Page 6 - May 2019

Cover Story
multiplier potential of the aircraft. environments. It also is a key element As a US-led, but highly collaborative,
This includes the enhanced data in underpinning programmes such as programme, development of the F-35
management, connectivity and Plan Jericho – the transformation to an has drawn the partners together. The
bandwidth upgrades required to integrated networked joint force that sharing of technologies, concepts,
operationalize and fully exploit the has combat power much greater than tactics, training, maintenance, logistics
capability that fifth-generation aircraft the sum of its parts. and procedures represent a significant
offer for information-centric warfare Whereas the RAAF is looking to opportunity for fifth-generation air
and cross-platform connectivity. upgrade its entire legacy fleet over the forces. With the F-35 being operated by
In this regard, the F-35 has a next decade, the majority of the F-35 so many states there are also substantial
‘forcing function’ for militaries looking partners, including the US Air Force, will prospects for tactical, technical and
to adopt a fifth-generation standard. need to run their legacy fleets alongside conceptual innovation which will allow
Naval and ground forces stand to their fifth-generation platforms for the aircraft to be highly ‘future-proof’
benefit significantly from the network- some years beyond that. The RAF without compromising issues such as
centric, cross-platform, multiple- and Italian Air Force, for example, sovereignty, national defence industries
shooter concept of operations of which possess the highly capable Typhoon, or strategic autonomy. All these elements
the F-35 will form such a significant a fourth-generation aircraft with high contribute to powerful forces drawing
element. As Justin Bronk suggests, performance, an active scan radar, Link the F-35 partners into what might be
given the almost unlimited scope of 16 and a comprehensive air-to-air and described as a fifth-generation ‘club’.
connecting the F-35 to every system in air-to-ground weapons suite. As Bronk The level of international cooperation
the battlespace, joint force commands points out, in such cases investment in is unprecedented, with pilots training
will be compelled to invest in the the F-35 and Typhoon should not be together at the F-35 multinational pilot
connectivity and bandwidth for the seen as a binary choice as ‘each aircraft training centre at Luke Air Force Base
platforms that stand to provide the offer strengths to complement the in Arizona, maintenance facilities being
greatest increase in combat power other’s capabilities. The combination developed in Italy, Turkey, Norway and
and flexibility. This will drive the of F-35 and Typhoon can be far more The Netherlands, and a global logistics
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development of fifth-generation joint potent than a force composed entirely supply chain. The result is a deepening
forces, a concept that has significant of either type in many operational of cooperation between the partner air
potential, particularly in contested scenarios’. 3 forces, many of whom already possess

Driving development of fifth-generation
joint forces is the almost unlimited
scope of connecting the F-35 to every
system in the battlespace, a concept that
has significant potential, particularly in
contested environments.
Photo SGT Shane Gidall.

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