RAAF Air Power Conference 1992: The Qualitative Edge - A Role for Air Power in Regional Cooperation
In the 1990s the Royal Australian Air Force faces major changes and challenges arising from the need to maintain and enhance its operational capabilities with fewer resources. Air power may have been accorded a pre-eminent role in the defence of Australia due to geostrategic circumstances, but the RAAF has to learn to do more with less. By working smarter, not harder, it should still be possible to retain a qualitative edge.
But other countries- Australia's natural partners in preserving the security of the Asia-Pacific region-are confronted with the same challenge. While Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia all have advanced aerospace systems in their defence acquisition programs, they also face significant budgetary pressures. So what are the prospects for regional cooperation in air power?
This book explores the issues and possible solutions to this conundrum through a series of papers by
Professor Paul Dibb,
Major General Datuk Ahmad Merican (RMAF},
Air Vice Marshal J.S. Hosie (RNZAF},
Brigadier General Bey Soo Khiang (RSAF). Lieutenant General
D. Huddleston (RCAF},
Air Commodore F.X. Soejitno (TNI- AU} and
Air Marshal 1.8 . Gration (RAAF).
As a platform for addressing current and prospective regional security concerns, this book provides a valuable contribution to exploring ideas and furthering dialogue in an area of vital concern to future regional security