Page 51 - Williams Foundation Air-Sea Integration Seminar

Shaping an Integrated Force in the Extended Battlespace

His focus as well on how Army capabilities can then unleash other capabilities for Air Force and Navy was a
clear statement of the kind of joint leadership we need for the ADF to get the force transformation, which we
need, for Australian defense.

Question: It is not always clear to folks that what you are focused on is not simply a new variant of
network centric warfare.

How would you describe the difference between then and now?

Brown: We are a long way away from network centric warfare.

NCW was focused on getting the platforms simply more connected.

I think the difference is now that we have connected the platforms; we’re actually exploring the possibilities of
that connected force.

I believe that’s the difference and it provides the foundation for the next phase which is building an
integrated force from the ground up.

We’ve still got to work towards more open architecture designs in all our platforms that allow the sort of
flexibility with what I’d call the app application.

The ability to make small changes that actually give you significant combat power differences via apps on
top of the software architecture and then to proliferate that app across the force where appropriate.

MOVING FROM A CONNECTED AND LAYERED FORCE TO AN INTEGRATED
ONE: THE PERSPECTIVE OF AIR VICE MARSHAL (RETIRED) JOHN BLACKBURN

The initial focus of the seminars, which have become best labeled as the transformation of the Australian
Defence Force was upon discussing, analyzing and explaining fifth generation aircraft and what they could
bring to the force.

This meant in part discussing two platforms, which are described as fifth generation, namely the F-22 and the
F-35. This could descend into a platform discussion in which the focus would be upon contrasting legacy (i.e.
platforms which came before) and the latest combat aircraft.

Over the past three years the Williams Foundation has conducted a series of Seminars that explored the
opportunities and challenges afforded by the introduction of 5th generation air combat capabilities.

Topics that have been explored to date included:

• Air Combat Operations – 2025 and Beyond;
• Battlespace Awareness – The Joint Edge:
• Integrating Innovative Airpower (held in Copenhagen);
• Training for an Integrated ADF: Live, Virtual and Constructive;
• Design-Led Innovation;
• New Thinking on Air-Land;
• New Thinking on Air-Sea.

The range of seminars has cast the net much broader to discuss what a fifth generation enabled force will look
like.

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