Page 55 - Williams Foundation Air-Sea Integration Seminar

Shaping an Integrated Force in the Extended Battlespace

“We will explore a new way of working together at the integrated level and we intend to some analysis with
force characteristics of this future integrated force. We aim to help the project officers think beyond their own
projects to design in greater capability to leverage one another from the outset, from the design level.

“In fact, the challenge is to ensure that the aperture is wide within individual projects to have the kind of
interactive dynamic developments which a joint force design process can unleash.

“Unfortunately, many projects often narrow the aperture to a replacement mindset in order to save time.

“We want the project officers of individual projects to be able to say: “Okay, in my project as well as
replacing what I had today, I’ve got to make sure that the capability I’m designing be a part of the future kill
web rather than a force component networked or connected in an after-market after thought.

“We see that as the main challenge and the opportunity to design the future force, integrated at birth.”

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE CONFERENCE AND PRESENTATIONS MADE
AT THE CONFERENCE

The terms of reference for the conference were as follows:

“The Royal Australian Navy has had the ability to network and share situational awareness amongst the fleet
for many years and the P-3s has been the only RAAF platform capable of being part of that network.

The RAAF’s journey of networking its capability journey started more recently with the Hornet Upgrade
Program and has accelerated with the introduction of capabilities like Wedgetail and Vigilaire. All of the
RAAF’s fleet is now capable of linking into and contributing to an Air Layer of the Joint Battle management
system.

With the advent of 5th Generation capabilities like the JSF and the new combat systems on the AWD as well
as the design and development of the new combat systems for the Australia’s future frigates, Offshore Patrol
Vessels and Submarines, the ADF has a unique opportunity to influence and design in an unprecedented level
of integration into the RAN’s and RAAF’s new platforms. That unprecedented level of integration should drive
new thinking on the integration of air and sea power effects. The seminar is about examining the challenges
and possibilities of the combat power in that future integrated force.

Air Force and Navy need to not only remediate existing deficiencies but also take advantage of the
transformative nature of fifth generation technology. The seminar aims to explore the art of the possible in
future Air-Sea operations.”

For the presentations made at the seminar, see the following:

http://www.williamsfoundation.org.au/seminar-presentations

The author of the report was Dr. Robbin Laird, Second Line of Defense.

http://www.sldinfo.com

APPENDIX: THE DEFENCE WHITE PAPER ON MARITIME SYSTEMS

What exactly does the 2016 White Paper say with regard to Government commitments to new maritime
capabilities?

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