Page 32 - Australian Defence Magazine Feb-Mar 21

32 AIR POWER OVERVIEW
FEBRUARY – MARCH 2021 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
ENHANCING CAPABILITY, FROM THE SKIES TO THE STARS
The motto of the Royal Australian Air Force is ‘Per Ardua Ad Astra’ which, loosely translated, means ‘Through Adversity to the Stars’. Although first adopted by the Royal Air Force in the UK back in 1913, and followed by the RAAF in 1929, it is just as relevant today as Defence acknowledges the critical importance of the Space Domain.
NIGEL PITTAWAY | MELBOURNE
AND the RAAF isn’t only focussing on space; it continues to build what it calls the ‘Fifth Generation Force’, a total force concept which harnesses not only the fifth-generation platforms it is bringing into service themselves, but also the often-unsung capabilities of its people and enabling tech- nologies such as IT.
This journey began with the launch of Plan Jericho in 2015 and many of the platforms and capabilities either ac- quired or enhanced under the guiding principles of this roadmap for the future over the past year were analysed in the December/January issue of ADM (The sky is the limit for air programs, p.104). However, available space preclud-
ed several of these from being mentioned in great detail. Platforms such as the Leonardo C-27J Spartan, Lock- heed Martin C-130J-30 Hercules and Airbus KC-30A multi- role tanker transport) are also undergoing enhancements or expansions of their capabilities. In addition, as has become the norm in recent years, the Morrison Government’s pub- licity machine released a number of announcements be- tween Christmas and New Year, which were too late for inclusion in ADM’s last issue, including the achievement of Initial Operational Capability (IOC) by the Lockheed F-35A Lightning II and the purchase of an additional two
Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft.
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