Page 14 - Williams Foundaiton Air-Land Integration April 15

New Approaches to Air-Land Integration

In the case of the KC-30A, with its situational awareness already onboard the aircraft, and with the con-ops
being practiced by crews today in combat situations, the way ahead in support of the ground maneuver
forces and naval forces was a key consideration for what to put on the aircraft, in terms of ISR, or C2 support.

And working with industry is seen as a key part of shaping the interactive modernizations, which the RAAF and
the ADF have in mind.

And in succeeding with now combat proven KC-30As and Wedgetails, has happened as a result of opening
the aperture in the working relationship between government and industry.

FIGURE 5 AS COMMANDER OF THE AIR MOBILITY GROUP, AIR VICE-MARSHAL MCDONALD LED THE TRANSITION OF THE TANKER INTO AN
OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY. HERE HE IS SEEN WITH THE THEN MINISTERY OF DEFENCE, KEVIN ANDREWS AT THE 2015 AUSTRALIAN
INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW. CREDIT: AUSTRALIAN MOD

This is also a key foundational element in the next phase of shaping combat capability.

McDonald went out of his way to praise what he saw as forward leaning thinking from the Army leadership.

Army work on networks in support of the ground forces, and ways to master them operationally in difficult
situations, was a key element of how the RAAF needed to think about the intersection of their own networks
with the joint force.

He told the story of the now head of the Australian Army when he was then Major-General Campbell and
working in the Middle East, McDonald came into his office, while he was writing up his post-operations report
and said “I don’t believe I have enough balance in the piece with regard to the air role. Could you please
contribute to it?

“He is truly a joint officer, and we in the RAAF can learn from him as we proceed with Plan Jericho.”

With regard to the way ahead, McDonald emphasized “the need for army and navy to understand our RAAF
systems and ways we might modernize them so we can provide the best input to them.

We need to understand how best to provide support to one another to get the kind of maritime or land strike
outcome is required by the joint force.”

Second Line of Defense

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