Page 35 - Australian Defence Magazine Feb 2020

FEBRUARY 2020 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
AIRPOWER 5TH GEN 35
Turnbull said, ‘For years our Air Force has been developed in stovepipes we call Force Element Groups ... where we manage like-capabilities, free of geography, to raise, train and sustain air operations. Through the FEGs we are really good at the individual tactical air power capabilities. They have served us well but perhaps we need to think harder about the enterprise structure we need to generate and sustain an integrated force.’
Taking a contrary view, AIRMSHL Brown told ADM, “I believe FEGs will have an important role within Air Force well into the future. FEG and System Program Office alignment is key. Managing engineering and logistics is at the heart of every air force. How well those functions are organised determines true capability. There is no more use- less weapon of war than an aeroplane that can’t fly.”
Clearly, the drive to innovate and develop Air Force is a work in progress that invites healthy debate.
THE FUTURE OF THE RAAF IN A JOINT FORCE
Air Force Strategy 2017–2027 outlined five areas that must change if the RAAF is to become a fifth-generation Air Force: ■ jointwarfightingcapability
■ people capability
■ communicationandinformationsystems ■ infrastructure
■ internationalengagement
The Air Force Business Plan, which encompasses all ele- ments of Air Force including strategies, is already under- way with Plan Jericho.
Former Air Force Intelligence Officer, SQNLDR Dougal Robertson has first-hand experience with contested bat- tlespaces. He explains the growing complexity that the joint force must face.
“Today’s challenges to global security are accelerating faster than ever before. Australia’s adversaries are highly adaptable and confront us from every domain across air, sea, space, land and cyber. To respond to those threats, the aircraft, satellites, ships and ground vehicles that our forces operate today collect an abundance of information.” SQNLDR Robertson explained.
“Processing and analysing the quantity and complexity of data is a challenge. The solution? A new warfighting concept known as Multi-Domain Operations. By synchro- nizing major systems and crucial data sources, Multi- Domain Operations provides a complete picture of the battlespace and empowers warfighters to quickly make de- cisions that drive action. By leveraging data as a weapon, Australia’s warfighters are empowered to make decisions in a matter of seconds versus minutes – where seconds really matter. That’s the mission of a fifth-generation Air Force,” SQNLDR Robertson said. ■
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