One of six RAAF Super Hornets returning to Australia after concluding their deployment to Al Minhad Air Base, UAE, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. This was the RAAF’s second Super Hornet, and was delivered to 1 Squadron at RAAF Amberley on 26 March 2010.
24 January 2018 © David Eyre
Six Royal Australian Air Force Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jets of 1 Squadron returned to Australia from the the Middle East, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
The aircraft arrived at RAAF Base Pearce, north of Perth, Western Australia on 22 January 2018 and departed from Pearce on 24 January 2018 to their home base at RAAF Base Amberley, near Brisbane, Queensland.
The Super Hornets were refuelled en route by a pair of Airbus KC-30A (A330-200MRTT) tanker-transports from 33 Squadron, which landed at Perth Airport.
A Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft from 36 Squadron carried spare parts and equipment, which also landed at Pearce.
The latest deployment of six Super Hornets had been deployed to Al Minhad Air Base, United Arab Emirates, since June 2017, and two of these aircraft flew the last strike mission on 14 January 2018.
The F/A-18Fs were formally welcomed home at Amberley on 24 January 2018 by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Defence Minister Senator Marise Payne, Chief of Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin and Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Leo Davies, as well as family and friends.
Operation OKRA began in October 2014, and has included multiple six-aircraft deployments of ‘classic’ F/A-18A Hornets or newer F/A-18F Super Hornets, as well as Airbus KC-30A tanker transports, and Boeing E-7A Wedgetail air battlespace management aircraft. Over the past three years:
- The F/A-18A Hornet and F/A-18F Super Hornet fighters have flown more than 21,800 flying hours, dropping more than 2400 precision-guided bombs on about 2799 sorties;
- The KC-30A air-to-air refuellers have flown 9400 hours on about 1200 sorties, and transferred about 42 million litres of fuel; and
- the E-7A Wedgetail air battlespace management aircraft has clocked up more than 5000 flying hours and 400 sorties.
One of six RAAF Super Hornets returning to Australia after concluding their deployment to Al Minhad Air Base, UAE, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. This was the RAAF’s second Super Hornet, and was delivered to 1 Squadron at RAAF Amberley on 26 March 2010.
One of six RAAF Super Hornets returning to Australia after concluding their deployment to Al Minhad Air Base, UAE, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. This was the RAAF’s second Super Hornet, and was delivered to 1 Squadron at RAAF Amberley on 26 March 2010.
One of six RAAF Super Hornets returning to Australia after concluding their deployment to Al Minhad Air Base, UAE, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. This was the RAAF’s second Super Hornet, and was delivered to 1 Squadron at RAAF Amberley on 26 March 2010.
One of six RAAF Super Hornets returning to Australia after concluding their deployment to Al Minhad Air Base, UAE, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. This was the RAAF’s first Super Hornet, which made its first flight on 20 July 2009. It was retained in the USA for software development and delivered to 1 Squadron at RAAF Amberley on 7 December 2010.
One of six RAAF Super Hornets returning to Australia after concluding their deployment to Al Minhad Air Base, UAE, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. This was the RAAF’s first Super Hornet, which made its first flight on 20 July 2009. It was retained in the USA for software development and delivered to 1 Squadron at RAAF Amberley on 7 December 2010.
One of six RAAF Super Hornets returning to Australia after concluding their deployment to Al Minhad Air Base, UAE, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. This was the RAAF’s first Super Hornet, which made its first flight on 20 July 2009. It was retained in the USA for software development and delivered to 1 Squadron at RAAF Amberley on 7 December 2010.
One of six RAAF Super Hornets returning to Australia after concluding their deployment to Al Minhad Air Base, UAE, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. This aircraft was delivered in March 2010 to 1 Squadron.
One of six RAAF Super Hornets returning to Australia after concluding their deployment to Al Minhad Air Base, UAE, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. This aircraft was delivered in March 2010 to 1 Squadron.
One of six RAAF Super Hornets returning to Australia after concluding their deployment to Al Minhad Air Base, UAE, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. This aircraft was delivered in March 2010 to 1 Squadron.
One of six RAAF Super Hornets returning to Australia after concluding their deployment to Al Minhad Air Base, UAE, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. This aircraft was delivered in March 2010 to 1 Squadron.
One of six RAAF Super Hornets returning to Australia after concluding their deployment to Al Minhad Air Base, UAE, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. This aircraft was delivered in July 2010 to 1 Squadron.
One of six RAAF Super Hornets returning to Australia after concluding their deployment to Al Minhad Air Base, UAE, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. This aircraft was delivered in July 2010 to 1 Squadron.
One of six RAAF Super Hornets returning to Australia after concluding their deployment to Al Minhad Air Base, UAE, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. This aircraft was delivered in July 2010 to 1 Squadron.
One of six RAAF Super Hornets returning to Australia after concluding their deployment to Al Minhad Air Base, UAE, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. This aircraft was delivered in October 2011 to 6 Squadron, but later transferred to 1 Squadron.
One of six RAAF Super Hornets returning to Australia after concluding their deployment to Al Minhad Air Base, UAE, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. This aircraft was delivered in October 2011 to 6 Squadron, but later transferred to 1 Squadron.
One of six RAAF Super Hornets returning to Australia after concluding their deployment to Al Minhad Air Base, UAE, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. This aircraft was delivered in October 2011 to 6 Squadron, but later transferred to 1 Squadron.
On approach to Pearce, supporting the return of six F/A-18F Super Hornets to Australia, from Al Minhad Air Base, UAE, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
On approach to Pearce, supporting the return of six F/A-18F Super Hornets to Australia, from Al Minhad Air Base, UAE, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
On approach to Pearce, supporting the return of six F/A-18F Super Hornets to Australia, from Al Minhad Air Base, UAE, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
On approach to Pearce, supporting the return of six F/A-18F Super Hornets to Australia, from Al Minhad Air Base, UAE, following the end of combat operations against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
