The Royal Australian Air Force is organised into a number of operational, support and training formations located at bases across Australia.

Circa 1998, composite wings in the 95-97 series range were reported to be formed if necessary for operations overseas. In the event, No. 97 Wing RAAF was established on 24 October 1997 to command the RAAF elements deployed for drought relief purposes to Papua New Guinea during Operation Ples Drai. It was led by Wing Commander Chris Richards, who was also the commander of the Air Component of Joint Task Force 105 which had been established for this operation.[1]

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
Squadron/Unit/Department Commanding Officer/Deputy Director/Senior Manager Wing Commander/EL1
Flight Flight Commander/Manager Squadron Leader/APS6Flight Lieutenant/APS5*
Section Officer in Charge/Coordinator Junior Officer~/SNCO/APS1-4

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 FLTLT(APS5)/SQNLDR(APS6) responsibility depending on size/complexity), Coordinators WOFF(APS4)/FLGOFF(APS4) responsibility), and Officer (APS4 - FSGT/PLTOFF responsibility)
    • Air Force senior officers are Squadron Leader (APS6/O4), Wing Commander (EL1/O5), Group Captain (EL2/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 'Air Officers' (Flag Rank (Navy), General Rank (Army) are Air Commodore (1*), Air Vice Marshal (2*), Air Marshal (3*) and Air Chief Marshal (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

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

HQAC Headquarters Air Command RAAF Base Glenbrook

Air Combat Group

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 Amberley
278SQN WLM No. 278 Squadron Williamtown TTF RAAF Base Williamtown
81 Wing
HQ81WG Headquarters No. 81 Wing RAAF Base Williamtown
81WG CWKS 81 Wing Combined Workshops RAAF Base Williamtown
2OCU No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit RAAF Base Williamtown F-35A Lightning II
2OCU No. 2 Operational Conversion Unit PTC det (61st Fighter Squadron USAF) Luke AFB F-35A Lightning II
3SQN No. 3 Squadron RAAF Base Williamtown F-35A Lightning II
75SQN No. 75 Squadron RAAF Base Tindal F-35A Lightning II
77SQN No. 77 Squadron RAAF Base Williamtown F-35A Lightning II
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-21
6SQN No. 6 Squadron RAAF Base Amberley EA-18G Growler
6SQN No. 6 Squadron Training Det (VAQ-129) NAS Whidbey Island

Air Mobility Group

UNIT FULL NAME LOCATION AIRCRAFT
HQAMG Headquarters Air Mobility Group RAAF Base Richmond
84 Wing
HQ84WG Headquarters No. 84 Wing RAAF Base Richmond
34SQN No. 34 Squadron Defence Establishment Fairbairn B737 BBJ / CL604
35SQN No. 35 Squadron RAAF Base Amberley 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
33SQN No. 33 Squadron RAAF Base Amberley KC-30A
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

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 E-7A Wedgetail
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 P-8A Poseidon*
92WG DET B No. 92 Wing Detachment B RAAF Base Darwin P-8A Poseidon*
10SQN No. 10 Squadron RAAF Base Edinburgh AP-3C Orion (ELINT) Future MC-55A
11SQN No. 11 Squadron RAAF Base Edinburgh P-8A Poseidon/AP-3C Orion
292SQN No. 292 Squadron RAAF Base Edinburgh P-8A Poseidon*

Combat Support Group

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

Air Warfare Centre

UNIT FULL NAME LOCATION EQUIPMENT/ROLE
AWC RAAF Air Warfare Centre RAAF Base Edinburgh Integrated Group Command Formation
AWC Integrated Mission Support Directorate
IMSD AWC Integrated Mission Support Directorate RAAF Base Edinburgh Development, coordination and delivery of integrated air warfare solutions
IMS-T AWC Integrated Mission Support Tasking Branch RAAF Base Edinburgh Centralised tasking function for all AWC units
IMS-I AWC Integrated Mission Support Integrated Projects Branch RAAF Base Edinburgh Coordination of AWC integrated air warfare projects
AWC Information Warfare Directorate
JEWOSU Joint Electronic Warfare Operational Support Unit RAAF Base Edinburgh Joint service electronic warfare support
87SQN No. 87 Squadron RAAF Base Edinburgh Air intelligence
460SQN No. 460 Squadron Russell Offices Canberra
462SQN No. 462 Squadron RAAF Base Edinburgh Information operations
AWC Tactics & Training Directorate
TTD AWC Tactics & Training Directorate RAAF Base Williamtown TTD operational capability management
AWC Test and Development Directorate
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)
AWESQN Air Warfare Engineering Squadron RAAF Base Edinburgh Aircraft Test and Evaluation Design & Engineering Aircraft Stores Compatibility Clearance
IAM RAAF Institute of Aviation Medicine RAAF Base Edinburgh Defence Aviation Medicine Training and Systems Testing
AIS RAAF Aeronautical Information Service Victoria Barracks, Melbourne Australian aeronautical information services
AWC Air Force Ranges Directorate
AFRD Air Force Ranges Directorate RAAF Base Edinburgh AFRD operational capability management
WTR SQN Woomera Test Range Squadron 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
WRC Woomera Range Complex RAAF Woomera Test Range and RAAF Base Woomera Specialist defence systems test facility (122,000 sq km)

Air Force Training Group

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/PC-21
CFS Central Flying School RAAF Base East Sale Pilatus PC-9/PC-21
1FTS No. 1 Flying Training School 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
100SQN No. 100 Squadron RAAF Base Point Cook with a flight at Temora Aviation Museum Historic aircraft display squadron
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
SALT 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
  1. ↑ Bullard 2017, p. 257.
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