The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has for the first time flown the Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft carrying a full complement of internal and external weapons, the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) announced on 7 June.

Two fully laden F-35As, part of a group of 10 aircraft of the type, were deployed in May from RAAF Base Williamtown to RAAF Base Darwin to take part in the Exercise ‘Arnhem Thunder 21' (12 May–15 June) – one of the RAAF's largest domestic training exercises.

An RAAF F-35A fighter aircraft takes off from RAAF Base Darwin with its payload of GBU-12 bombs during Exercise ‘Arnhem Thunder 21‘. This is the first time Australian F-35As have carried a full load of internal and external weapons. (Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence)

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has for the first time flown the Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft carrying a full complement of internal and external weapons, the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) announced on 7 June.

Two fully laden F-35As, part of a group of 10 aircraft of the type, were deployed in May from RAAF Base Williamtown to RAAF Base Darwin to take part in the Exercise ‘Arnhem Thunder 21' (12 May–15 June) – one of the RAAF's largest domestic training exercises.

An RAAF F-35A fighter aircraft takes off from RAAF Base Darwin with its payload of GBU-12 bombs during Exercise ‘Arnhem Thunder 21‘. This is the first time Australian F-35As have carried a full load of internal and external weapons. (Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence)

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has for the first time flown the Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft carrying a full complement of internal and external weapons, the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) announced on 7 June.

Two fully laden F-35As, part of a group of 10 aircraft of the type, were deployed in May from RAAF Base Williamtown to RAAF Base Darwin to take part in the Exercise ‘Arnhem Thunder 21' (12 May–15 June) – one of the RAAF's largest domestic training exercises.

An RAAF F-35A fighter aircraft takes off from RAAF Base Darwin with its payload of GBU-12 bombs during Exercise ‘Arnhem Thunder 21‘. This is the first time Australian F-35As have carried a full load of internal and external weapons. (Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence)

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has for the first time flown the Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft carrying a full complement of internal and external weapons, the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) announced on 7 June.

Two fully laden F-35As, part of a group of 10 aircraft of the type, were deployed in May from RAAF Base Williamtown to RAAF Base Darwin to take part in the Exercise ‘Arnhem Thunder 21' (12 May–15 June) – one of the RAAF's largest domestic training exercises.

An RAAF F-35A fighter aircraft takes off from RAAF Base Darwin with its payload of GBU-12 bombs during Exercise ‘Arnhem Thunder 21‘. This is the first time Australian F-35As have carried a full load of internal and external weapons. (Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence)

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has for the first time flown the Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft carrying a full complement of internal and external weapons, the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) announced on 7 June.

Two fully laden F-35As, part of a group of 10 aircraft of the type, were deployed in May from RAAF Base Williamtown to RAAF Base Darwin to take part in the Exercise ‘Arnhem Thunder 21' (12 May–15 June) – one of the RAAF's largest domestic training exercises.

An RAAF F-35A fighter aircraft takes off from RAAF Base Darwin with its payload of GBU-12 bombs during Exercise ‘Arnhem Thunder 21‘. This is the first time Australian F-35As have carried a full load of internal and external weapons. (Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence)

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has for the first time flown the Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft carrying a full complement of internal and external weapons, the Australian Department of Defence (DoD) announced on 7 June.

Two fully laden F-35As, part of a group of 10 aircraft of the type, were deployed in May from RAAF Base Williamtown to RAAF Base Darwin to take part in the Exercise ‘Arnhem Thunder 21' (12 May–15 June) – one of the RAAF's largest domestic training exercises.

An RAAF F-35A fighter aircraft takes off from RAAF Base Darwin with its payload of GBU-12 bombs during Exercise ‘Arnhem Thunder 21‘. This is the first time Australian F-35As have carried a full load of internal and external weapons. (Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence)