The onset of the war in Ukraine saw one of the most dramatic shifts in combined arms warfare since the introduction of the machine gun. This shift is attributed to the wide scale introduction of drones to the modern battlefield (Kagan et al, 2024). Principally the conflict is demonstrating drones pioneering new capabilities in reconnaissance, close air support and strategic strike with virtually zero risk to the operator.
Introduction
This article began as a response to Daniel Cook’s recent article on ‘Turning the Tap Off – Stopping the Flow of Pointless Jobs in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)’ (Cook, 2023); as such, it will address some of the points raised in that article within the context a broader trend towards what I term ‘military populism’.
If we are to meet our obligations as professional airmen, we must continue to question, examine and restate our fundamental beliefs.
Insights From Recent Large-Scale Long-Range Drone and Missile AttacksPeter Layton
Decreasing Reliance on Fossil Fuels to Increase Defence Capability
Benjamin Cole
Australian Defence Force
Welcome once again back on the rollercoaster!
Rethinking Air Superiority - Towards an Integrated Framework for Modern AirpowerKazunobu SakumaJapan Air Self-Defence ForceFor over a&nbs
