The Australian government announced on 23 April 2014 its intent to acquire an additional fifty-eight F-35A Lightning II aircraft. The additional aircraft, in addition to the fourteen F-35s already approved in 2009, will provide the RAAF with a total of seventy-two aircraft to form three operational squadrons and one training squadron. The Australian government will also consider the option of acquiring an additional squadron of F-35 aircraft to replace the Super Hornets in the future. The first F-35 aircraft will arrive in Australia in 2018 and the first Royal Australian Air Force operational F-35A squadron will stand-up in 2020. The aircraft will be based at RAAF Williamtown in New South Wales and RAAF Tindal in the Northern Territory.
