Australia currently operates around one hundred modern fighter and electronic-attack jets, with 108 often cited as the best single-number estimate.

Below is a clear breakdown based on the latest open-source defence analysis and official program data.

Quick Scoop

  • Australia has about 108 combat-capable jets in Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) service.
  • These include:
    • 72 F‑35A Lightning II stealth fighters.
* 24 F/A‑18F Super Hornet strike fighters.

* 12 EA‑18G Growler electronic‑attack aircraft (Super Hornet variant, combat‑coded).
  • Total RAAF aircraft are reported at roughly 250–280 airframes , but only a subset are front‑line fighters.

So when people online ask “how many fighter jets does Australia have?” they’re almost always talking about this ~100–110 combat aircraft figure, not trainers or transports.

Main Fighter Types (RAAF)

Australia’s fighter inventory is concentrated in three closely related US‑designed types operated by the RAAF.

  1. F‑35A Lightning II (fifth‑generation stealth fighter)
    • Quantity: 72 aircraft delivered under Project AIR 6000 Phase 2A/2B.
 * Role: Multirole fighter (air‑to‑air, air‑to‑ground, ISR).

 * Status: Fully delivered, replacing the “classic” F/A‑18A/B Hornet fleet.
  1. F/A‑18F Super Hornet
    • Quantity: 24 aircraft.
 * Role: Strike / multirole fighter, often counted as part of the “fighter jet” total.
  1. EA‑18G Growler
    • Quantity: 12 aircraft.
 * Role: Electronic attack (jamming radars, suppressing enemy air defences), but still a fast‑jet combat platform and usually included in “combat aircraft” totals.

A defence think‑tank assessment explicitly sums these as 72 F‑35A + 24 F/A‑18F + 12 EA‑18G = 108 combat‑capable jets.

Fighter Count vs. Total Aircraft

Public sources sometimes give larger numbers like 252 or 279 RAAF aircraft, which can be confusing.

  • A widely cited figure notes the RAAF has 252 aircraft, of which 108 are combat aircraft.
  • Another inventory overview lists 279 active aircraft , including trainers, transports, tankers, surveillance, and helicopters, not just fighters.

So:

  • “How many warplanes/aircraft?” → about 250–280 total.
  • “How many fighter jets?” → about 108 front‑line combat jets.

Current Debates and Latest News Angle

Australia’s fighter fleet size is a live political and strategic debate, especially with Indo‑Pacific tensions and AUKUS in the background.

Recent and ongoing points of discussion:

  • Some analysts argue the current ~108 combat jets leave a “deterrence gap” for a continent‑sized nation facing long‑range threats.
  • A prominent proposal suggests adding two more fighter squadrons (about 36 extra jets) plus more tankers and loyal‑wingman drones to push the effective combat air fleet toward ~240 crewed + uncrewed combat aircraft by the 2030s.
  • Political figures have floated acquiring 28 additional F‑35As (taking the F‑35 fleet from 72 to 100), which would raise the total fighter/attack jet count if implemented.

Forum and comment‑section debates in Australia often revolve around whether “around 100 jets” is enough for credible deterrence, or whether the RAAF needs significantly more aircraft, dispersal bases, and drones given China’s growing air and naval power.

Mini FAQ

Q: Are all 108 jets ready to fight at once?
No. Maintenance cycles and training needs mean only a subset are immediately deployable; one analysis estimates about 36 F‑35As, 16 Super Hornets, and 8 Growlers could be surged at short notice.

Q: Are there more fighters on order right now?
As of the latest open data, 72 F‑35As are delivered and form the planned fleet , while additional purchases (such as 28 more F‑35As) are being argued for in politics and policy circles but are not locked in as firm orders.

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Category Type / Description Approx. Number Counted as “fighter jet”?
Stealth fighter F‑35A Lightning II 72 Yes – core of RAAF combat fleet
Strike fighter F/A‑18F Super Hornet 24 Yes – modern fast‑jet fighter/attack
Electronic attack jet EA‑18G Growler 12 Generally yes – counted in 108 “combat aircraft”
Total combat jets F‑35A + F/A‑18F + EA‑18G 108 Standard answer to “how many fighter jets”
All RAAF aircraft Includes transports, tankers, trainers, etc. ≈252–279 No – only a portion are fighters

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.