The F/A-18A Hornet A21-022 fighter jet, or "Hornet", is the first of two expected to call the Australian War Memorial home in the coming months.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said the jet, which was retired from service in May 2020 after more than 6000 flying hours, played an important role in the nation's aviation history.

"This is a special aircraft for the RAAF," Ms Price said.

"It employed the first Australian weapon on Operation Falconer in 2003, and was also deployed on Operation Okra in 2016-2017.

"It is very fitting that it will now spend its next life on permanent display at the Australian War Memorial.

"This will be a fantastic opportunity for generations of Australians to view and appreciate example of Australian Air Force capability."

After two operations in Iraq - one during the 2003 Iraq War and another 11 years later against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant - it will now see its final mission in Canberra's Campbell.

The fighter jet was partially disassembled in order for it to make the four-and-a-half hour drive from Newcastle to Canberra.

It will be delivered to Treloar Technology Centre on Tuesday where it will be reassembled before it's finally put on display in the war memorial in December 2020.