Page 118 - Australian Defence Magazine Feb-Mar 2023

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FROM THE SOURCE
AM ROBERT CHIPMAN
FEBRUARY-MARCH 2023 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
Australia’s current air combat capability comprises the F-35A Lightning II, the F/A-18F Super Hornet and the EA- 18G Growler Airborne Electronic Attack aircraft, support- ed by E-7A Wedgetail and the KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport. These aircraft will continue to be upgraded to ensure they remain survivable and lethal.
The Defence Strategic Review that commenced in 2022 will consider the priority of investment in Defence capabil- ities and assess the Australian Defence Force’s structure,
LEFT: A Maritime Patrol and Response Officer from 292 Squadron at her station prior to a sortie onboard an RAAF P-8A Poseidon at RAAF Edinburgh
BELOW: An RAAF aircraft technician performs a check of an F-35A Lightning II aircraft from 77 Sqn during Exercise Cope North 2022 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam
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ADM: COVID-19 restrictions severely impacted RAAF’s centenary celebrations. Is Avalon 2023 a chance for RAAF to have a belated birthday?
AM CHIPMAN: It was unfortunate that COVID-19 impact- ed on our Centenary events in 2021, which included the postponing of Avalon. However, we were still very proud to mark our 100th anniversary on 31 March 2021. We were overwhelmed by the incredible support from everyone around Australia and the world who marked the occasion with us, many of whom had endured their own personal hardships during the previous year of the pandemic.
Our 100th year was a memorable one, but now we are into the 101st. Our focus is on building the air and space power Australia will need for the next one hundred years, so that we might honour and preserve the legacy of our first 100 years. Those of you who attend the Australian Interna- tional Airshow in 2023 will hear a lot about how Air Force is approaching our second century. ■
“DEPRIVATION OF THAT RIGHT BY THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE SHOULD HAVE NO PLACE IN THE MODERN WORLD”
posture and preparedness in order to optimise Defence capability and posture to meet the nation’s security
challenges over the next decade and beyond. It would be inappropriate to pre-empt the outcome or recommen- dations of the Review.
ADM: How will the emergence of hypersonic technology affect RAAF operational practice?
AM CHIPMAN: We’re capitalising
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on the opportunities presented by initiatives such at the Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experiment (SCIFiRE) to advance the capabilities in our Air Combat Capability Program to support joint force effects.
By working with our Australian Defence scientists and our partners in the US Air Force and across the US Department of Defense, we are maximising our learn- ing during development to better define the capabilities and needs as the system matures, and we are gaining insights as we go that will help us determine how we will integrate hypersonics operationally into the future Joint Force.