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.
Air power is distinguished from sea and land power by its flexibility, speed, ubiquity, range and shock effect. These characteristics give air power a unique ability to concentrate force
and manoeuvre rapidly over long distances
application of aerospace power has seen significant developments since 1994, most notably through American-led operations in Central Europe and Afghanistan, and continuing technological advances with weapons, uninhabited vehicles, space-based systems and information systems.
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.
China's current and evolving grey zone activities in the South China Sea, the East China Sea and Ladakh region
In the Australian strategic consciousness the Pacific Islands loom very large.
Air and space power are critical to the conduct of Australian air operations in ADF joint warfighting.
Air forces have long demonstrated warfighting effectiveness through the lethal application of air power in the battlefield.
Despite extremely positive academic and political rhetoric regarding the future of the defence relationship between the Royal Australian Air Force
