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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.

The capabilities of existing and proposed future satellite sensors are examined for their ability to provide wide area surveillance of Australia, and recommendations are made regarding future potentials of space-based surveillance.

This publication was initially published as part  of the Drew Papers series by Air University Press, Alabam US.

the potential for UAVs to contribute to ADF air operations and to provide a oundation for their introduction through generating a better understanding of their inherent strengths and limitations.

Like any form of combat power, air power does not develop in isolation; nor is it static. Even
if there were no formal process linking its theoretical development and practical application
to other elements of national security, plainly it will remain responsive to a range of external
influences from the wider civil and military communities which combine to shape the
national security outlook.