Structure of the Royal Australian Air Force
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The Royal Australian Air Force is organised into a number of operational, support and training formations located at bases across Australia.
Contents
Air Force structure
Formations
FORMATION | COMMANDER | RANK |
---|---|---|
Air Force | Chief of Air Force (CAF) | Air Marshal |
Air Force Headquarters/HQ Air Command | DCAF/Air Commander | Air Vice Marshal |
Force Element Group/Branch | Commander/Director General | Air Commodore |
Wing/Directorate | Officer Commanding/Director | Group Captain/EL2 Wing Commander/EL1* |
Squadron/Unit/Department | Commanding Officer/Deputy Director/Senior Manager | Wing Commander/EL1 Squadron Leader/APS6* |
Flight | Flight Commander/Manager | Squadron Leader/Flight Lieutenant/APS6* |
Section | Officer in Charge/Coordinator | Junior officer~/APS5 |
Note: Only select formations as promulgated by CAF are designated as official command (Military) or directorial (APS) appointments
- *Rank/Title depends on size/complexity/purpose of the formation
- ~A junior officer of the Air Force is a Pilot Officer(O1), Flying Officer (O2) or Flight Lieutenant (O3). Air Force Warrant Officers (WOFF/E9) hold similar standing to a Flying Officer or Flight Lieutenant - depending on time/experience in rank.
- ~Air Force public servant non-executive leaders, depending on roles, are designated as; Manager (APS6 - FLTLT/SQNLDR responsibility depending on size/complexity), Coordinators (APS5 - WOFF/FLGOFF responsibility), and Officer (APS4 - FSGT/PLTOFF responsibility)
- Air Force senior officers are Squadron Leader (O4), Wing Commander (O5), Group Captain (O6).
- ~Air Force executive public servant officers are designated Senior Managers or Deputy Directors (EL1/O5), Director (EL2) or Executive Director (EL2.1/O6) depending on role and level of responsibilities.
- ~Air Force public servant non-executive leaders, depending on roles, are designated as; Manager (APS6 - FLTLT/SQNLDR responsibility depending on size/complexity), Coordinators (APS5 - WOFF/FLGOFF responsibility), and Officer (APS4 - FSGT/PLTOFF responsibility)
- Air Force 'Air Officers' (Flag Rank (Navy), General Rank (Army) are Air Commodore (1*), Air Vice Marshall (2*), Air Marshall (3*) and Air Chief Marshall (4*).
- Air Force public servants of equivalent air officer rank are; (1*) - SES Band-1/Assistant Secretary, (2*) - SES Band-2/First Assistant Secretary, Deputy Secretary (DEPSEC - 3*), and Secretary (SEC - 4*)
Other appointments
- Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) – Air Chief Marshal (when RAAF officer)
- Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF) – Air Marshal (when RAAF officer)
- Chief of Joint Operations (CJOPS) – Air Marshal (when RAAF officer)
- Chief Capability Development Group (CCDG) – Air Marshal (when RAAF officer)
- Deputy Chief of Air Force (DCAF) – Air Vice Marshal
- Commander Integrated Air Defence System (CDR IADS) – Air Vice Marshal
- Deputy Chief of Joint Operations (DCJOPS)/Chief of Staff Headquarters Joint Operations Command (COS HQJOC) – Air Vice Marshal (when RAAF officer)
- Chief Joint Logistics (CJLOG) – Air Vice Marshal (when RAAF officer)
- Chief Information Officer (CIO) – Air Vice Marshal (when RAAF officer)
- Commander Joint Health (CJHLTH)- Air Vice Marshal (when RAAF officer)
Air Force Headquarters
UNIT | FULL NAME | LOCATION | AIRCRAFT | |
---|---|---|---|---|
CAF | Office of the Chief of Air Force | Russell Offices | ||
WOFF-AF | Warrant Officer of the Air Force | Russell Offices | ||
AFHQ | Air Force Headquarters | Russell Offices | ||
28SQN | No. 28 Squadron | HMAS Harman, Canberra | ||
Air Command |
