American Air Force aviators participate in maiden flight of Australian F-35 fighter jet over Pacific Ocean
In the heart of Australia's Northern Territory, the Talisman Sabre exercise, a biannual military drill primarily between the U.S. and Australia, is underway with a record-breaking participation of 30,000 military personnel from 19 nations [1]. Among the participants, U.S. Air Force pilots have been engaging in a unique exercise - the "interfly" - with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) using F-35A Lightning IIs.
The interfly exercises aim to strengthen interoperability among allies and provide U.S. Air Force pilots with a rare opportunity to fly a fifth-generation aircraft belonging to a partner nation. The flying portion of the "interfly" exercise is the easiest part due to the commonality of F-35 variants and aligned training practices between F-35 users [3].
Lt. Col. Johnny "Yardsale" Rose from the Marine Corps and RAF Squadron Leader Daniel "Goffy" Goff are among the aviators participating in the "interfly" exercise. They are embedded with No. 77 Squadron and No. 75 Squadron of the RAAF [2]. The U.S. pilots were approved to fly the RAAF's F-35 after limited training with the Australian aircraft and operations.
The RAAF's Lightning-X initiative aims to increase interoperability with allied nations' F-35s. The interfly events are part of this initiative, working by allowing U.S. pilots to fly partner nation aircraft during joint exercises like Talisman Sabre. These interfly events typically involve limited yet focused training, including classroom instruction and simulator sessions, enabling U.S. pilots to operate allied aircraft safely and effectively on short notice [1][3].
Maj. Justin "Spike" Lennon and Maj. Colby "Burn" Kluesner, the U.S. Air Force pilots participating in the "interfly" exercise, highlighted the importance of these exercises in a potential prolonged conflict. Lennon mentioned that in a prolonged conflict, airplanes are capable of flying more hours a day than a pilot, and having the added flexibility to put any pilot in any F-35 and generate combat airpower anywhere in the world adds to the F-35 coalition's lethality [3].
The Air & Space Forces Association is the sponsor of the audio of this article. The U.S. Air Force has been pushing to increase the interoperability of its F-35 fleet with cross-service events conducted among NATO allies. This is the first time the U.S. Air Force has performed international interfly on an ad-hoc basis [1]. Lennon stated that normalizing Interfly gives commanders additional options for agility and versatility in a future conflict.
In addition to the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. and U.K. Seaborn F-35s are participating in Talisman Sabre exercise. The exercise also sees the participation of F-22 Raptors from Hawaii, adding to the diverse range of aircraft involved in this year's Talisman Sabre exercise.
The crew participating in the "interfly" are treated no differently than any other RAAF F-35 pilot during Talisman Sabre 25. The F-35 interfly event in Australia aims to normalize F-35 cooperation in the Pacific, facilitating invaluable exchange of tactics, techniques, and best practices to enhance combined combat effectiveness [1][2][3].
- The U.S. Air Force pilots engaged in the "interfly" exercise are using F-35A Lightning IIs, an opportunity that strengthens interoperability with the Royal Australian Air Force and other allied nations.
- The RAAF's Lightning-X initiative promotes increased interoperability with allied nations' F-35s, with events like the "interfly" allowing U.S. pilots to fly partner nation aircraft during joint exercises.
- The unique "interfly" exercise offers U.S. Air Force pilots a rare chance to fly fifth-generation aircraft belonging to a partner nation, helping to align their training practices and improve the F-35 coalition's overall lethality.
- In a potential prolonged conflict, the flexibility to put any pilot in any F-35 and generate combat airpower anywhere in the world would add to the F-35 coalition's versatility and effectiveness, as highlighted by Maj. Justin "Spike" Lennon and Maj. Colby "Burn" Kluesner.
- The "interfly" event in Australia, part of the Talisman Sabre exercise, aims to normalize F-35 cooperation in the Pacific, fostering the exchange of tactics, techniques, and best practices between nations, thereby enhancing combined combat effectiveness in the aerospace industry.
