The General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark was an American variable-geometry multirole jet aircraft of the Cold War and modern era. The flight of the aircraft took place in 1964, and its production began in 1967. In total, about 560 aircraft of this type were built. In the F-111 F version, the drive was provided by two Pratt and Whitney TF-30-P-100 engines with a thrust of 112 kN each at afterburner. The aircraft's onboard armament consisted of one 20-mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon. The machine could also carry bomb and rocket loads with a total weight of up to 14,300 kg. Work on the General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark began in the early 1960s and allowed for a joint fighter and fighter-bomber for the Air Force and Navy. The F-111 was expected to eventually replace or complement the F-8 and F-4 aircraft. At the time of its introduction into the F-111 line, it began to be perceived as not very successful and problematic due to technical problems. Moreover, it is expensive to buy and operate. However, later, along with the adaptation of the F-111 to new tasks, the machine came out with at least satisfactory parameters. Several modifications of this aircraft were created, including: F-111A (base version), F-111B (version intended for the US Navy, but not entered into series), F-111C (version intended for Australia), F- 111D (heavily upgraded version A with new engines and electronics) or F-111F (version with lengthened and upgraded avionics). Australia was the main and only foreign user of F-111 aircraft.