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HQAC | Headquarters Air Command | RAAF Base Glenbrook | ||
Air Combat Group |
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UNIT | FULL NAME | LOCATION | EQUIPMENT | |
HQACG | Headquarters Air Combat Group | RAAF Base Williamtown | ||
78 Wing | ||||
HQ78WG | Headquarters No. 78 Wing | RAAF Base Williamtown | ||
76SQN | No. 76 Squadron | RAAF Base Williamtown | BAe Hawk 127 | |
79SQN | No. 79 Squadron | RAAF Base Pearce | BAe Hawk 127 | |
278SQN | No. 278 Squadron | RAAF Base Williamtown | ||
278SQN DET TDL | No. 278 Squadron Detachment Tindal | RAAF Base Tindal | ||
278SQN DET AMB | No. 278 Squadron Detachment Amberley | RAAF Base Amberley | ||
278SQN DET PEA | No. 278 Squadron Detachment Pearce | RAAF Base Pearce | ||
81 Wing | ||||
HQ81WG | Headquarters No. 81 Wing | RAAF Base Williamtown | ||
2OCU | No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit | RAAF Base Williamtown | F/A-18 Hornet | |
3SQN | No. 3 Squadron | RAAF Base Williamtown | F/A-18 Hornet | |
75SQN | No. 75 Squadron | RAAF Base Tindal | F/A-18 Hornet | |
77SQN | No. 77 Squadron | RAAF Base Williamtown | F/A-18 Hornet | |
82 Wing | ||||
HQ82WG | Headquarters No. 82 Wing | RAAF Base Amberley | ||
1SQN | No. 1 Squadron | RAAF Base Amberley | F/A-18F Super Hornet | |
4SQN | No. 4 Squadron | RAAF Base Williamtown | PC-9 | |
6SQN | No. 6 Squadron | RAAF Base Amberley | F/A-18F Super Hornet | |
5FLT | No. 5 Flight | RAAF Base Amberley | IAI Heron | |
Air Mobility Group |
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UNIT | FULL NAME | LOCATION | AIRCRAFT | |
HQAMG | Headquarters Air Mobility Group | RAAF Base Richmond | ||
84 Wing | ||||
HQ84WG | Headquarters No. 84 Wing | RAAF Base Richmond | ||
33SQN | No. 33 Squadron | RAAF Base Amberley | KC-30A | |
34SQN | No. 34 Squadron | Defence Establishment Fairbairn | B737 BBJ / CL604 | |
35SQN | No. 35 Squadron | RAAF Base Richmond | C-27J Spartan | |
37SQN | No. 37 Squadron | RAAF Base Richmond | C-130J Hercules | |
285SQN | No. 285 Squadron | RAAF Base Richmond | ||
AMTDU | Air Movements Training & Development Unit | RAAF Base Richmond | ||
86 Wing | ||||
HQ86G | Headquarters No. 86 Wing | RAAF Base Richmond | ||
36SQN | No. 36 Squadron | RAAF Base Amberley | C-17 Globemaster III | |
38SQN | No. 38 Squadron | RAAF Base Townsville | King Air 350 | |
Surveillance and Response Group |
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UNIT | FULL NAME | LOCATION | EQUIPMENT | |
HQSRG | Headquarters Surveillance and Response Group | RAAF Base Williamtown | ||
41 Wing | ||||
HQ41WG | Headquarters No. 41 Wing | RAAF Base Williamtown | ||
1RSU | No. 1 Radar Surveillance Unit | RAAF Base Edinburgh | ||
3CRU | No. 3 Control and Reporting Unit | RAAF Base Williamtown | ||
114MCRU | No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit | RAAF Base Darwin | ||
114MCRU DET | No. 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit Detachment | RAAF Base Tindal | ||
SACTU | Surveillance and Control Training Unit | RAAF Base Williamtown | ||
42 Wing | ||||
HQ42WG | Headquarters No. 42 Wing | RAAF Base Williamtown | ||
2SQN | No. 2 Squadron | RAAF Base Williamtown | B737 AEW&C | |
44 Wing | ||||
HQ44WG | Headquarters No. 44 Wing | RAAF Base Williamtown | ATC radars etc. | |
452SQN | No. 452 Squadron | RAAF Base Darwin | ||
452SQN DET AMB | No. 452 Squadron Detachment Amberley | RAAF Base Amberley | ||
452SQN DET DAR | No. 452 Squadron Detachment Darwin | RAAF Base Darwin | ||
452SQN DET OAK | No. 452 Squadron Detachment Oakey | Oakey Army Aviation Centre | ||
452SQN DET TDL | No. 452 Squadron Detachment Tindal | RAAF Base Tindal | ||
452SQN DET TVL | No. 452 Squadron Detachment Townsville | RAAF Base Townsville | ||
