by the fact that No. 460 Squadron RAAF, mostly flying Avro Lancasters, had an official establishment of about 200 aircrew and yet had 1,018 combat deaths. The squadron was therefore effectively wiped out five times over.

Pacific War

Brewster Buffalo fighters, flown by many RAAF fighter pilots in the Malayan, Singapore and Dutch East Indies campaigns, as seen here being inspected at RAF Sembawang, Singapore.

The beginning of the Pacific War — and the rapid advance of Japanese forces — threatened the Australian mainland for the first time. The RAAF was quite unprepared for the emergency, and initially had negligible forces available for service in the Pacific.
In 1941 and early 1942, many RAAF airmen, including 21 and 453 Squadrons, saw action with the RAF Far East Command in the Malayan, Singapore and Dutch East Indies campaigns. Allied fighter pilots, in particular, performed well in the campaign, despite being outnumbered and the fact that many were allocated sub-standard examples of the Brewster Buffalo.
The devastating air raids on Darwin on 19 February 1942 drove the point home. Some RAAF squadrons were transferred from the northern hemisphere — although a substantial number remained there until the end of the war. Shortages of fighter and ground attack planes led to the acquisition of US-built P-40 Kittyhawks and the rapid design and manufacture of the first Australian fighter, the CAC Boomerang. RAAF Kittyhawks came to play a crucial role in the New Guinea and Solomon Islands campaigns, especially in operations like the Battle of Milne Bay. As a response to a possible Japanese chemical warfare threat the RAAF imported hundreds of thousands of chemical weapons into Australia.

RAAF volunteers from Brisbane leaving for training

In the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, imported Bristol Beaufighters proved to be highly effective ground attack and maritime strike aircraft. Beaufighters were later made locally by the DAP. Although it was much bigger than Japanese fighters, the Beaufighter had the speed to outrun them.
The RAAF's heavy bomber force was predominantly 287 B-24 Liberators, which could bomb Japanese targets as far away as Borneo and the Philippines from airfields in Australia and New Guinea.
By late 1945, the RAAF had received or ordered about 500 P-51 Mustangs, for fighter/ground attack purposes. The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation initially assembled US-made Mustangs, but later manufactured most of those used. The RAAF's main operational formation, the First Tactical Air Force, comprised more than 18,000 personnel and 20 squadrons; it had taken part in the Philippines and Borneo campaigns and was scheduled to participate in the invasion of the Japanese mainland, Operation Downfall. So too were the RAAF bomber squadrons in Europe, as part of the proposed Tiger Force. However, the war was brought to a sudden end by the US nuclear attacks on Japan. As a result of the Empire Air Training Scheme, about 20,000 Australian personnel had served with other Commonwealth air forces in Europe during World War II. A total of 216,900 men and women served in the RAAF, of whom 11,061 were killed in action.

Service since 1945

During the Berlin Airlift, in 1948–1949, the RAAF Squadron Berlin Air Lift aided the international effort to fly in supplies to the stricken city; two RAF York aircraft were also crewed by RAAF crews. Although a small part of the operation, the RAAF contribution was significant, flying 2062 sorties and carrying 7030 tons of freight and 6964 passengers.
In the Korean War, from 1950–53, Mustangs from No. 77 Squadron (77 Sqn), stationed in Japan with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force, were among the first United Nations aircraft to be deployed, in ground support, combat air patrol, and escort missions. When the UN planes were confronted by MiG-15 jet fighters, 77 Sqn acquired Gloster Meteors, which enabled some success against the Soviet pilots flying for North Korea. However the MiGs were superior aircraft and the Meteors were relegated to ground support missions, as the North Koreans gained experience. The air force also operated transport aircraft during the conflict. No. 77 Squadron flew 18872 sorties, claiming the destruction of 3700 buildings, 1408 vehicles, 16 bridges, 98 railway carriages and an unknown number of enemy personnel. 3 MiG-15s were confirmed destroyed, and 2 others probably destroyed. RAAF casualties included 41 killed and 7 captured; 66 aircraft – 22 Mustangs and 44 Meteors – were lost.

