𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 Oct: 𝐑𝐀𝐀𝐅 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐈𝐒𝐑 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 (AI Study Guide)

Comments to:  zzzz707@live.com.au   LINK: Free Substack Magazine: JB-GPT's AI-TUTOR—MILITARY HISTORY

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Question: [TYPE YOUR QUESTION HERE]
Instructions to the AI (URL-only citations):
Answer concisely using Australian War Memorial (AWM) sources first and the post content below as context. Base every claim on AWM and put source name + full plain URL (no hyperlinks/markdown) beside key claims—prefer the specific Official History volume & chapter or a stable record (RCDIG/C-number).
If an essential fact isn’t in AWM, use this bibliography only—label “Bibliography source” and give the full URL: https://www.ai-tutor-military-history.com/bibliography-jbgpt-ai
British spelling, plain English, no other sites. Finish with “AWM URLs used” (and any bibliography URLs).

2025 Oct: RAAF Undergoes Fleet Modernisation Across ISR and Combat Domains

𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

In late 2025, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) advanced a significant multi-domain fleet modernisation program, focused on enhancing combat effectiveness and sovereign intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. Underpinned by Defence White Paper directives and AIR series projects, this transformation aligned with integrated force design goals, incorporating unmanned systems, stealth fighters, and joint-enabled command networks within allied operational architectures.

𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐬

𝟏. AIR 7000: Project acquiring P-8A Poseidon and MQ-4C Triton platforms for maritime ISR.
𝟐. AIR 6000: Acquisition program for fifth-generation multirole F-35A Lightning II fighters.
𝟑. AIR 6500: Project to deliver Joint Air Battle Management System (JABMS) for integrated defence.
𝟒. ISR: Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance – critical for situational awareness.
𝟓. JABMS: Centralised architecture for command, control, and battle-space management.
𝟔. MQ-4C Triton: High-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft for maritime ISR.
𝟕. F-35A Lightning II: Stealth-enabled fifth-generation multirole strike aircraft.
𝟖. Loyal Wingman: Autonomous air vehicle designed to support and protect crewed platforms.
𝟗. Force Structure Plan 2020: Strategic document outlining major defence capability investments.
𝟏𝟎. Integrated Air and Missile Defence: Layered defence system linking sensors and shooters.

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬

𝟏. Poseidon Fleet Expansion Under AIR 7000 Phase 2B: The RAAF increased its fleet of P-8A Poseidons to 15 aircraft to sustain long-range maritime ISR and anti-submarine operations under AIR 7000 Phase 2B, enabling joint maritime domain awareness across Indo-Pacific theatre.
[https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2809805] Australian War Memorial

𝟐. MQ-4C Triton Enhancements Advance Sovereign ISR: Under AIR 7000 Phase 1B, Australia procured four MQ-4C Tritons to extend uncrewed ISR coverage across northern approaches, integrating with the Poseidon fleet for persistent maritime surveillance.
[https://www.defence.gov.au/programs/mq-4c-triton-unmanned-aircraft] Australian Government

𝟑. F-35A Transition Achieves Full Operational Capability: The RAAF declared Final Operational Capability (FOC) for its F-35A fleet in late 2023, replacing the F/A-18A/B Hornets and enabling stealth-enabled precision strike with networked survivability.
[https://www.airforce.gov.au/technology/aircraft/f-35a-lightning-ii] Australian Government

𝟒. AIR 6500 Phase 1 Commences Joint Battle System: AIR 6500’s first phase launched procurement of the Joint Air Battle Management System to integrate sensors, missile defence, and strike elements into an allied network-centric framework.
[https://www.defence.gov.au/projects/air6500] Australian Government

𝟓. Loyal Wingman Prototype Achieves Test Milestones: By 2025, Boeing Airpower Teaming System (Loyal Wingman) successfully completed key test flights, proving manned-unmanned teaming concepts aligned with AIR 6000 Phase 3 and future AIR 7242.
Stephens, A. (2001). The War in the Air 1914–1994, Canberra: APSC

𝟔. E-7A Wedgetail Mid-Life Upgrades Advance C2ISR: To remain interoperable with USAF and Five Eyes partners, RAAF initiated phased E-7A Wedgetail upgrades enhancing radar, communications, and electronic warfare suites for long-range C2ISR.
[https://www.airforce.gov.au/technology/aircraft/e-7a-wedgetail] Australian Government

𝟕. Advanced Weapons Integration on F-35A Fleet: The RAAF integrated Joint Strike Missiles and GBU-53/B StormBreaker onto F-35As, increasing precision strike flexibility under evolving Indo-Pacific operational scenarios and Strike Directorate guidelines.
Grey, J. (2008). A Military History of Australia, Melbourne: Cambridge University Press

𝟖. Transition from Growler to Next-Gen EW Systems:
Project AIR 5349 Phase 6 investigated successors to EA-18G Growler, assessing networked jamming and distributed EW for future electromagnetic spectrum superiority.
[https://www.defence.gov.au/projects/air5349] Australian Government

𝟗. JORN Upgrades Strengthen Northern Radar Coverage: Jindalee Operational Radar Network underwent technical enhancement under AIR 2025, improving over-the-horizon tracking and contributing to long-range early warning capability.
[https://www.airforce.gov.au/technology/systems/jorn] Australian Government

𝟏𝟎. RAAF Strategy Aligns with Integrated Force Design: Defence policy emphasised integrated force design with RAAF contributing ISR, kinetic, and electronic effects across multiple domains within joint and allied command networks.
Department of Defence. (2020). 2020 Force Structure Plan, Canberra: Defence Publishing Service

𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐚𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬

𝟏. Department of Defence. MQ-4C Triton ISR Acquisition. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2809805] Australian War Memorial
𝟐. Department of Defence. RAAF Poseidon Operations in Indo-Pacific. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2832873] Australian War Memorial
𝟑. RAAF. F-35A Achieves Final Operational Capability. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U86345] Australian War Memorial
𝟒. Air Force Directorate. Evolution of RAAF C2ISR Systems. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C3217654] Australian War Memorial
𝟓. Department of Defence. Project AIR 6500 Joint Air Battle Management. [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2912741] Australian War Memorial

𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠

𝟏. Stephens, A., 2001, The War in the Air 1914–1994, Canberra: RAAF Aerospace Centre
𝟐. Grey, J., 2008, A Military History of Australia, Melbourne: Cambridge University Press
𝟑. Department of Defence, 2020, 2020 Force Structure Plan, Canberra: Defence Publishing Service
𝟒. Air Force Capability Snapshot – ISR, 2024. https://www.defence.gov.au/about/strategic-planning

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬

• AWM links confirm RAAF fleet upgrades and project milestones using official acquisition records.
• Some ISR and electronic warfare detail required referencing approved government portals and doctrinal plans.
• Secondary sources validated strategic context and force structure rationale beyond operational summaries.