Page 155 - Australian Defence Magazine November 2021

NOVEMBER 2021 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
FROM THE SOURCE AIR MARSHAL MEL HUPFELD 155
LEFT: An RAAF Air Traffic Control officer participates in modern 360-degree Tower simulation at the School of Air Traffic Control at East Sale
BELOW: RAAF personnel marshalling an F-35A Lightning II from 3 Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska
AM HUPFELD: Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) has been a feature of several environmental sustainability strategies and policies developed by our allies and partners. This forms part of an increasing Government focus on national resilience, with significant reforms underway to enhance the nation’s capacity to withstand future natural disasters and more extreme weather conditions.
Sustainable aviation fuels are a part of that approach, as is a full understanding of our national resource advantages, the roles of resilience and credibility in deterrence and the force projection opportunities that a responsible approach to emissions could afford us. Air Force will contribute to these efforts and ensure that climate change implications, such as harsher environmental conditions, are incorporated into our strategic, operational and capability planning.
SAF is currently not cost competitive or available in commercial quantities within our region; however, grow- ing industry demand for less carbon intensive fuels will likely improve the viability for increased production. Greater availability of SAF may provide Air Force (and Defence) with more realistic opportunities for adoption. Remaining inter-operable with our close allies and part-
ners remains key and will inform thinking about our fu- ture energy requirements.
ADM: How do you guarantee adequate reserves of fuel? AM HUPFELD: This requires us to clearly understand where traditional fuels will continue to be an essential dependency and review the full lifecycle of those products. Air Force, in conjunction with the lead area in Defence responsible for fuels management, regularly reviews its policy settings to ensure we can deliver against Government and Defence objectives. Through assessing and responding to security challenges in the strategic environment we build resilience into our operational planning and preparedness for fuel re- quirements. This includes assessments of activities such as humanitarian aid and disaster relief, Defence aid to the civil community and a range of other scenarios and contingencies. All these factors inform our operational and strategic fuel holdings (as well as projected fuel reserve requirements) in conjunction with our industry suppliers, to meet current and projected commitments. Defence can also acquire additional fuel through existing contracts to meet surge requirements.
ADM: How has RAAF adapted to grey zone warfare?
AM HUPFELD: The Indo-Pacific is at the centre of great stra- tegic competition, making the region more contested and apprehensive. These trends have arguably been accelerated by the pandemic.
In response to our changing environment, the Australian Government has set Defence three strategic objectives,
DEFENCE