Two RAAF Mirage III fighters in 1980

In the Malayan Emergency, from 1950–1960, 6 Lincolns from No. 1 Squadron (1 Sqn) and a flight of Dakotas from No. 38 Squadron (38 Sqn) took part in operations against the CTs as part of the Far East Air Force (FEAF). The Dakotas were used on cargo runs, in troop movement and in paratroop and leaflet drops within Malaya. The Lincolns, operating from bases in Singapore and from Kuala Lumpur, formed the backbone of the air war against the CTs, conducting bombing missions against their jungle bases. Although results were often difficult to assess, they allowed the government to harass CT forces, attack their base camps when identified and keep them on the move. Later, in 1958, Canberra bombers from No. 2 Squadron (2 Sqn) were deployed to Malaya and took part in bombing missions against the CTs.

RAAF F/A-18 Hornet with coalition counterparts over Iraq

During the Vietnam War, from 1964–72, the RAAF contributed squadrons of Caribou STOL transport aircraft (RAAF Transport Flight Vietnam, later No. 35 Squadron), UH-1 Iroquois helicopters (No. 9 Squadron) and English Electric Canberra bombers (No. 2 Squadron). The Canberras flew 11,963 bombing sorties, and two aircraft were lost. One went missing during a bombing raid. The wreckage of the aircraft was recovered in April 2009, and the remains of Flying Officer Michael Herbert and Pilot Officer Robert Carver were found in late July 2009. The other was shot down by a surface to air missile, although both crew were rescued. They dropped 76389 bombs and were credited with 786 enemy personnel confirmed killed and a further 3390 estimated killed, 8637 structures, 15568 bunkers, 1267 sampans and 74 bridges destroyed. RAAF transport aircraft also supported anti-communist ground forces. The UH-1 helicopters were used in many roles including Dustoff (medical evacuation) and Bushranger Gunships for armed support. RAAF casualties in Vietnam included 6 killed in action, 8 non-battle fatalities, 30 wounded in action and 30 injured.
Military airlifts were conducted for a number of purposes in the intervening decades, such as the peacekeeping operations in East Timor from 1999.
Australia's combat aircraft were not used again in combat until the Iraq War in 2003, when 14 F/A-18s from No. 75 Squadron operated in the escort and ground attack roles, flying a total of 350 sorties and dropping 122 laser guided bombs.
Since August 2007, a detachment of No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit RAAF has been on active service at Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan. Approximately 75 personnel deployed with the TPS 77 radar assigned with the responsibility to coordinate coalition combat air operations.^[

Ranks and uniform

A No. 75 Squadron Leading Aircraftwoman in 2008 wearing Auscam DPCU

The RAAF uses Royal Air Force (RAF)-derived ranks for both officers and other ranks, with the following exceptions:

• the RAAF does not use "Technician" ranks
• non-commissioned aircrew do not wear an eagle above their chevrons
• the insignia for Leading Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman (LAC/W) is a single chevron, rather than a two-bladed propeller
• there is no Senior Aircraftman/Aircraftwoman (SAC) rank.

Unlike their British and New Zealand counterparts, they do not wear a blue-grey uniform but a midnight blue color, which is one shade darker than navy blue. AUSTRALIA on slip-on rank epaulettes or otherwise known as (SRI) 'Soft Rank Insignia' and are worn on the shoulders of the service dress uniform. When not in the service dress or "Ceremonial" uniform, RAAF personnel wear the Auscam DPCU, which has replaced the old working dress.

Roundel

Originally, the air force used the existing red, white and blue roundel of the Royal Air Force. However, during World War II, the inner red circle was removed after a No. 11 Squadron Catalina was mistaken for a Japanese aircraft by a US Navy Wildcat in the Pacific Theatre. After the war, a range of options were proposed, including the Southern Cross, a boomerang, a sprig of wattle and the red kangaroo.
The current version of the RAAF roundel was formally adopted on 2 July 1956. The roundel exists of a white inner circle with a Red Kangaroo surrounded by a royal blue circle. The kangaroo faces left, except when used on aircraft or vehicles, when the kangaroo should always face the front. Low visibility versions exist of the roundel, with the white omitted and the red and blue replaced with light or dark grey. Australian Army helicopters sometimes use just the Kangaroo, either in black or in one of the camouflage colours.

Royal Australian Air Force badge

The RAAF badge was accepted by the Chester Herald in 1939. The badge is composed of the imperial crown mounted on a circle featuring the words Royal Australian Air Force, beneath which scroll work displays the Latin motto (shared with the Royal Air Force) Per Ardua Ad Astra. Surmounting the badge is a wedge-tailed eagle. Per Ardua Ad Astra is attributed with the meaning “Through Struggle to the Stars” and is from Sir Henry Rider Haggard's novel The People of the Mist.

