Page 43 - Williams Foundation Air-Sea Integration Seminar

Shaping an Integrated Force in the Extended Battlespace

The challenge of shaping an integrated force is enhanced in part by an acquisition process, which buys
platforms and not capabilities. And acquisition processes which are long and drawn out.

FIGURE 19 AIR VICE MARSHAL WARREN MCDONALD DURING THE FINAL PANEL AT THE SEMINAR.

The focus of the panelists was on leveraging industry to shape fixes to gaps which then allowed broader
force structure change, upon non-capital investments which drew upon needed cultural changes which the
military leadership could identify and put investments against, and leveraging new opportunities posed by the
introduction of new platforms, to shape new joint opportunities.
Rear Admiral Mayer underscored the need to focus on non-capital investments as a way ahead.
“We are focused on platform purchases to solve problems; but many of those problems can be solved with
better and more effective ways to work together. And we need to identify them, train to them and operate
with them to make a difference in the joint force.”
Air Vice Marshall McDonald highlighted the opportunity to leverage the new capabilities provided by
Wedgetail and P-8 to shape a new approach to work with navy.
He also highlighted the opportunity inherent in integrated and air and missile defense.
“I do not meet with industry in this area without an Army officer present, because we are going to work the
problem together.”
He added the sage comment that we need to focus on the practical opportunities and leverage points rather
than trying to get a full-blown integrated force solution at once.
“We need to build from to in order to shape an effective way ahead.”
Another key theme was working the training area more effectively.
Here suggestions ranged from shaping more targeted training, which focused on key tactical innovations to
the use of LVC to train the command elements in ways to actually leverage a joint force in a high-end fight.
And LVC was seen as key to working the training towards the high-end fight, and training warriors in how to
do cooperative engagement, to get the kind of sensor to weapons hand offs which the new technologies was
generating for the combat force.

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