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The year 2024 was big for Australia’s Defence and national security debate and defence industry. In this top five, we will cover the most popular air domain stories of the year.
The Australian 2023 Defence Strategic Review, 2024 National Defence Strategy, and 2024 Integrated Investment Program set a new course for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), positioning it to meet the challenges of an increasingly dynamic and complex security environment. The review emphasises a shift towards greater strategic deterrence, with a clear focus on the Indo-Pacific region, where Australia faces rising threats.
The RAAF's role in this vision is central, with a focus on enhancing air superiority, precision strike capabilities, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
A key aspect of the strategy is modernising the RAAF’s fleet, with investments in next-generation aircraft like the F-35 and the development of advanced drones and autonomous systems.
These investments will ensure that the RAAF can operate effectively in high-threat environments, with a particular focus on long-range strike capabilities and interoperability with key allies such as the United States and the United Kingdom.
The Integrated Investment Program further emphasises the need for the RAAF to maintain a technological edge by investing in advanced capabilities such as space-based systems and cyber defence. The program outlines the procurement of systems that will enhance the RAAF's ability to conduct operations across multiple domains, from air to space and cyberspace.
Ultimately, these strategic documents outline a future where the RAAF remains a key pillar of Australia’s defence strategy, with a focus on modernisation, agility, and interoperability.
As Australia faces an increasingly complex global security environment, the RAAF will play a pivotal role in ensuring national security and projecting power in the region.
In light of mounting concerns about the costs and delivery timeframe for the US Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, looking to strengthen collaboration between the US and international partners, such as Australia, to develop an upgraded version of the F-22 Raptor.
This would allow the use of existing technologies, potentially reducing costs and accelerating deployment while maintaining advanced air combat capabilities.
Such a partnership would strengthen interoperability and share the financial burden, while ensuring that the US and its partners had access to a formidable air superiority and air dominance capability that provides an evolutionary capability, over a revolutionary approach, driving down cost and risk for the partner nations.
2. RAAF deploys F-35 aircraft to remote areas of Western Australia
In September 2024, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) conducted a series of operations deploying F-35A Lightning II aircraft to remote regions in Western Australia's Pilbara. Personnel from No. 25 Squadron, based at RAAF Base Pearce, were dispatched to Ginbata and Eliwana airfields — facilities owned by Roy Hill and Fortescue, respectively — to support the arrival of F-35As from No. 3 Squadron.
These deployments are part of the RAAF's broader initiative to explore operational opportunities, strengthen relationships, and acclimate its personnel to functioning in remote environments beyond their standard bases. Such activities are anticipated to become routine as the Air Force expands its presence in north-western Australia.
Aircraftman Finlay Austin noted that the facilities at Ginbata airfield were adequate for supporting the F-35 operations, with Roy Hill staff providing exceptional assistance during the visit. Similarly, Aircraftman Nicholas Thorpe reported that approximately 180 individuals from the Eliwana mine community engaged with the RAAF contingent, expressing enthusiasm and interest in the F-35A aircraft and the Air Force's mission.
These visits also enabled RAAF personnel to conduct on-site aerodrome support surveys, assessing the feasibility of sustained operations from these airfields without requiring extensive support infrastructure. This aligns with the Chief of Air Force's directive to implement agile operations.
Group Captain Peter Noake, director of Regional Airbase Development West, emphasised that such activities are crucial for developing skilled aviators and enhancing collaboration with industry partners. By training alongside these partners, the RAAF aims to improve its capability to deliver air power effectively, regardless of location.
The successful deployments to Ginbata and Eliwana demonstrated the RAAF's ability to conduct agile air operations by leveraging civilian infrastructure and fostering civil-military co-operation. These efforts are integral to the Air Force's strategy of expanding operational flexibility and readiness in diverse environments.
3. Is America’s secretive ‘Great White Bat’ UAV the answer to Australia’s long-range strike malaise?
Australia's quest for a robust long-range strike capability has been ongoing since the retirement of the F-111 in 2010. The emergence of the US RQ-180 "Great White Bat" unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) presents a potential solution to this strategic gap. Developed by Northrop Grumman, the RQ-180 is a stealthy, high-altitude UAV designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions in contested environments. Its design emphasises reduced radar cross-section and extended range, enabling operations deep within adversary territories.
The RQ-180's capabilities align with Australia's defence needs, offering a platform that can penetrate sophisticated air defences without risking pilot lives. Its endurance and stealth make it suitable for monitoring vast areas and conducting electronic warfare, enhancing situational awareness and operational effectiveness.
