Page 15 - May 2019

Feature Story

air combat training operations—for exercises are run over two weeks ‘aggressor’ capability designed to fly
example, our F-35s flying alongside several times a year. An Australian and fight in a manner similar to possible
F-35s from the Japanese Air Self equivalent run out of RAAF Tindal and future adversaries, notably China,
Defense Force, the Republic of Korea Darwin, focusing on F-35 operators, should be part of such exercises. The
Air Force, and the US Navy and US and practising fifth-generation airpower US operates them, as do Japan and
Marine Corps, as well as the USAF— and multi-domain network-centric air the UK. If we want to expand the use
under realistic conditions would be operations, would link well with the of our weapons ranges, operating in
a valuable operational boost for all recently announced arrangements for a contested air space, including with
partners. It could also help strengthen F-35 maintenance and sustainment. aggressor squadrons in the air, is a vital
defence cooperation between partners Additional exercises could practise aspect of training.
such as South Korea and Japan. For ‘fifth to fourth’ operations between Too often when we debate the
other F-35 operators, like the UK and the F-35, F-22 and fourth-generation current state, or the future evolution,
Singapore, that lack adequate weapons platforms like the F/A-18F and E/A-18G of defence capability, we focus on
ranges and must operate in constrained as well as regional partner platforms platforms—sometimes at the expense
airspace, the wide-openness of the such as the F-16. of the more intangible command and
Northern Territory would have real With the announcement of an control aspects. Australia’s vast and
appeal. Australian development of the ‘Loyal sparsely populated outback terrain is
Delamere, together with Bradshaw Wingman’ unmanned air combat an asset in itself that we can promote
Field, and the Woomera test range vehicle, it’s easy to see the Delamere as we seek to strengthen our defence
further south, should be seen as key range and others like it being the ideal relations with our key partners, given
capabilities for defence diplomacy as testing ground for practising manned– that we all confront a more dangerous
Australia seeks to strengthen defence unmanned teaming and developing and unpredictable strategic outlook.
partnerships with its Five Eyes allies, UCAV capabilities for the RAAF, and Malcolm Davis is a senior analyst at ASPI.
and other key partners such as Japan, potentially for export. Images courtesy of the Department of
Singapore and Indonesia. Finally, the employment of Defence. Main image on previous page
Australia does conduct major Flyaway Simulation of Delamere
international exercises such as Pitch
Black and Talisman Sabre on an annual
or biennial basis, but it’s time to go
beyond that approach and develop a
more regular drumbeat of exercises that
make full use of Delamere.
We could conduct regular
multinational exercises similar to the
USAF’s ‘Red Flag’ exercises, with
Delamere and Bradshaw Field the
focus of air operations. The Red Flag

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