RAAF Base Williamtown

Located 30 kilometres north of Newcastle, RAAF Base Williamtown is Australia’s main fighter pilot training base and houses most of the F-35A Joint Strike Fighters.

RAAF Base Williamtown is home to the command, operational and support elements of Air Combat Group’s (ACG) tactical fighter force components operating F-35A Joint Strike Fighter, Hawk 127 and PC-21 aircraft. In addition the base is home to Surveillance and Response Group’s (SRG) Air Surveillance and Battlefield Management command and support elements and the E-7A Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft. The base also accommodates elements of the Air Warfare Centre and a number of Combat Support Units.

The following are based at RAAF Base Williamtown.

  • Headquarters Air Combat Group
  • Headquarters Surveillance and Response Group
  • No 41 Wing
  • No 42 Wing
  • No 44 Wing
  • No 78 Wing
  • No 81 Wing
  • Tactics and Training Directorate - Air Warfare Centre
  • Australian Defence Force Warfare Centre
  • No 1 Security Force Squadron, Headquarters
  • No 2 Squadron operating AEW&C E-7A Wedgetail aircraft
  • No 2 Squadron Operational Conversion Unit (2OCU) operating F-35A Lightning II aircraft
  • No 2 Squadron (2SQN) operating E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning control aircraft
  • No 2 Expeditionary Health Squadron, Headquarters
  • No 3 Squadron operating F-35A Lightning II aircraft
  • No 4 Squadron operating PC-21 Forward Air Control aircraft
  • No 26 (City of Newcastle) Squadron - Airbase Operations
  • No 76 Squadron operating Hawk Mk127 aircraft
  • No 77 Squadron operating F-35A Lightning II aircraft
  • No 381 Squadron - Contingency Response
  • No 453 Squadron Headquarters
  • No 453 Squadron - Williamtown Flight
  • No 1 Combat Communication Squadron - Williamtown Flight
  • Air Combat System Program Office
  • Tactical Fighter System Program Office
  • Surveillance and Response System Program Office
  • Airborne Early Warning and Control System Program Office

Aircraft noise