Page 49 - Renorming of Airpower: The F-35 Enters the Combat Fleet

The Renorming of Airpower: The F-35 Arrives into the Combat Force

Never has a logistic system been such an essential part of DETERRENCE than the F-35 global fleet approach
and is part of a deterrence in depth strategy for the U.S. and its allies in the years ahead. When Russia looks
at Canada across the Arctic the strategic depth of an F-35 fleet deployed to Alaska, Japan, Norway, the UK
and elsewhere would be part of any Canadian deterrence strategy.

THE F-35 GLOBAL ENTERPRISE AND SUSTAINABILITY: THE PERSPECTIVE OF
THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE AND THE ROYAL AIR FORCE

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is shaping a transformation strategy, which they call Plan Jericho. In
anticipation of the coming of the F-35, the RAAF is looking to shape a 21st century joint force built around the
F-35.

The Plan Jericho approach is about shaping a more integrated force built on 21st century situational
awareness and decision-making systems. It is a work in progress for the Royal Australian Air Force and the
Australian Defence Force.

It is clearly not just about platforms, but how you re-shape the concepts of operations, and transform to a
more integrated force. Clearly required is also a transformation of training and logistics, key elements of
what professionals pay attention to but do not get the focus of attention which platform acquisition itself
receives.

In an interview with the Air Commander of Australia, Air Vice Marshal Turnbull., highlighted their importance:

“Question: You are clearly shaping a 21st century expeditionary force, how do you deal with the challenge of
shaping a logistics system, which can enable it?

Air Vice Marshal Turnbull: Logistics is not an exciting subject but it is essential to any operational success.

We must make sure that it’s not so much a specific force, but it’s our ability to project a force within an
appropriate timeframe wherever we may want it effectively.

As we develop capability we have to maintain a keen eye on the fact it needs to be designed to be moved
quickly and efficiently from wherever we garrison to wherever we operate.

A deployable mindset is the key to keep people innovating in the right way. For our logistics to be able to
service our requirements anywhere in the world in a reasonable timeframe is a key focus for our
transformation efforts.”

Leveraging the F-35 global enterprise is seen as a key element of the effort, and with it shaping a
sustainment approach, which can fully work with that enterprise.

In an interview with Air Vice Marshal (retired) John Blackburn, who has been associated with the effort from its
beginning last year, the sustainment aspect of the effort was highlighted.

“What we’ve seen in the past is that the logistics part has been underemphasized. We’ve always emphasized
the platform and the logistics element is the poor cousin that follows in its trail.

For example, how are we going to provide situational awareness, common information systems across the
whole logistics base. What we’re seeing now with global supply chains, and using the JSF as an example, is
you’re actually looking at supporting your platform with a global supply chain, which is actually shared with
all the other partner nations.

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