Page 42 - Williams Foundation Air-Sea Integration Seminar

Shaping an Integrated Force in the Extended Battlespace

FIGURE 18 FLIGHT LIEUTENANT (FLTLT) BEN MASON AND SERGEANT (SGT) JUSTIN KELLY IN FRONT OF A DUTCH F-35A AIRCRAFT WHEN THEY
ACCOMPANIED THE ROYAL NETHERLANDS AIR FORCE (RNLAF) ON THEIR DEPLOYMENT TO THE NETHERLANDS IN JUNE 2016. NOTE THAT
MEMBERS OF THE RAAF ARE SEEN WORKING WITH THE DUTCH AIR FORCE ON THE COMMON COALITION AIRCRAFT AND SUPPORTING THE DUTCH
IN THEIR FLIGHT TO THEIR OWN COURNTY. CREDIT: AUSTRALIAN MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

“When we throw the F-35 at them, they’re going to do all sorts of stuff with it that we will not have even
thought of.
“I look forward to letting our smart young man and women, who have grown up in a different environment to
those of us here in Canberra, get their hands on the F-35 and do some amazing things with it. I’m also quite
looking forward to getting back out there myself, and see this first hand.
“Our job is to set up the program and set in motion the framework for that kind of tactical innovation to
happen, to position them for success.
“We should not get in their way with excessive top down guidance and legacy thinking.”

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE WAY AHEAD TO CRAFT A 21ST CENTURY
INTEGRATED FORCE

The Williams Foundation seminar on air-sea integration provided an opportunity for both uniformed officers
as well as industrial participants to provide some practical suggestions and recommendations with regard to
the way ahead to craft a more integrated combat force
In this section, we will focus on the comments made by the final panel, which featured key officers from the
Royal Australian Navy, the Royal Australian Air Force and the United States Navy as well as the industry
presentations in the seminar.

Perspectives of the Panel at the Closing Session of the Williams
Foundation Seminar

Air Marshall (Retired) Geoff Brown was the moderator for the final session of the air-sea seminar.
He oversaw a panel, which then engaged with the audience and discussed a number of practical challenges,
which needed to be addressed to effectively shape an integrated force capable of prevailing in the
extended battlespace of the period ahead.
The panel consisted of Rear Admiral Manazir, Rear Admiral Stu Mayer, Air Vice Marshal Warren McDonald,
and Rear Admiral (Retired) James Rapp.
Second Line of Defense

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