Page 39 - Maritime Services and the Kill Web

The Maritime Services, the Allies and Shaping the Kill Web

“We can do that better if we understand our neighborhood as well as we understand our own country.

“We have consciously begun to shape a trained workforce and a strategy which prioritizes our international
engagement and our relationship with our neighbors,

“We’ve had strong military-to-military relationships with our neighbors for many decades. And we look to
strengthen and improve our effect in this domain.”

Figure 5 On Friday 25 August 2017 a dedicated Last Post service was held at the Australian War Memorial marking the 75th anniversary of the Battle
of Milne Bay. The Battle of Milne Bay was an important victory for Allied forces, marking the first time that Japanese forces were defeated on land. A
key feature of the battle was the close cooperation between the Australian Army and the RAAF. Hudson bombers from RAAF No.6 Squadron provided
reconnaissance and bomber support, No.75 Squadron provided Kittyhawks, and the flying squadrons were supported by No 37 Radar Station and No8
Fire Control Unit during the Battle. Personnel from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) conducted a naval survey of the bay in Laurabada, which was
manned by RAN personnel. RAN warships, including HMAS Arunta, escorted the transport vessels delivering earth moving equipment, food,
ammunition, aviation fuel and other essential supplies. The Australian Army deployed its 7th and 18th Infantry Brigades. More than 370 Australians
were killed or wounded while the Japanese suffered almost 1500 casualties.

Question: You are being a more integrated force, but this template, which you are shaping, could then
form a solid foundation for the kinds of innovation, which your government might see as important in
the years ahead.

What kinds of innovations do you see in the mid term from this perspective?
Air Marshal Davies: Clearly, situational awareness of the air and space domain is critical, but so is an ability
to affect an adversary; potentially at long range as part of an integrated package.

“What form this will take is a work in progress and will reflect judgments about need in the period ahead
within a coalition context.

“If we shape a force that can only do parts of the warfighting continuum we will have failed.

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