Page 117 - Australian Defence Magazine Feb-Mar 2023

FEBRUARY-MARCH 2023 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
FROM THE SOURCE AM ROBERT CHIPMAN 117
LEFT: Personnel from 75 Sqn on Exercise Elangaroo 22 at RMAF Base Butterworth
BELOW LEFT: Commanding Officer of 3 Sqn WGCDR Adrian Kiely and Chief of Air Force, AM Robert Chipman stand before the Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30 MKI Flanker during Exercise Pitch Black 2022
ADM: Is the C-27J Spartan likely to return to its original role as a battlefield airlifter or will it remain in HADR roles only?
AM CHIPMAN: Humanitarian and natural disasters, such as the 2019/20 bushfire crisis, are unfortunately inevitable in today’s world. Climate change is going to make these events more common. The ADF has a long and proud history of sup- porting whole-of-government responses to natural disasters, both domestically and across our region. The C-27J Spartan will continue to play a crucial role in these responses.
However, the C-27J is not constrained to HADR roles. It is a flexible light tactical transport aircraft with broad utility in domestic and regional air lift roles. Air Force will continue to take full advantage of the Spartan’s capabilities.
ADM: How has the Loyal Wingman program changed RAAF’s understanding of autonomous technology?
AM CHIPMAN: Loyal Wingman, or the MQ-28A Ghost Bat as it was formally designated last year, is still in develop- ment with Boeing. Defence has been working with autono- mous technology for some time now. We are convinced au- tonomous technologies will play an increasingly important role in delivering military power, teamed appropriately with manned systems. The MQ-28A Ghost
Bat has placed Australia on the leading edge of teaming manned combat air- craft with unmanned systems to deliv- er air power. We’re learning a lot from this program and I am both excited and impatient to explore how far we might take this new technology in 2023.
“WE RECOGNISE
IN AIR FORCE THAT OUR ADVANTAGE IS DELIVERED THROUGH THE CAPABILITY OF
OUR PEOPLE”
ADM: What do you think RAAF’s next
fighter will look like after the F-35A?
AM CHIPMAN: There are some things
I can say with absolute confidence:
Australia will need the ability to control the air well beyond the service life of the F-35A; that we will continue to rely on networked, integrated systems to deliver that capability; and integrating air and space power across all domains, across all instruments of national power, and with our al- lies and partners will continue to be vitally important.
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