Its an inert trainer. It shows that Australia is probably reciving missiles and training rounds. Not that the platform can effectively fire it at range.Is this the best reason yet for buying more Super Hornets?
RAAF aircraft seem to already be flying with the AIM-260.
Missile on the right fuselage station looks like an AIM-260 rather than an AIM-120.
This photo is from Excercise Gray Flag.View attachment 55706
View attachment 55705
This would certainly give the Super Hornets of the RAAF a "decisive advantage".
Gray Flag: making sure systems connect the first time
A Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to No. 1 Squadron takes flight at Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu during Gray Flag 2026, Sept. 11, 2026. Gray Flag is the naval aviation test community’s premier large-force test event, providing unique venues for large-scale...www.dvidshub.net
Part of the Blk III upgrade is a new weapons computer that allows very fast integration of new weapons. IMO we want that capability very quickly. AIM260 is a game changer and Blk III makes the super-hornet a premium platform against peers with OHR, ships and AEW, where stealth isn't the huge advantage it was 10 years ago against older fighter radars.
There is a huge capability gap between older super-hornets and older munitions and newer super-hornets and newer munitions.
Also a perfect example why perhaps Australia should consider teaming up with the 4 land based squadrons of the USN and ordering CFT for the f-18 and growlers. And the growler can't fit these tanks, so you send in legacy fighters with radar returns the size of buildings, with no EW or you suffer the huge range loss and risk not being able to engage at all.