Page 38 - Williams Foundation Air-Sea Integration Seminar

Shaping an Integrated Force in the Extended Battlespace

THE WAY AHEAD FOR THE RAAF IN THE JOINT FORCES SPACE AND THE
COMING OF THE F-35: THE PERSPECTIVE OF AIR COMMODORE KITCHER

Prior to the Williams Foundation seminar on air-sea integration, there was a chance to sit down with Air
Commodore Kitcher and to discuss the way ahead for the RAAF in the joint combat space. He is the Director
General of Capability Planning in the RAAF.

Air Commodore Kitcher provided an understanding of how the RAAF was integrating its new platforms into
the force, and how opening the aperture from the outset on joint capability was affecting that roll out as well.

Question: It is often noted in the USAF that 80% of the platforms, which will make up the 2025 force are
already here.

What is the RAAF’s perspective?

Air Commodore Kitcher: “It is somewhat different from the USAF. And our challenge is also somewhat
different. By 2025 our oldest platform will be a C130J, which remains the most modern C130 available.

“In 2025, we’re not going to be operating a platform in the air combat space that’s 20 years old. In
Australia, we don’t have to integrate an F35 with an F16, or an F35 with the classic Hornet.

“We will be operating some of the latest and most capable platforms across the air lift, control of the air,
strike and ISR roles and our challenge is to get best combat value out of an integrated Australian and
coalition force using these cutting edge capabilities.

We’ll retire classic Hornet, and introduce the F35-A which is much more than a replacement for the Classic.
Our other air combat asset are our Super Hornets, which are only 5 years old, and both will be supported
(amongst many other things) by Growlers, which will arrive in Australia next year.

“If we look at the maritime space, P3s are retiring, P8s and Triton are being introduced. Our first P8 turns up
in November this year. If we look in the airlift space, C130Js will be our oldest platform, but they remain
contemporary.

“The KC-30 Multi Role Tanker Transport is 4 or 5 years old with both the hose and drogue and boom air to
air refueling capabilities being fully realized and another 2 effectively new KC-30 aircraft will arrive before
the end of 2019. We also picked up C-17 aircraft #7 and 8 last year. C-27J is being introduced right now
and we expect it to reach IOC before the end of this year.

“In the surveillance and control area, the E-7 Wedgetail AEWAC airframe might be 10 or 15 years old.
However, the Wedgetail capability is equal to or better than any similar capability in the world.

“You’d have to say Wedgetail is a cutting edge AEWAC capability. There would be some capabilities that
Wedgetail has that the new USAF Block 40/45 E-3G AWACS doesn’t have, and vice versa, of course.”

Question: So your challenge is ensuring that your force, which is a young force in terms of new
capabilities, can work effectively together; and for this, you are also working with core allies such as the
US, but need to shape a core Australian way ahead.

How would you describe the challenge?

Air Commodore Kitcher: “How do I make my US Air Force ‘like’ F35A work closely with my US Navy ‘like’
Growler and Super Hornet to achieve a mission?

Second Line of Defense

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