Page 41 - Williams Foundation Air-Sea Integration Seminar

Shaping an Integrated Force in the Extended Battlespace

FIGURE 17 WING COMMANDER DARREN CLARE WITH THE F-35A DURING THE ROYAL INTERNATIONAL AIR TATTOO AT RAF FAIRFORD. CREDIT
AUSTRALIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE.

“I’m sure after we introduce the F-35 aircraft we’ll still have a lot of work to do to get us to the point where
we maximize the F35 capability across the Australian defense force, and interoperability with the other F-35
forces, but this is natural and will be dealt with in due course.
“There is certainly a lot happening at once.”
Question: But clearly, you are bringing in the F-35 with the mindset that it is not simply replacing the
Hornet?
Air Commodore Kitcher: “I absolutely agree we are not just replacing the classic Hornet with another fighter.
“And we are looking from the ground up at complementary F-35 capabilities to maximize the F-35 effect
across the joint space, such as the missiles we wish to see onboard our F-35.
“For example, we are looking at the Kongsberg JSM, we think that presents a logical option to consider far
more seriously for our JSF maritime strike capability, and we’re looking at that right now, as was announced
at the 2015 Avalon Air Show.
“Our requirement for a quality maritime strike missile internally carried on the F35 might also be ahead
timewise of what the US and other coalition partners might have. It might also be ahead of what the US has
programmed. We’re certainly working on the F-35 MARSTK capability and are also developing options, with
Australian Industry, that might lead to a dual mode seeker in the JSM.
“But it is clear that just like in the case of Wedgetail and KC-30A, we want to put the F-35 into the hands of
the warfighters as rapidly as possible.
“They will make it work.
“I know that despite all our best efforts and intent, we won’t be able to plan the F-35 introduction perfectly
from Canberra. We are doing our best job to make sure we deliver the capability to the men and women in
the field, as efficiently and positively as possible.

Page 40