Current strength

Personnel

As of June 2011, the RAAF has 14,573 permanent full-time personnel and 2,800 part-time active reserve personnel.

Aircraft

As of February 2012, the following aircraft are operated by the RAAF:

F/A-18As and crew members from 77 Sqn deployed to Nevada, United States for Exercise Red Flag, 2010.

Since retired F-111 and its replacement F/A-18F Super Hornet shortly after its delivery flight in March 2010.

A modified Pilatus PC-9/A used to train Australian Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACS).

RAAF KC-30A transport-tanker in Brisbane, 2011.

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service	Notes
Fighter Aircraft
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet	USA	Fighter/Attack	Total F/A-18A F/A-18B	71 55 16	Assembled in Australia by the Government Aircraft Factories. The F/A-18 fleet has been the subject of various upgrades since it entered service in the 1980s and remains capable, but fatigue issues mean that it may not remain a viable front-line air defence option until the planned retirement date of 2015, although this is being mitigated through a centre barrel replacement program. They will be replaced by up to 100 F-35 Lightning II.
Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet	USA	Fighter/Attack	Total F/A-18F F/A-18F+	24 12 12	24 two-seat F/A-18Fs were acquired as an interim measure until the introduction of the F-35As; avoiding a strike capability gap with the retirement of the F-111s in 2010 and to cover for any fatigue issues related to the legacy F/A-18 fleet. US Navy production slots were used with the first batch of five Super Hornets arriving at RAAF Base Amberley on 26 March 2010; a second batch of six arriving on 6 July 2010; and a third batch of four arriving on 7 December 2010. These include the first three modified to allow later conversion to EA-18G Growler, designated F/A-18F+, 12 of the 24 Super Hornets would be modified this way. The final batch of four to complete the order arrived on 21 October 2011.
Training
BAE Systems Hawk	United Kingdom	Lead-in fighter trainer	Hawk 127	33	Fighter jet conversion trainer. Assembled in Australia at Williamtown, NSW
Pilatus PC-9	Switzerland Australia	Advanced trainer	PC-9	65	Produced under licence in Australia by de Havilland Australia.
Beechcraft Super King Air	USA	Navigational trainer	B350	8
Airborne early warning and control
Boeing 737 AEW&C	Australia	Airborne early warning and control (AEW&C)	737 AEW&C	6	All aircraft delivered by July 2011.
Aerial Refueling
Airbus A330 MRTT	EU	Aerial refuelling (AAR)	Total KC-30A To Deliver	5 4 1	First aircraft delivered to RAAF Amberley in June 2011.
Maritime Patrol
AP-3C Orion	USA	Maritime patrol/Strike	Total AP-3C P-3C	21 18 3	All aircraft to be withdrawn by 2018. Will probably be replaced by 8 Boeing P-8 Poseidon and 7 large UAVs.
UAV
IAI Heron	Israel Canada	Reconnaissance/Surveillance	Heron 1	3	Long term lease agreement with Canada. Two aircraft are operating in Afghanistan, while a third example has now been acquired for training in Australia.
Transport
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III	USA	Strategic transport	C-17	Total C-17A To Deliver	6 5 1	6th aircraft purchased. To be delivered early 2013.
Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules	USA	Tactical Transport	C-130J-30	12	First entered service in 1999
Lockheed C-130 Hercules	USA	Tactical Transport	C-130H	8	4 have been retired.
Boeing Business Jet	USA	VIP transport	737–700 BBJ	2	Long term lease, transport for government leaders and senior executives travelling on official business
Bombardier Challenger 600	Canada	VIP transport	CL 604	3
Beechcraft Super King Air	USA	Light transport	B350	8	Interim replacement for Caribou transports, 3 of which were transferred from Army Aviation.

Small arms

Airfield Defence Guards with F88 rifle and a F89 light machine gun on patrol at Baghdad International Airport with their USAF counterparts.

