In December one of Australia’s two F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters notched up an important milestone with the first release of a Paveway II Laser Guided Bomb (LGB).

Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Gavin 'Leo' Davies has described the implementation of the new Defence Aviation Safety Regulations (DASR) as a ‘seminal moment’, which has fundamentally changed the way military aviation safety is overseen.

The system will address the emerging, advanced threats and increased threat density using the latest Active Electronically Scanned Array.

Although DSCA approval does not necessarily mean that an order will result, it is nevertheless an indication of serious intent.

In essence, the Plan Jericho vision is to develop a future force that is agile and adaptive, fully immersed in the information age and truly joint

With the first Australian F-35As due to arrive in December 2018, work is continuing apace to prepare facilities and systems for the fifth generation fighters. ADM spoke with some key people, including JSF Division head AVM Leigh Gordon, for an update on progress.

From the time of their arrival in the Middle East in late September 2014 to the end of December 2016, the eight aircraft attached to the Australian Air Task Group (ATG) in the Middle East flew some 3,200 combat missions totalling more than 26,000 flight hours

What does Integrated Air Missile Defence (IAMD) look like for the RAAF, indeed, what's the next step of Integrated Missile Defence (IMD) for the wider ADF?

One of the next major aircraft acquisition programs to be undertaken by Defence is not listed in the public version of the White Paper or Integrated Investment Plan. The RAAF fleet of Special Purpose Aircraft (SPA) is based in Canberra and due for replacement over the next two years or so.

The numerous major Defence acquisition projects currently underway in the Air domain are by and large on track to deliver capability against present schedules.

A breakthrough in artificial intelligence is set to revolutionise aerial combat, specifically the mix of fifth generation fighters and long distance missiles which characterises modern day air warfare.

Often described as the ADF’s largest airpower exercise, the biennial Pitch Black exercise was again held in the Top End in July and August.

Over the next decade the ADF and intelligence community will benefit from an exponential increase in the volume and quality of regional ISREW information.

One of the capabilities foreshadowed by the recent Defence White Paper and associated Integrated Investment Program is the acquisition of an armed Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAS.

It was the contract that never seemed to end but the Commonwealth and Team 21, a joint effort of Lockheed Martin, Pilatus and Hawker Pacific, have finally signed Air 5428.

The RAAF’s Air Mobility Group has enjoyed a busy 12 months, in which it has continued to enable and support operations in the Middle East, introduce new aircraft and roll-out an ongoing series of upgrades aimed at maximising existing capability.