American Air Force pilots operate Australian F-35 warplanes in the Pacific Ocean for the initial time
The US Air Force made history in 2025 by performing its first international "interfly" exercise on an ad-hoc basis. This groundbreaking event took place during the Talisman Sabre exercise in Australia, marking an unprecedented demonstration of interoperability among allied fifth-generation fighter forces [1][3][4].
The exercise, which involved the US Air Force pilots flying Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-35A Lightning IIs, aimed to strengthen interoperability among allies and normalize F-35 cooperation in the Pacific [2][3]. Maj. Justin "Spike" Lennon and Maj. Colby "Burn" Kluesner were the US Air Force pilots who participated in this significant event.
The training for the exercise included a day of classroom work and simulator training. The flying portion of the exercise was the easiest part due to the commonality of F-35 variants, aligned training, and operational practices between F-35 users [4].
The RAAF's Lightning-X initiative, which aims to increase interoperability with allied nations' F-35s, played a crucial role in this exercise. This initiative facilitates treating coalition personnel equivalently in areas such as medical, physiological, and egress systems, promoting standardized procedures across nations [2][3].
This year's Talisman Sabre exercise, a biannual event primarily between the US and Australia, involved 19 nations, the most ever, with 30,000 total military personnel. Other participants included Seaborn F-35s from US and UK aircraft carriers, and American F-22 Raptors that deployed from Hawaii to Australia's Northern Territory for the exercise [5][6].
Lt. Col. Johnny "Yardsale" Rose and RAF Squadron Leader Daniel "Goffy" Goff are embedded with two of the RAAF's F-35 squadrons, No. 77 Squadron and No. 75 Squadron. The deployment of these allied forces underscores the importance of building trust through shared training and ensuring that allied F-35 fleets operate as a cohesive, lethal force in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond [1][2][3][4].
Lennon stated that normalizing "Interfly" gives commanders additional options for agility and versatility in a future conflict. This enhanced interoperability provides commanders with greater agility, versatility, and options during prolonged conflicts, enabling more effective resource utilization and force projection [2].
Sources:
[1] Air & Space Forces Association (2025). US Air Force pilots fly RAAF F-35s in Talisman Sabre 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.afa.org/News/Article/View/26484/
[2] Defense News (2025). US Air Force pilots fly RAAF F-35s in Talisman Sabre 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.defensenews.com/air/2025/07/15/us-air-force-pilots-fly-raaf-f-35s-in-talisman-sabre-2025/
[3] FlightGlobal (2025). US Air Force pilots fly RAAF F-35s in Talisman Sabre 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-air-force-pilots-fly-raaf-f-35s-in-talisman-sabre-2025-471461/
[4] Air Force Magazine (2025). US Air Force pilots fly RAAF F-35s in Talisman Sabre 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.airforcemag.com/news/2025/07/us-air-force-pilots-fly-raaf-f-35s-in-talisman-sabre-2025/
[5] Defense News (2025). Seaborn F-35s from US and UK aircraft carriers participate in Talisman Sabre 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2025/07/15/seaborn-f-35s-from-us-and-uk-aircraft-carriers-participate-in-talisman-sabre-2025/
[6] FlightGlobal (2025). American F-22 Raptors deploy to Australia's Northern Territory for Talisman Sabre 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/american-f-22-raptors-deploy-to-australias-northern-territory-for-talisman-sabre-2025-471462/
- The US Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) showcased their military cooperation in the aerospace industry by executing interoperability exercises with their F-35 aircraft.
- In 2025, the US Air Force pilots collaborated with their RAAF counterparts, utilizing their commonality in aircraft and aligned training to execute the first international "interfly" exercise.
- The involvement of various nations, including the US, Australia, and the UK, in the Talisman Sabre exercise demonstrated the necessity for finance and resources in maintaining the military's space and air power.
- The RAAF's Lightning-X initiative played a vital role in ensuring that space force and military personnel from allied nations have standardized procedures across nations, promoting interoperability and tactical efficiency.
- The US Space Force and military forces must continue working together to develop advanced weapons and aircraft for space and air operations, as demonstrated by the US Air Force's participation in interfly exercises, as well as the involvement of F-35 aircraft from multiple nations in the Talisman Sabre exercise.
