Beyond the Planned Air Force
Beyond the Planned Air Force (BPAF) expands Air Force’s perspective beyond the objective force envisioned in the Defence White Paper 2016 (DWP16) a
This publication augues that for Air Force to meet the challenges of Australia’s current geostrategic environment, and remain relevant, it must bro
On 20-21 March 2018, the Royal Australian Air Force will be conducting its biennial Air Power Conference.
The Kestrel Papers series is one of several publications produced by the Air and Space Power Centre (ASPC).
Trust: The Key to Developing High-Functioning TeamsDylan WilliamsonAustralian Defence ForceIn the modern Air Force, there is a large portion of att
The Four-Day Near-Peer Air WarPeter LaytonGriffith University and Australian Defence ForceIn May 2025, India and Pakistan fought a near-peer air wa
When I was younger, I was very black and white in my thinking. Many would argue that I still am! Although I am finding the beauty in shades of grey (don’t say it!). Yet despite trying to grow my empathy and to appreciate the differences of thoughts for the constructive challenges and opportunity for growth – I still fall into the trap of comfort. I don’t always want to deal with people whose views I find offensive, idiotic, or more often than not – both. So despite being aware of the echo chamber phenomena, and its dangers, I wilfully stay with my chamber to learn and hear voices I already agree with, already support, and think very similar to myself. Is that so wrong?
Access to foreign bases has long been a critical enabler of the ADF, and ongoing access will be key to Australia’s future security. In the past, these Forward Operating Bases (FOB) were considered relatively secure, however continual improvements to the range and accuracy of missiles acquired by adversarial militaries have made these bases attractive targets, being the seemingly soft underbelly of western militaries.
In order to continue utilisation of FOBs, and to guarantee the safety of deployed forces, the ADF cannot remain idle to the threat of advanced air and missile attacks. As such Australia must look to develop its Air and Missile Defence (AMD) capabilities in order to remain secure in future operations.
The aim of the essay is to discuss a range of AMD design and operating concepts to inform the development of an ADF Integrated AMD (IAMD) capability.
This essay will be structured into four key areas: western nations’ historical and future reliance on FOBs to project power; the emerging threat of powerful state and non-state actors; Australia’s response to emerging air and missile threats; and, IAMD design and operational concepts in an Australian context.
Despite extremely positive academic and political rhetoric regarding the future of the defence relationship between the Royal Australian Air Force
Ensuring that logistics support is organised as a single, coherent system that removes duplication and assists in the provision of a consistent, comprehensive and complementary flow of logistics support through each of the levels of war to enable the effective application of air power.