Retired fighters set to be sold to United States Air Force, as F-35A Joint Strike Fighter introduced
Workers at RAAF base Williamtown will prepare and service 46 retired F/A-18 Classic Hornet aircraft to sell to air combat training company Air USA.
Newcastle
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More defence industry jobs in the Hunter are set to come out of 46 retired F/A-18 Classic Hornet aircraft.
Workers at RAAF base Williamtown will service and prepare the aircraft over the next three to four years.
They’ll be sold to air combat training company Air USA, used to provide training services to the US Air Force.
Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price said the work will provide employment certainty for workers in the Hunter.
“The work to prepare these aircraft and components for sale will provide 24 direct industry jobs while Air Force transitions from the Classic Hornet to the F‑35 Joint Strike Fighter,” Minister Price said.
“This highlights the strong performance of the region’s defence industry in servicing and maintaining the Classic Hornets over the past 30 years.
“Apart from the jobs directly supported by the work at RAAF Base Williamtown, more defence industry jobs are expected to be created across Australia through repair and overhaul work on aircraft servicing components.”
The RAAF Classic Hornet fleet is being progressively retired as the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter is introduced into service.