• L9A1/L9A3 Self Loading Pistol (Browning Hi-Power)
• Glock 19 Jet Aircrew Pistol
• Heckler & Koch MP5 Sub-Machine Gun
• Remington 870 shotgun
• F88 Austeyr rifle (Steyr AUG)
• SR-98 Sniper Rifle
• F89 Light Support Weapon (Minimi)
• MAG58 General Service Machine Gun
• M203 grenade launcher

Current flying squadrons

• No. 1 Squadron – Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet (Multi-Role Fighter)
• No. 2 Squadron – Boeing Wedgetail (AEW&C)
• No. 3 Squadron – McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (Multi-Role Fighter)
• No. 4 Squadron – Pilatus PC9/A (Forward Air Controller Training)
• No. 5 Flight - Heron UAV
• No. 6 Squadron – Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet (Super Hornet Conversion)
• No. 10 Squadron – Lockheed P-3C Orion (Maritime Patrol)
• No. 11 Squadron – Lockheed P-3C Orion (Maritime Patrol)
• No. 32 Squadron – Beechcraft King Air 350 (School of Air Warfare Support)
• No. 33 Squadron – KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transports
• No. 34 Squadron – Boeing 737 BBJ, Bombardier Challenger 604 (VIP Transport)
• No. 36 Squadron – Boeing Globemaster III (Transport)
• No. 37 Squadron – Lockheed C-130H/C-130J-30 Hercules (Transport)
• No. 38 Squadron – Beechcraft King Air 350 (Transport)
• No. 75 Squadron – McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (Multi-Role Fighter)
• No. 76 Squadron – BAE Systems Hawk 127 (Lead-in Fighter Training/ADF Support)
• No. 77 Squadron – McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (Multi-Role Fighter)
• No. 79 Squadron – BAE Systems Hawk 127 (Hawk Conversion/ADF Support)
• No. 285 Squadron - Lockheed C-130H/C-130J-30 Hercules (Transport)
• No. 292 Squadron – Lockheed P-3C Orion (Training/Maritime Patrol)

• CFS – Pacific Aerospace CT4B, Pilatus PC9/A (Flying Instructor Training)
• ADFBFTS – Pacific Aerospace CT4B (Basic Navy, Army, and Air Force Flying Training)
• No. 2 FTS – Pilatus PC9/A (Advanced Air Force and Navy Flying Training)
• No. 2 OCU – McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet (Hornet Conversion and Weapons Officer Course)
• ARDU - Various Aircraft Types (Flight Testing)

Non-flying squadrons

• No. 1 AFDS - Airbase Defence
• No. 1 AOSS - Air Terminal Operations, Airfield Engineering
• No. 1 EHS - Health Operations
• No. 1 CCS - Combat Communications
• No. 1 RSU - Wide Area Surveillance
• No. 1 RTU - Airman Ab Initio Training
• No. 2 AFDS - Airbase Defence
• No. 2 EHS - Health Operations
• No. 3 EHS - Health Operations
• No. 3 CRU - Air Defence Ground Environment
• No. 4 EHS - Health Operations
• No. 13 (City of Darwin) Squadron - RAAF Darwin Airbase Operations
• No. 21 (City of Melbourne) Squadron - RAAF Williams Airbase Operations
• No. 22 (City of Sydney) Squadron - RAAF Richmond Airbase Operations
• No. 23 (City of Brisbane) Squadron - RAAF Amberley Airbase Operations
• No. 24 (City of Adelaide) Squadron - RAAF Edinburgh Airbase Operations
• No. 25 (City of Perth) Squadron - RAAF Pearce Airbase Operations
• No. 26 (City of Newcastle) Squadron - RAAF Williamtown Airbase Operations
• No. 27 (City of Townsville) Squadron - RAAF "Garbutt" Townsville Airbase Operations
• No. 28 (City of Canberra) Squadron - Administrative Support Operations
• No. 29 (City of Hobart) Squadron - Administrative Support Operations
• No. 30 (City of Sale) Squadron - RAAF East Sale Airbase Operations
• No. 31 (City of Wagga Wagga) Squadron - RAAF "Forrest Hill" Wagga Airbase Operations
• No. 87 Squadron - Intelligence Operations
• No. 114 MCRU - Air Defence Ground Environment
• No. 278 Squadron - Operational Training
• No. 321 ECSS - Expeditionary Airbase Operations
• No. 322 ECSS - RAAF Tindal Airbase Operations
• No. 323 ECSS - Expeditionary Airbase Operations
• No. 324 CSS - Butterworth Airbase Operations
• No. 325 ECSS
• No. 381 ECSS - Expeditionary Airbase Operations
• No. 382 ECSS - Expeditionary Airbase Operations
• No. 452 Squadron - Aerospace Control Operations
• No. 453 Squadron - Aerospace Control Operations
• No. 460 Squadron - Intelligence Operations
• No. 462 Squadron - Information Warfare Operations
• ASCEA - Aircraft/Stores Compatibility Engineering Development
• AMTDU - Air Movements Training and Development
• ASES - Aircraft Systems Engineering Development
• CSTS - Combat Survival Training
• RAAF AIS - Aeronautical Information
• RAAF BAND - RAAF Ceremonial Band
• DEOTS - Exposive Ordnance Training
• AVMED - Aviation Medicine Research and Development
• JEWOSU - Electronic Warfare Operations and Development
• OTS - Officer Ab Initio Training
• RAAF MUSEUM - Royal Australian Air Force Museum
• RAAF SFS - Security and Fire Training
• SAW - Air Combat Officer and Observer Training
• RAAFSALT - Administrative and Logistics Training
• RAAFSATC - Air Traffic Control Training
• RAAFSPS - Officer and Airman Post Graduate Professional Training
• RAAFSTT - Air Technical Training
• SACTU - Air Defence Training
• Woomera Test Facility - Augmented Testing Range

