Thunder in the skies: Australia’s strike fighters flex their muscles over Darwin

There is thunder in the clear blue skies over Darwin as Australia’s strike fighters flex their muscles today and we can expect more of it over the next month.

• F-35 Joint Strike Fighters make first ever landing in Darwin
• Top End to get F-35 training centre at RAAF base Tindal for Top Guns

Exercise Arnhem Thunder 21 cranked up a notch today which most of us would have heard this morning.

Exercise Arnhem Thunder 21 cranked up a notch today which most of us would have heard this morning.

RAAF base Darwin is now a hive of activity with Australia’s new generation strike fighter the F-35A Lightning II giving us a full burst of the power of its supersonic engines in tandem with the mighty roar of our F/A-18A Hornets.

The highly advanced F35 11 is a multi-role stealth fighter that will meet Australia’s requirements to defeat current and emerging threats.

That capability is being put fully to the test as it pits itself alongside our F/A-18A Super Hornets, Hawk 127s and EA-18G Growlers in one of the Royal Australian Air Force’s largest domestic training exercises for 2021.

Approximately 40 aircraft, and more than 500 personnel have deployed to take part in Exercise Arnhem Thunder 21.

Other aircraft involved include: C-27J Spartan, C-130J Hercules, a C-17A Globemaster III and KC-30 Tanker Transport, and E-7A Wedgetail.

Here is this weeks schedule

TODAY: 8.20am – 10.00am; 10.55am – 12.00pm; 1.10pm – 2.30pm; 3.40pm – 4.30pm.

TUESDAY: 9.50am – 10.00am; 11.10am – 12.00pm; 1.50pm – 2.00pm; 3.40pm – 4.30pm

WEDNESDAY: 9.50am – 10.00am; 11.10am – 12.00pm; 2.20pm – 2.30pm; 3.40pm – 4.30pm

THURSDAY: 9.50am – 10.00am; 11.10am – 12.00pm; 2.20pm – 2.30pm; 3.40pm – 4.30pm

FRIDAY: 9.50am – 10.00am; 11.10am – 12.00pm; 2.20pm – 2.30pm