Australia’s fleet of F-35A fighter aircraft is ready to deploy on operations after the $65 billion Joint Strike Fighter Program established a new maintenance hub. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the fleet of aircraft was now 33 strong. “This is about protecting and securing Australia’s interests but it’s also creating jobs and driving investment right here in the Hunter and across the country too,” Morrison said on Monday. The depot was selected to be the maintenance, repair, overhaul, and upgrade depot for the Southeast Asian region and will host aircraft from other nations in the future. It will also provide more than 50 Australian companies with a share in $2.7 billion worth of contracts. Morrison said that the depot’s development demonstrated Australia’s world-leading capability for its defence industry. The Williamtown facility in New South Wales is BAE Systems Australia’s (BAESA) Southern Pacific Regional F-35 Heavy Airframe Depot and will support the …