However, integrating such a platform into the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) poses challenges. The RQ-180's classified status and the US government's stringent export controls could impede acquisition efforts. Additionally, the RAAF would need to develop the necessary infrastructure, training, and support systems to operate and maintain this advanced UAV effectively.
Alternatively, Australia has been developing its own UAV, the Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat. This multirole, stealth UAV is designed to operate alongside manned aircraft, providing a force-multiplying effect. The Ghost Bat offers modular mission capabilities, including combat, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare roles. Its development reflects Australia's commitment to enhancing its indigenous defence capabilities.
While the RQ-180 presents a technologically advanced option for Australia's long-range strike requirements, considerations around acquisition feasibility and operational integration are significant. The MQ-28 Ghost Bat offers a domestically developed alternative that could fulfil similar roles, potentially with fewer logistical and political hurdles. Australia's decision will need to balance immediate capability needs with long-term strategic autonomy and defence industry development.
4. Australia’s first Triton unmanned aircraft touches down on home soil
Australia's inaugural MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft has successfully arrived on home soil, marking a significant advancement in the nation's maritime surveillance capabilities. The aircraft, designated AUS1, touched down in the Northern Territory, where it will be stationed at RAAF Base Tindal.
The MQ-4C Triton is a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Northrop Grumman. It is designed to provide persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) over vast maritime regions. Equipped with advanced radar and sensor systems, the Triton can monitor and track maritime threats, supporting the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) mission to safeguard the nation's maritime interests.
Australia's acquisition of the Triton is part of a broader strategy to enhance its ISR capabilities. The Triton will operate alongside the manned P-8A Poseidon aircraft, forming a complementary "family of systems" that offers comprehensive maritime domain awareness. This combination allows for efficient allocation of resources, with the Triton conducting broad area surveillance and the Poseidon focusing on anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, as well as search and rescue missions.
The arrival of AUS1 follows a series of milestones, including its first flight in November 2023 at Northrop Grumman's Palmdale Aircraft Integration Center in California. This event marked a major production achievement, with the aircraft undergoing airworthiness evaluations such as engine, flight control, and fuel system checks.
The integration of the Triton into the RAAF is expected to significantly bolster Australia's maritime surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. Its ability to operate at high altitudes for extended periods enables continuous monitoring of Australia's vast maritime approaches, enhancing situational awareness and contributing to national security.
The successful arrival of Australia's first MQ-4C Triton represents a pivotal enhancement in the nation's defence infrastructure, providing advanced ISR capabilities that will work in tandem with existing assets to ensure comprehensive maritime security.
5. Top guns: RAAF F-35As debut at US air combat exercise
In early 2024, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) marked a significant milestone by deploying six F-35A Lightning II aircraft to the United States for Exercise Red Flag Nellis 24-1. This advanced aerial combat training exercise, held from January 15 to February 2 at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, is renowned for its rigorous and realistic combat scenarios designed to enhance the operational capabilities of participating air forces.
Approximately 150 RAAF personnel participated, engaging in complex missions alongside counterparts from the United States Air Force (USAF) and the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force (RAF). The exercise provided a platform for the RAAF to integrate its F-35As into a coalition environment, testing interoperability and refining tactics, techniques, and procedures in a contested, high-threat setting.
Wing Commander Adrian Kiely, commanding officer of No. 3 Squadron RAAF, emphasised the significance of this deployment, noting that it was the first time Australia's F-35As participated in Red Flag at Nellis. He highlighted the opportunity to integrate with Air Combat Command and various elements of the combat air force, enhancing the RAAF's offensive counter-air, strike operations, and suppression of enemy air defences capabilities.
The exercise also facilitated collaboration between RAAF and USAF maintenance crews. Personnel from both air forces worked together to familiarise themselves with each other's F-35A aircraft and maintenance procedures, fostering a deeper understanding and strengthening the interoperability between the forces.
Participation in Exercise Red Flag Nellis 24-1 allowed the RAAF to validate the performance of its F-35A fleet in a complex, simulated combat environment. The experience gained is expected to enhance Australia's air combat readiness and contribute to the development of advanced air warfare capabilities, ensuring the RAAF remains a formidable force in the Indo-Pacific region.
The debut of RAAF F-35As at Exercise Red Flag Nellis 24-1 represents a pivotal step in Australia's commitment to maintaining a cutting-edge, interoperable air combat force capable of operating seamlessly within a coalition framework.
Get involved with the discussion and let us know your thoughts on Australia’s future role and position in the Indo-Pacific region and what you would like to see from Australia’s political leaders in terms of partisan and bipartisan agenda setting in the comments section below, or get in touch at