453SQN | No. 453 Squadron | RAAF Base Williamtown | ||
453SQN DET ESL | No. 453 Squadron Detachment East Sale | RAAF Base East Sale | ||
453SQN DET EDN | No. 453 Squadron Detachment Edinburgh | RAAF Base Edinburgh | ||
453SQN DET NWA | No. 453 Squadron Detachment Nowra | HMAS Albatross | ||
453SQN DET PEA | No. 453 Squadron Detachment Pearce | RAAF Base Pearce | ||
453SQN DET RIC | No. 453 Squadron Detachment Richmond | RAAF Base Richmond | ||
453SQN DET WLM | No. 453 Squadron Detachment Williamtown | RAAF Base Williamtown | ||
92 Wing | ||||
HQ92WG | Headquarters No. 92 Wing | RAAF Base Edinburgh | ||
92WG DET A | No. 92 Wing Detachment A | RMAF Base Butterworth | AP-3C Orion | |
92WG DET B | No. 92 Wing Detachment B | RAAF Base Darwin | AP-3C Orion | |
10SQN | No. 10 Squadron | RAAF Base Edinburgh | AP-3C Orion | |
11SQN | No. 11 Squadron | RAAF Base Edinburgh | AP-3C Orion | |
292SQN | No. 292 Squadron | RAAF Base Edinburgh | AP-3C Orion | |
Combat Support Group |
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UNIT | FULL NAME | LOCATION | AIRCRAFT | |
HQCSG | Headquarters Combat Support Group | RAAF Base Amberley | ||
95 Wing RAAF | ||||
HQ395ECSW | Headquarters 95 Expeditionary Wing | RAAF Base Amberley | ||
381ECSS | No. 381 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron | RAAF Base Williamtown | ||
382ECSS | No. 382 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron | RAAF Base Amberley | ||
321ECSS | No. 321 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron | RAAF Base Darwin | ||
322ECSS | No. 322 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron | RAAF Base Tindal | ||
Bare Base Management Flight | RAAF Curtin | |||
Bare Base Management Flight | RAAF Learmonth | |||
Bare Base Management Flight | RAAF Scherger | |||
323ECSS | No. 323 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron | RAAF Base Townsville | ||
324CSS | No. 324 Combat Support Squadron | RMAF Base Butterworth | ||
325ECSS | No. 325 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron | RAAF Base Richmond | ||
1AOSS | No 1 Airfield Operations Support Squadron | RAAF Base Amberley | ||
1CCS | No. 1 Combat Communications Squadron | RAAF Base Richmond | ||
1AFDS | No. 1 Airfield Defence Squadron | RAAF Base Amberley | ||
2AFDS | No. 2 Airfield Defence Squadron | RAAF Base Amberley | ||
396 Combat Support Wing | ||||
HQ396CSW | Headquarters No. 396 Expeditionary Combat Support Wing | RAAF Base Darwin | ||
13SQN | No. 13 Squadron | RAAF Base Darwin | ||
20SQN | No. 20 Squadron | RAAF Base Woomera (With Effect 1 April 2015) | ||
21SQN | No. 21 Squadron | RAAF Williams | ||
22SQN | No. 22 Squadron | RAAF Base Richmond | ||
23SQN | No. 23 Squadron | RAAF Base Amberley | ||
24SQN | No. 24 Squadron | RAAF Base Edinburgh | ||
25SQN | No. 25 Squadron | RAAF Base Pearce | ||
26SQN | No. 26 Squadron | RAAF Base Williamtown | ||
27SQN | No. 27 Squadron | RAAF Base Townsville | ||
29SQN | No. 29 Squadron | Anglesea Barracks, Hobart | ||
30SQN | No. 30 Squadron | RAAF Base East Sale | ||
31SQN | No. 31 Squadron | RAAF Base Wagga | ||
Health Services Wing | ||||
HQHSW | Headquarters Health Services Wing | RAAF Base Amberley | ||
1ATHS | No. 1 Air Transportable Health Squadron | RAAF Base Amberley | ||
2ATHS | No. 2 Air Transportable Health Squadron | RAAF Base Williamtown | ||
3CSH | No. 3 Combat Support Hospital | RAAF Base Richmond | ||
Aerospace Operational Support Group |
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UNIT | FULL NAME | LOCATION | EQUIPMENT/ROLE | |
HQAOSG | Headquarters Aerospace Operational Support Group | RAAF Base Edinburgh | Group Command Formation | |
Development and Test Wing | ||||
