As of October 2022[update] the commander of ACG is Air Commodore Tim Alsop.

[1] Since the Group's formation, ACG aircraft have deployed to Diego Garcia during Operation Slipper and formed part of the Australian contribution to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Aircraft from the Group have also performed domestic security tasks and participated in overseas exercises.

[2][4] Although the fighter and strike elements will continue to operate as discrete units for some time, ACG will provide the opportunity for the RAAF to test the organisation required to deliver a range of combat capabilities.

[4] A detachment of four Australian F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft provided air defence for the US military base on the island of Diego Garcia during the campaign against the Taliban, which was called Operation Slipper.

[8] The United States Air Force commented favourably on the RAAF contingent's professionalism during this deployment.

[9] During Operation Guardian II a squadron was deployed to protect the March 2002 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in south-east Queensland.

This has not happened at any time during Australian peacetime, but was deemed necessary because of the 11 September 2001 attacks six months earlier.

75 Squadron deployed to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in February 2003 as part of the Australian contribution to the invasion of Iraq (Operation Falconer).

[11] The squadron saw action during the Iraq War and provided air defence for high-value assets such as Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft, close air support for ground troops and attacked other Iraqi targets.

[12] The squadron was prohibited from operating near Baghdad as the Hornets' electronic warfare suite was judged to not be sufficient for such heavily defended air space.

The squadron's rules of engagement also banned it from conducting close air support in urban areas.

75 Squadron conducted its final combat mission on 27 April and all 14 aircraft returned to RAAF Base Tindal on 14 May 2003.

[12] Headquarters Air Combat Group is located at RAAF Williamtown, with elements based at Amberley (Queensland), Tindal (Northern Territory), Pearce (Western Australia) and Williamtown (New South Wales).

[3][4] 78 Wing conducts operational training, both ground and air, on the Hawk Mk 127 at Nos.

[15] It currently has an increasing role providing simulator training to aircrews and maintenance personnel at Air Force bases across Australia.

The ACG is equipped with Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, and F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter and attack aircraft, Boeing EA-18G Growler Electronic Warfare aircraft, PC-21 (Forward Air Control) and BAE Hawk trainers.

The Australian Government replaced the F/A-18A and B with the F-35A Lightning II, starting in 2017 and with the expected final aircraft of the 72 ordered arriving in 2023.

[3][4] The F/A-18F Super Hornet is a dedicated strike aircraft in RAAF service and are considered superior to the F-22 Raptor in their ability to acquire and track moving ground targets.

6 squadron based at RAAF Amberley operates Boeing EA-18G Growler Electronic warfare aircraft.

ACG operations 33 Hawks as trainers, and these aircraft have a limited air-to-air and land strike capability.