Current Wings

• No. 41 Wing (air defence)
• No. 42 Wing (airborne early warning & control)
• No. 44 Wing (air traffic control)
• No. 78 Wing (operational training)
• No. 81 Wing (air superiority)
• No. 82 Wing (strike and reconnaissance)
• No. 84 Wing (air to air refuelling, VIP transport and ground services training)
• No. 86 Wing (heavy, medium and light airlift)
• No. 92 Wing (maritime operations)
• No. 395 ECSW - Expeditionary Combat Support
• No. 396 ECSW - Fixed Base Combat Support
• Air Mobility Control Centre - central combat airlift tasking control centre
• ATW - Flying Training
• ASDTWG - Aerospace Systems Development
• CSCC - Combat Support Coordination
• GTW - Ground Training
• HSW - Health Operations
• IWWG - Information Warfare and Intelligence
• RAAFCOL - Ab initio, career development, promotion and leadership training

Current Force Element Groups

• ACG - Air Combat Capability
• ALG - Air Lift Capability
• AOSG - Information Warfare, Intelligence and Capability Development
• CSG - Combat Support and Airbase Operations Capability
• SRG - Surveillance and Reconnaissance Capability
• AFTG - Air Force Training Capability and Development

Current Headquarters

• AFHQ - Air Force Executive
• HQAC - Air Force Combat Forces

Future procurement

A F-35 Lightning II at Edwards Air Force Base in the United States.

A high-altitude,long-endurance MQ-4C Global Hawk from the US Navy on display at the 2011 Avalon Airshow.

This list includes aircraft on order or a requirement which has been identified:

• Up to 100 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II (CTOL variant) — are scheduled to be delivered from 2014. In a first stage not fewer than 72 aircraft will be acquired to equip three operational squadrons. The remaining aircraft will be acquired in conjunction with the withdrawal of the F/A-18F Super Hornets after 2020 to ensure no gap in Australia's overall air combat capability occurs. On 25 November 2009, Australia committed to placing a first order for 14 aircraft at a cost of A$3.2 billion with deliveries to begin in 2014. In May 2012, the decision to purchase 12 F-35s from the initial 14 order was deferred until 2014 as part of wider ADF procurement deferments in order to balance the Federal Government budget.
• Eight maritime patrol aircraft to replace Lockheed AP-3C Orions. Australia is participating in the development of the Boeing P-8 Poseidon to fill this role, but has not committed to purchase the aircraft.
• Seven High-Altitude, Long-Endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to expand the surveillance of Australia's maritime approaches.
• Ten battlefield tactical lift aircraft to replace the DHC-4 Caribou aircraft. In October 2011, the Department of Defence issued a formal request seeking price and availability information on the C-27J from the United States, though Airbus Military's proposed C-295 has not been ruled out of consideration.
• A sixth C-17 Globemaster air-lifter is on order via the US Foreign Military Sales for AU$280m.

Replacement aircraft for PC-9 training aircraft under Project AIR 5428, with a decision due between 2012–2015. Contenders include the Pilatus PC-21.

^Images