- The Strategist - https://www.aspistrategist.org.au -
Towards an unmanned air combat capability (part 2)
Posted By Peter Layton on February 10, 2014 @ 14:30
My last post discussed the new air combat era of integrated manned and unmanned aircraft operations. There's a clear technology push for the ADF to acquire Strike/ISR UAVs. But before that happens, there needs to be a compelling strategic pull. Just because other, comparable, middle power nations are doing this doesn't necessarily mean we should.
…the probability of state-on-state conflict occurring is fairly low, although it cannot be dismissed outright; in order to remain strategically influential and to be considered a critical element of national security, air forces need to have full spectrum capability [that is also] effective in irregular wars, the most probable kind of future conflict…
The need of the hour is for middle-power, full-spectrum capable air forces to ensure that they are not reduced to a tactical tool of strategic insignificance.
Peter Layton is an independent researcher completing a PhD on grand strategy at UNSW. He has been an associate professor at the US National Defense University. Image courtesy of Flickr user Official U.S. Navy Page.
Article printed from The Strategist: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au
URL to article: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/towards-an-unmanned-air-combat-capability-part-2/
[1] Image: http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/X-47B.jpg
[2] last post: http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/towards-an-unmanned-air-combat-capability-part-1/
[3] Heron: http://www.rusinsw.org.au/Papers/20130827.pdf
[4] Shadow: http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/australian-shadow-200-uav-commences-afghan-operations-371451/
[5] leased until mid-2014: http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/2013/12/11/australia-extends-heron-mission-in-southern-afghanistan/
[6] the troubled Joint Project 129: http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/iais-iview-uav-partners-wins-australias-jp129-contract-updated-01620/
[7] Triton: http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/mq-4c-triton-bams-uas-us/
[8] recent book: http://www.cambridge.org/tv/academic/subjects/history/australian-history/australian-army-whitlam-howard
[9] neatly identifies: http://airpower.airforce.gov.au/publications/Details/555/211-Future-Wars-and-Air-Power.aspx?p=print
[10] CAF’s recent ASPI speech: http://www.airforce.gov.au/docs/CAF-address-ASPI-Dinner-10Oct13.pdf
[11] already evident: http://news.defence.gov.au/2013/12/19/maiden-flight-of-the-first-australia-c-27j-battlefield-airlifter/
[12] 12 C-130J: http://www.airforce.gov.au/Technology/Aircraft/C-130_Hercules/?RAAF-EPzAnXmgjWuyTq8XSZbcAUaUIYIcntiB
[13] Boeing 737: http://www.airforce.gov.au/Technology/Aircraft/Boeing-Business-Jet/?RAAF-PUCwx8SHyhbwLuI3DXQI1Jr2t6wx4AV3
[14] Challenger: http://www.airforce.gov.au/Technology/Aircraft/Challenger-CL-604/?RAAF-QuvXzzhcggJm83SkNVAcHzcE92aMHPsc
[15] KC-30A: http://www.airforce.gov.au/Technology/Aircraft/KC-30A/?RAAF-mqVOdY4RK4Yc3QG06xtPhhp7asTRVUyC
[16] C-17: http://www.airforce.gov.au/Technology/Aircraft/C-17-Globemaster/?RAAF-h0719xJ/eXjMFO8eLULT2D7U+C9pXnFB
[17] quantity might have a quality all of its own: http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/geek-of-the-week-frederick-lanchester-and-why-quantity-is-a-quality/
[18] some worries: http://www.economist.com/node/21524876
[19] Official U.S. Navy Page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/usnavy/