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
- Visit the Defence Aircraft Noise website or call 1300 DEFENCE (1300 333 362).
- See Flying Activity page to view major training exercises and flying activities.
- Read the F-35A Flying Operations Approval and Conditions.