Aircraft programme by era
| Period | Principal lineages | Service requirement | Domestic contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946–1949 | CAC Mustang; CA-15 development aircraft; C-47 transport | Wartime air defence, training and transport | CAC production retained; CA-15 supports piston-engine and structural research, followed by a jet-development office |
| 1950s | Meteor and Avon Sabre; improved Canberra; Neptune; carrier Sea Fury and Sea Venom | Jet interception, strike, maritime patrol and Fleet Air Arm transition | Locally supported engines, crew escape improvements, corrosion control and navigation; Canberra remains a bomber rather than a naval interceptor |
| 1960s | Mirage IIIO; F-4 Phantom bridge squadrons; A-4 Skyhawk; P-3 Orion; C-130; E-2 from the later decade | Supersonic defence, carrier operations and ocean surveillance | Commonwealth radar/communications packages; ship-compatible variants selected for carrier squadrons |
| 1970s | Land-based F-111; F-14 carrier fighter; A-6 support strike; A-4K; P-3; E-2C; CT/4 trainers | Long-range attack and the bridge to the Naval Wing | Australian airframe and mission-system integration; New Zealand training and avionics manufacturing |
| 1980–1985 | F-111N, FB-111N, RF-111N and EF-111N; Mirage III; F/A-18 from the 1985 programme; E-2C | Four naval specialisations and land-based multirole conversion | Commonwealth engines, defensive electronics and stores certification developed by block; 1980 aircraft do not receive later AMRAAM or JASSM by backdating |
| 1990s | F/A-18C/D; upgraded F-111 family; A-4K Kahu; P-3K/C; E-2C; 707/KC-135 tankers | Precision strike, maritime search and electronic attack | Kahu becomes a standard model for a compact New Zealand-led radar, cockpit and weapons integration team |
| 2000s | F/A-18E/F; F-111 2003 block; C-17; C-130J; E-2 upgrades; A330 tanker development | Long-range deployed operations and airlift | Domestic mission computers, digital support and certified guided weapons; tanker introduction follows development and trials |
| 2010s | F-35A; Super Hornet; P-8; Wedgetail; A330 MRTT; E-2D; advanced trainers | Networked defence, patrol, air battle management and carrier support | Australian/NZ electronic warfare, secure datalinks and sovereign mission-data support; naval F-35C evaluated as a complementary future type |
| 2020–2026 | F-35A and Super Hornet fleets; retained specialised Naval Wing; P-8; E-2D; Wedgetail; uncrewed wingman development | Distributed surveillance and sustained two-ocean readiness | Domestic low-observable demonstrators, autonomy and passive sensing developed alongside allied aircraft; prototypes remain outside operational squadron totals |
Common architecture
The Commonwealth selects a limited number of families within each role rather than buying every NATO aircraft simultaneously. Retired and bridge aircraft remain in the chronology without being added to contemporary totals. Shared radios, identification systems, mission software and weapon interfaces improve support, but certification remains specific to airframe and block.
Naval Wing continuity
F-111N provides fleet interception and escort, FB-111N maritime attack and broad strike, RF-111N reconnaissance with the programme’s high-speed requirement, and EF-111N offensive electronic attack. Their 1980, 1985, 1995 and 2003 editions retain the designed internal bay and evolve external stores, avionics and flight systems. The later two blocks use the requested USN-inspired grey scheme with Commonwealth markings. These national programme entries do not modify the installed Sea Power mod files.
Source chronology
The Air Force’s historical Mirage account, Hornet arrival account and F-111 retirement record supply reference dates for the inherited aircraft families. The New Zealand Air Force Museum documents Kahu test aircraft and CT/4 training experience. Commonwealth developments and continued service programmes are recorded separately from those reference histories.
Royal Australian Air Force: Historical source
Royal Australian Air Force: Historical source
Air Force Museum of New Zealand: Historical source
Postwar models and upgrade blocks
The aircraft acquisition register details the British, American, French and local models selected or evaluated between 1945 and 1989. It distinguishes Navy, Air Force and Army roles and records Australian and New Zealand production, Kahu-style avionics and the path into the 1980/1985 Naval Wing.