Australia sells 42 F/A-18A/B Hornet fighters to American training private contractor

The RAAF is on the way to retire the F/A-18A/B "Classic" Hornets as more F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters become available. Photo c/o Military Contact Australia.

The Australian Department of Defence (DOD) announced on 5 March 2020, that it has sold all 42 Boeing F/A-18A/B Hornet multirole fighter aircraft in its inventory to a US-based private contractor.

The Hornet fighters, numbering 46 units, are currently operated by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and are slated for retirement in the next few years. 

American private contractor Air USA, which offers tactical airpower training and adversary support for the US armed forces and other international air forces, has not disclosed how much it will be paying for the deal.

The fighter aircraft will be prepared over the next three to four years, according to the Australian DOD. The preparation work will provide direct jobs in Australia, with the work expected to be made in RAAF Williamstown.

According to Flight Global and based on earlier information when Canada bought 25 of the RAAF’s Hornets, there were 52 single-seat F/A-18A Hornets in RAAF service with an average age of 32 years, and 16 twin-seat F/A-18B Hornet with an average of 33 years.

These are all being replaced by the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, 72 units of which was ordered for the RAAF.

With the acquisition, Air USA will have a significant growth and improvement on the services they can provide, which is currently served by 16 aircraft comprising 11 BAE Systems Hawk Mk.67, 4 Aero Vodochody L-39Zas, and a 41-year old L-39C.


[1] Flight Global
[2] The Drive – The Warzone
[3] Jane’s Defence Weekly