Page 56 - North Atlantic and Nordic Defense

North European and North Atlantic Defense: The Challenges Return

"We need to build self-learning systems as well.

"The F-35 is a revolutionary man-machine system and sets in motion not only the challenge of new approaches
to working information and C2, but new approaches to combat learning.

“How do we get there?

"That is what generating a fifth generation combat force is all about.”

It is clear that the F-35 is part of a significant culture change.

“We need to be open to significant culture change.

"Many Danish F-35 pilots will be converted from 16s and will learn the new ways of operating.

"At the same time, s new generation of pilots will have F-35 as their first combat aircraft and have no
operational experience on legacy aircraft and are open to radical changes in how the jet can be used and in
working with the other combat assets.

"We need to facilitate and channel such open ended learning as well as we build out or force transformation
with those pilots with F-16 experience and the new F-35 pilots as well.

"Part of that is captured by the notion of integrating legacy aircraft with the F-35, but that is too narrow of a
concept.

"We are really looking at shaping a different kind of force, F-35-enabled but which incorporates the old
which remains valuable and adds new systems which can expand the combat effectiveness of the evolving
fifth generation force.”

“How do we make sure that we don't settle with the reality that the F-35 is better than anything out there and
it makes the fourth gen better?

"That will not get us to a fifth generation combat force.

"We need to leverage it to drive continuous transformation to ensure that we have the kind of capabilities
which our demanding strategic environment requires.”

Allies and 21 Century Weapon Systems: The Case of the Coming of the
st
F-35 to Europe

2017-05-17 By Robbin Laird

A key dynamic with the shift from the land wars to shaping a 21 century combat fore is the crucial
st
opportunity the US and its closest allies have to learn from each other thanks to the number of core weapons
systems being bought at the same time.

Almost hidden in plain view is the emergence of a significant driver of change –-flying the same aircraft at
the same time, and cross learning from each other.

Second Line of Defense

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