In 1968, the RAAF began looking for a potential replacement for the Dassault Mirage IIIO, with a requirement being issued in December 1971. 2 years later, RAAF personnel inspected aircraft such as the McDonnell-Douglas F-15 Eagle, Northrop YF-17, Dassault Mirage F1, and SAAB JA-37 Viggen, but effectively determined that none of these were suitable for the RAAF’s needs, and recommended the Air Force put replacement plans on hold, to allow for more fighter designs to become available. Work resumed in 1975, and the following year, the Tactical Fighter Project Office was established. It looked at few possible replacements from various NATO countries, including the F-16 Fighting Falcon, Dassault Mirage 2000, Panavia Tornado, Grumman F-14 Tomcat, and the McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18A Hornet. Eventually, the list was narrowed down to the F-16, and the F/A-18, and in 1981, the Australian Government announced it would purchase 57 F/A-18A, single-seat fighters, and 18 F/A-18B twin-seat combat-capable trainers. The first 2 F/A-18s arrived in May 1985. Barring a few equipment differences, they were effectively the same as Hornets used by US Navy. Early variants used the AIM-9M Sidewinder and AIM-7M Sparrow, but in 2004, and 2002 respectively, these were replaced by the AIM-132 ASRAAM, and AIM-120 AMRAAM. This was in addition to numerous different guided, and unguided munitions for ground attack.

RAAF Hornets have seen service in both the First and Second Gulf wars, and protection of the USAF Base on Diego Garcia. They played a significant roles in liberating the Afghan city of Mosul, in 2017. Starting in 2017, the RAAF Classic Hornets were replaced by the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. The final RAAF Classic Hornets were retired on the 29 November 2021, after more the 400,000 flying hours.

After my F-111, I just knew I had to make this legendary aircraft, and I plan on building many other RAAF aircraft, as a new series of sorts. This aircraft is A21-2, which was delivered in 1986, hence the "1986" in the thumbnail, as such, it has the weapons from that time. Anyway, enjoy!