Page 44 - Williams Foundation Integrated Force Design Seminar

Designing the Integrated Force: How to Define and Meet the Challenge?

PLATFORMS, CAPABILITIES AND SHAPING THE JOINT EFFECT

The Australian forces are adding a number of new platforms. The challenge is to do so not from a stove-
piped perspective but from a broader one, namely, understanding the capability set which the new platform
can provide and how it gets woven into the integrated force.

These interviews were conducted with key players involved in operating or standing up key platforms
enabling the 21 century combat force.
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An Update on the Australian Wedgetail and Its Evolution: A Discussion
with Wing Commander Stuart Bellingham
During my visit to Australia in April 2017, I had a chance to continue my discussions with Group Captain Stuart
Bellingham, Officer Commanding Number 42 Wing, about the Wedgetail and its continuing evolution.

The Wedgetail has demonstrated in the Middle East and in high end warfare exercises that it is a very good
fit for the shift to a fifth generation enabled air combat force. Most recently, I heard from USAF and RAF
personnel involved in the first Red Flag this year, how impressive they found the aircraft.

As one senior RAF pilot put it: “I would never fly with an AWACS if had a choice. I would only fly with
Wedgetail.”

Obviously, Number 2 Squadron and Number 42 Wing have made an impact on air combat thinking.

In this year’s Red Flag 17-1, the F-35 and F-22 flew with RAF Typhoons and USAF F-15s along with the
Sentinel UK aircraft and the Aussie Wedgetail, along with other assets as well. But the exercise was notable
in terms of the first appearance in Red Flag 17-1 an exercise in which one combat participant noted: “In this
exercise, the F-35 reshaped how we are thinking about the use of our entire air combat force. The question
was not what the F-35 could do for the rest of us; it was what can we contribute to the F-35 led air combat
force?”

The Wedgetail certainly found its place in answering that question and in providing unique quarterback
functionality to the force and to support functions from an ISR and C2 role as well.

Not only did the Wedgetail show up, but the Officer Commanding 42 Wing played a key role in the exercise
as well.

According to an article published in Australian Aviation on February 14, 2017:

GPCAPT Bellingham was the first non-US participant to be Director of the CAOC, leading 250 American, British
and Australian personnel. This was the first time a coalition nation has performed this role in such an exercise.

“We are integrated with these capabilities from start to finish, from planning missions, through to debriefing the
missions,” GPCAPT Bellingham said.

“Australia has air battlespace managers from No. 2 Squadron and No. 41 Wing who are controlling the Red
Flag airspace, and getting first-hand experience how these capabilities can be employed.

“We’re getting real insight into understanding the capabilities and what Australia’s future is going to look like.”

http://australianaviation.com.au/2017/02/exercise-red-flag-2017-concludes/
Question: I think Red Flag 17-1 is a good example of how we collectively are shaping a way ahead.
Second Line of Defense

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