From Daily Escape

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the Air Force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF began in March 1914 as the Australian Flying Corps and became a fully independent Air Force in March 1921. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts including both World Wars, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The motto on the RAAF's coat of arms is the Latin phrase Per Ardua ad Astra, which means "Through Struggle to the Stars"; the Royal Air Force use the same motto but translate it as "Through Adversity to the Stars".

Contents 1 Structure 1.1 Air Combat Group 1.2 Airlift Group 1.3 Surveillence and Response Group 1.4 Aerospace Operational Support Group 1.5 Air Force Training Group 1.6 Combat Support Group 2 Aerial Weapons 2.1 Guns 2.2 Air to Air Missiles 2.3 Air to Ground Missiles 2.4 Bombs 2.5 Cluster Bombs 2.6 Rockets 3 Markings 4 Ensign

Structure

Air Combat Group

• 2 Squadrons of General Dynamics F-111C/G (28 aircraft in total)
  • 1SQN
  • 6SQN
• 1 Squadron of Lockheed Martin F/A-22 Raptor (2 more squadrons on order) (18 aircraft in total)
  • 3SQN
• 2 Squadrons of Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (1 more squadon on order) (54 aircraft in total)
  • 30SQN
  • 75SQN
  • 77SQN
• 1 Squadron of Boeing F/A-18A+/B+ Hornet (28 aircraft)
  • 78SQN
• 2 Operational Conversion Unit (2OCU)
  • 15 Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet
  • 5 Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet
• 2 Squadrons of BAE Systems Hawk 127 (33 aircraft in total)
  • 76SQN (Lead in fighter training)
  • 79SQN (Fast jet flying training)
• 1 Flight of Pilatus PC-9/A
  • Forward Air Control Development Unit

Airlift Group

• 1 Squadron of Boeing C-17 Globemaster III (6 aircraft in total)
  • 36SQN
• 3 Squadrons of Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules
  • 35SQN (12 C-130H)
  • 37SQN (12 C-130J-30)
  • 104SQN (12 C-130H)
• 1 Squadron of de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou (12 aircraft in total)
  • 38SQN
• 33 Squadron (air refuelling squadron)
  • 3 KC-135R Stratotankers
  • 6 A330 MRTT (4 more on order)
• 34 Squadron (VIP transport)
  • 3 Boeing Business Jets
  • 4 Bombardier Challenger 604

Surveillence and Response Group

• 8 Boeing 737 AEW&C
  • 2SQN
• 2 Squadrons of Lockheed AP-3C Orion (30 aircraft in total)
  • 10SQN
  • 11SQN
  • 292SQN (Training)
• 1 Squadron of RQ-4 Global Hawk (10 aircraft in total)
  • 66SQN
• 41WG
  • Ground based radar surveillence and control
  • 1RSU No. 1 Radar Surveillance Unit
  • 3CRU No. 3 Control and Reporting Unit
  • 114MCRU No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit
  • 114MCRU DET No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit Detachment
  • SACTU Surveillance and Control Training Unit
• 44WG
  • Air traffic control services for all Australian Defence Force airfields.

Aerospace Operational Support Group

• Aircraft Research and Development Unit

Air Force Training Group

• Air Training Wing
  • 1 Squadron of Beech King Air 300 (8 aircraft in total)
    • 32SQN
  • 2 Units of Pilatus PC-9/A
    • Central Flying School
      • The Roulettes (RAAF Flight Display Team)
    • No. 2 Flying Training School
  • BAE Systems Flight Training Australia
    • CT/4
    • Tamworth, NSW
• Ground Training Wing
• RAAF College
• Combat Support Unit - Williams
• Combat Support Force - Pearce

Combat Support Group

• HQCSG Headquarters Combat Support Group
• CSU-GLN Combat Support Unit - Glenbrook
• ACBAND Air Command Band
• 395 Expeditionary Combat Support Wing
• 396 Combat Support Wing
• Airfield Defence Wing
• Health Services Wing
• Combat Reserve Wing

Aerial Weapons

These aerial weapons are used not only by the RAAF, but by the Fleet Air Arm too on its AV-8B Harrier II Plus.

Guns

• M61 Vulcan 20mm Cannon
• ADEN 30mm Cannon
• GAU-12 Equaliser (Fleet Air Arm only)

Air to Air Missiles

• AIM-132 ASRAAM
• AIM-120 AMRAAM

Air to Ground Missiles

• AGM-65 Maverick
• AGM-84 Harpoon
• AGM-142 Have Nap
• AGM-158 JASSM

Bombs

• Mk 82 500lb GP Bomb
• Mk 83 1000lb GP Bomb
• Mk 84 2000lb GP Bomb
• GBU-12 Paveway II 500lb Laser Guided Bomb
• GBU-10 Paveway II 2000lb Laser Guided Bomb
• GBU-22 Paveway III 500lb Laser Guided Bomb
• GBU-24 Paveway III 2000lb Laser Guided Bomb
• GBU-27 Paveway III 2000lb Penetrating Laser Guided Bomb
• GBU-28 Paveway III 4500lb Penetrating Laser Guided Bomb
• GBU-38/B 500lb JDAM
• GBU-31C(V)1/B 2000lb JDAM
• GBU-31C(V)3/B 2000lb Penetrating JDAM

Cluster Bombs

• CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon
• CBU-100 Cluster Bomb
• CBU-107 Passive Attack Weapon

Rockets

• CRV7

Markings

Standard RAAF Roundel for non-tactical aircraft

Fin flash for non-tactical aircraft

Grey RAAF Roundel for tactical aircraft
N.B. Kangaroo always faces aircraft nose

Ensign

The RAAF Ensign is the flag of the Royal Australian Air Force. It is flown on all RAAF establishments, RAAF units on ceremonial occasions march under it, and is worn by all RAAF personnel on Working Dress, Disruptive Pattern Combat Uniform, and Disruptive Pattern Desert Uniform inside Australia (outside Australia, the Australian National Flag is worn) on the right arm with the Union Flag facing forward.

Australian Defence Force
Australian Army | Royal Australian Air Force | Royal Australian Navy