ARDU | Aircraft Research and Development Unit | RAAF Base Edinburgh with detachments at RAAF Bases Amberley and Williamtown | Defence Aerospace Systems Test & Evaluation (Air Platforms Systems Testing) | |
ASCENG | Aircraft Stores Compatibility Engineering Agency | RAAF Base Edinburgh | Defence Aerospace Systems Test & Evaluation (Air Weapons System Proofing) | |
ASESQN | ARDU Systems Engineering Squadron | RAAF Base Edinburgh | Defence Systems Aerospace Systems Test & Evaluation (Design & Engineering) | |
AVMED | RAAF Institute of Aviation Medicine | RAAF Base Edinburgh | Defence Aviation Medicine Training and Systems Testing | |
Information Warfare Wing | ||||
JEWOSU | Joint Electronic Warfare Operational Support Unit | RAAF Base Edinburgh | ||
AIS | RAAF Aeronautical Information Service | Victoria Barracks, Melbourne | ||
87SQN | No. 87 Squadron | RAAF Base Edinburgh | Air intelligence | |
460SQN | No. 460 Squadron | Russell Offices Canberra | ||
462SQN | No. 462 Squadron | Werriwa Facility Canberra | Information operations | |
RAAF Woomera Test Range Directorate | ||||
HQWTR | Headquarters RAAF Woomera Test Range Directorate - RAAF TU 646.7.3 | RAAF Base Edinburgh | Wing-level command formation for the Woomera Range Complex/RAAF Woomera Test Range and Trials Services Unit | |
WTR-TSU | Woomera Test Range Trials Services Unit - RAAF TE 646.7.3.1 | RAAF Base Edinburgh with a permanent detachment at RAAF Base Woomera | Squadron-level formation responsible for the day to day conduct of Defence activities at the WTR | |
WTR-NTA | Woomera Test Range - Nurrungar Test Area | Specialised Test Area of the WTR not within the WPA but under the control of HQWTR | ||
WRC | Woomera Range Complex | RAAF Woomera Test Range and RAAF Base Woomera | ||
WRC-WPA | Woomera Range Complex - Woomera Prohibited Area | Prohibited access ground area (122,000sqkm) of the RAAF Woomera Test Range | ||
WRC-WRX | Woomera Range Complex - Woomera Restricted Airspace | Defence restricted use airspace over the WPA | ||
WRC-WMA | RAAF Base Woomera | Operated by CSG and DSRG | Access subject to Federal Legislation and controlled by HQWTR | |
Air Force Training Group |
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UNIT | FULL NAME | LOCATION | AIRCRAFT | |
HQAFTG | Headquarters Air Force Training Group | RAAF Williams | ||
Air Training Wing | ||||
HQATW | Headquarters Air Training Wing | RAAF Base East Sale | ||
ADFBFTS | Basic Flying Training School | Tamworth, NSW | CT/4 Airtrainer | |
2FTS | No. 2 Flying Training School | RAAF Base Pearce | Pilatus PC-9 | |
CFS | Central Flying School | RAAF Base East Sale | Pilatus PC-9 | |
SAW | School of Aviation Warfare | RAAF Base East Sale | ||
SATC | School of Air Traffic Control | RAAF Base East Sale | ||
32SQN | No. 32 Squadron | RAAF Base East Sale | King Air 350 | |
CSTS | Combat Survival Training School | RAAF Base Townsville | ||
Ground Training Wing | ||||
Ground Training Wing | HQ Ground Training Wing | RAAF Base Wagga | ||
ADFLANGS | ADF School of Languages | RAAF Williams | ||
DITC | Defence International Training Centre | RAAF Williams | ||
DITC | RAAF School of Administration and Logistics Training | RAAF Base Wagga | ||
RAAFSTT | RAAF School of Technical Training | RAAF Base Wagga | ||
RAAFSFS | RAAF Security and Fire School | RAAF Base Amberley | ||
EOTS | RAAF Explosive Ordnance Training School | Defence Establishment Orchard Hills | ||
RAAF College | ||||
RAAFCOL | Headquarters RAAF College | RAAF Base Wagga | ||
1RTU | 1 Recruit Training Unit | RAAF Base Wagga | ||
OTS | Officer Training School | RAAF Base East Sale | ||
SPS | School of Postgraduate Studies | RAAF Base Wagga | ||
MUSEUM | RAAF Museum | RAAF Williams | ||
RAAFBAND | Royal Australian Air Force Band | RAAF Williams |