Australia ordered the General Dynamics F-111C in 1963 to replace its ageing Canberra bombers, seeking a modern long-range strike aircraft. Delivery was delayed nearly a decade due to technical problems with the F-111 program, so the first aircraft only arrived in 1973, making the RAAF the only operator outside the United States.

The aircraft saw no combat under Australian colors but was a central pillar of national defense strategy for almost 40 years. In addition to the baseline F-111C, the RAAF also operated the F-111G (ex-USAF aircraft) in the 1990s to bolster numbers, and some were modified for RF-111C reconnaissance duties.

By the 2000s, the fleet was increasingly costly to maintain, and more modern multirole aircraft were needed. The F-111 was finally retired in December 2010, closing a dramatic chapter in RAAF history. It was replaced by the F/A-18F Super Hornet, with the long-term role passing to the F-35A Lightning II.