PUS AOC 1Gp

1
Air Vice-Marshal David Walker AOC 1 Gp
Air Power on the Cusp
2

• Change from What?
• Amiens 8 Aug 1918
• Roles Counter-air, Shaping, Interdiction,
  Psyops/Deception, Direct and Indirect support,
  resupply
• All Todays Roles at the birth of the RAF
• Purpose The air contribution to integrated joint
  activity to deliver the desired effect

Air Power on the Cusp
3

• The Need for Change
• Gen Smiths 4 Military Roles
• Contributions are Relevant but..
• Accuracy adequate but what to aim at?
• Find-Fix-Track-Target-Engage-Assess variable
  capability and performance
• A decade of precision followed by a decade of
  speed - CAS Air Power Conference 2005

Air Power on the Cusp
4

• The Demands of the Future
• Agile Thinking to create an air contribution for
  the current environment
• Timescales demand rapid effect..therefore air
  effect must enable and sustain operational tempo
• Air and land thinking must recognise their
  interdependence
• Doctrine must reflect the geo-strategic setting

Air Power on the Cusp
5

• The Demands of the Future
• Near-term adaptation will offer benefits
• Adaptable systems UAVs, RAPTOR, GR4/7, Typhoon
• Adapatable Structures EAWs, EAGs, JALO, JAMO
• Adaptable Doctrine FASOC, NAiL 06, RGM,
  Integrated Air Ops
• Adaptable Personnel RAFC and RAF Halton, Force
  Dev, Ex Swift Panther

Air Power on the Cusp
6

• Summary
• France 1918 N.Africa 1943 Iraq 2003 Afghan
  2006
• Roles are the same but the demanded timescales
  have changed
• Air and land interdependent operations to deliver
  the desired effect Campaign Success
• So for Air Power on the Cusp read Air Power
  Back to the Future

Air Power on the Cusp