Australia’s Joint Strike Fighters declared ready for deployment after passing trials

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has declared its multi-billion-dollar fleet of Joint Strike Fighters is ready for deployment, two years after the first F-35As were delivered from the United States.

Since 2018, the controversial stealth fighters have been “rigorously tested” by the Defence Department which has now determined they have reached “initial operating capability” (IOC).

So far, Australia has accepted 30 of the Lockheed Martin designed aircraft but will…