Page 23 - Perspective 2019 sample a4 size

PERSPECTIVE Journal Vol. 2019
Propagating Air Power to the Masses 23

The Air Force Symposium (AFS) 2019 was held last 04 June 2019 at the Manila
Grand Ballroom, Marriott Hotel Manila, Pasay City as part of the 72nd Philippine Air
Force (PAF) founding anniversary celebration. The said 1-day event, which was
attended by high-level government policymakers, working-level public and private

officials, members of the academe, the media, and other AFP/DND stakeholders,
showcased innovations in terms of Air Power capabilities during the morning ses-
sion. The afternoon session, which was the highlight of the event, focused on the
theme “Roles of Air Power for Security and Development in the Ever-Changing En-
vironment.” To expound on the theme, the presentations centered on the following
subject areas: Air Power roles in Southeast Asia for the future, the future of Com-
mand and Control, Communications, Computer, and Intelligence (C4I), and prepar-
ing the Air Force’s manpower for the future challenges in the region.

To be able to see the future roles of Air Power, one must look first look at the inter-
national world order and the concept of strategic geography, according to Dr Sanu

Kainikara, Air Power Strategist of the Royal Australian Air Force. Focusing on the
Asia Pacific Region and the challenges that it faces, Dr Kainikara enumerated the
three things to watch for in the security environment of the region:
(1) Economic nationalism which is seen to create tensions between Southeast Asian
neighboring countries;
(2) The relevance of ASEAN which is seen to be as less cohesive than it was a
decade ago and how it will adapt to the changing socio-economic and geopolitical
circumstances; and
(3) The impact of the on-going trade war of US and China to smaller economies.

These concerns, along with the inherent resource intensiveness of Air Power and
the absence of sophisticated air industry makes it difficult for the Southeast Asian
nations from achieving independence in Air Power capabilities. These considered,
Dr Kainikara suggested the importance of being sufficient in the following aspects
for the future:
(1) offensive capability to ensure control of the air within one’s territory,
(2) air mobility for HADR and local insurgencies, and
(3) Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance for deterrence.

Finally, to address the air defense concerns of the region, Dr Kainikara recom-

mended for an establishment of a regional air defense network patterned after the
Scandinavia model, wherein fighters of the Southeast Asian nations will operate in
a borderless air environment within a central Command and Control umbrella. This,
according to him, will share the burden of resources and promote peace in the re-
gion.

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