F-111 Aardvark

F-111 Aardvark

For other uses, see HMNZS Te Mana (F111).

F-111 Aardvark
An F-111C of the Royal Australian Air Force with its wings unswept in 2006.
Role	Fighter-bomber
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	General Dynamics
First flight	21 December 1964
Introduced	18 July 1967
Retired	1998 (USAF)
Status	Active with RAAF
Primary users	United States Air Force Royal Australian Air Force
Number built	554
Unit cost	US$9.8 million (FB-111A)[1]
Variants	EF-111A Raven

The General Dynamics F-111 is a medium-range interdictor and tactical strike aircraft that also fills the roles of strategic bomber, reconnaissance and electronic warfare in its various versions. Developed in the 1960s and first entering service in 1967, the United States Air Force (USAF) variants were officially retired by 1998. The only remaining operator of the F-111 is the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

The F-111 pioneered several technologies for production military aircraft, including variable geometry wings, afterburning turbofan engines, and terrain following radar for low-level, high-speed flight. Its design was highly influential, particularly for Soviet engineers, and some of its advanced features have since become commonplace. In its inception, however, the F-111 suffered a variety of development problems, and several of its intended roles, such as naval interception, failed to materialize.

In USAF service the F-111 has been effectively replaced by the F-15E Strike Eagle for medium-range precision strike missions, while the supersonic bomber role has been assumed by the B-1B Lancer. In 2007, the RAAF decided to replace its 21 F-111s in 2010 with 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets.^[