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SYDNEY (BNS): RAAF is planning to transit six more F/A-18F Super Hornets from the United States to RAAF Amberley in early July, 2010.

The Minister for Defence of Australia, Senator John Faulkner, said a detachment of RAAF aircrew and maintenance personnel from No 1 Squadron is currently conducting work-ups with the brand new aircraft at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California.

"The detachment is completing comprehensive flight testing which includes up to 96 hours of test and evaluation flying and two weeks of Electronic Warfare flight trials from Lemoore," Senator Faulkner was quoted as saying in a news release by the Australian Department of Defence.

The first five Super Hornets were welcomed at RAAF Amberley on 26 March this year. Since then, they have been conducting familiarisation training in Queensland.

"When these jets arrive shortly, close to half of Australia’s twenty four Super Hornets will be based at Amberley, and Defence will be working toward the next milestone of achieving Initial Operating Capability by the end of 2010," Senator Faulkner added, according to the release.

By the end of 2011, all twenty four of Australia’s Super Hornets are scheduled to be in Amberley.

The Super Hornet is a highly capable, battle proven, multi-role aircraft that has already proved its effectiveness in service with the US Navy. Its flexibility will enhance Australia’s air combat capability, through maritime and land strike, suppression of enemy air defence, reconnaissance, air-to-air combat and close air support.

The F/A-18Fs are a bridging capability through Air Force’s transition to the Joint Strike Fighter.