Page 74 - Jericho Force of the Future
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TRAILBLAZERS TRAILBLAZERS
VISION
WGCDR Ray Simpson Darren Manser
Commanding Officer Project Director TO REALITY
No 88 Squadron
Air Warfare Centre
88SQN THE AIR FORCE HAS CREATED AN
ORGANISATION FOCUSSED ON WORKING
LATERALLY ACROSS FORCE ELEMENT
INNOVATION IN TACTICS GROUPS, DEFENCE, SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS
The Air Warfare Centre transitioned from concept
AND TRAINING to reality in nine months, epitomising CAFs Project
Jericho vision to create a 5th generation air force that
is agile, responsive and willing to actively manage risk
in order to achieve timely delivery of capability.
Announced at the Avalon Air Show in March of 2015, the
Air Warfare Centre opened for business in January 2016.
In the Air Warfare Centre the Air Force has created an
“ AFTER CREATING AN 88SQN fostered a bespoke Exercise Control construct organisation focussed on working laterally across Force
Element Groups, Defence, Science and Technology
and successfully ran Ex Pitch Black 16 during August
INNOVATION MINI-HUB 2016 with excellent feedback from all participants. The and Industry partners to develop and deliver rapid and
integrated solutions to operational problems.
enemy force targets used during the Exercise were created
The Air Warfare Centre has been influenced by Boyd’s
ROOM, NEW IDEAS by some of our most junior members and successfully ‘OODA Loop’, drawing upon on the observations and
provided accurate visual representation to operators. The
lessons of conflict, simulations, intelligence and test to
STARTED TO FLOW.” requirement to gain near real-time aerial photography of develop and refine an integrated response and ensure
the targets for mission planning was identified and solved
the warfighter maintains a decisive advantage in combat.
using a prototype commercial UAV with short data bursts of
imagery. The establishment of the Tactics and Training Directorate,
88SQN was afforded an excellent opportunity to 88SQN is responsible for running the inaugural Air 88SQN and the Air Warfare School provides an emergent
provide bottom up innovation as it was founded Warfare Instructors Course which began on 9 Jan 2017. capability to create comprehensive responses to observed
with subject matter experts from most platforms all Specifically, we are responsible for the major ‘Diamond’ operational challenges; pulling together multi-discipline
co-located in one office. After creating an innovation series integrated exercises. This course involves operators teams from a broad array of specialist domains to design,
mini-hub room, new ideas started to flow. from multiple Air Force platforms and FEGs. This aligns well develop, implement and embed tactics, techniques and the
with the task for 88SQN to develop a battle rhythm for and associated training and doctrine.
capture Air Force wide tactics, techniques and procedures The creation of the Air Warfare Centre in such a short
(TTP). This TTP methodology will include a multi-faceted time frame undoubtedly challenged Air Force on a number
process involving Test and Evaluation Directorate, other of levels; our culture, our appetite for change and the
Services, Defence Forces and civilian industry to identify necessity to collectively contribute resources for ‘the
solutions. greater good’. While the Air Warfare Centre continues
In summary, 88SQN has successfully networked with a to mature, it has already directly contributed to the
multitude of other agencies (both military and civilian) at the development of integrated and innovative solutions to
professional and personal levels to foster a wide reaching operational problems. Its rapid establishment is testament
ability to problem solve and respond to a variety of issues to Air Force’s willingness to positively embrace the change
quickly and effectively. necessary to support those 5th Generation capabilities
which were the original catalyst for Project Jericho.
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