DELIBERATING THE IMPACT OF THE U.S. ‘REBALANCING’ STRATEGY AND AIR-SEA
BATTLE CONCEPT
Conference, 8-9 July 2014
At the Joint Services Command and Staff College
Defence Academy of the United Kingdom
The most important strategic influences of the 21st century are, and will continue to be,
connected to affairs in the Asia-Pacific region. The changing strategic dynamics created by
military, fiscal and political activities in the Asia-Pacific region will drive the nature and
character of global international relations during this century. For the United Kingdom,
given the centrality of the United States’ foreign and defence policies to UK strategic
planning, the most relevant strategic questions are: do we support the United States
directly in the Far East or burden-share global security by taking on other roles and
obligations in other theatres; and what sort of force structure is required in order to be able
to operate with the Air-Sea Battle Concept?
This two-day conference will bring together academic and military speakers to present the
most up-to-date assessments of two of the most important American concepts driving
Western strategic and operational thinking: the ‘Pivot’ or Re-balancing Strategy and Air-Sea
Battle Concept. Day One will provide an international perspective on what the Re-Balance
Strategy means for other key nations’ maritime and air postures. Day Two will look at the
major technological elements underpinning Air-Sea Battle, as well as the intellectual roots
and principles upon which the concept is based.
The conference is organised and presented by the Corbett Centre for Maritime Policy
Studies and the King’s College Air Power Group, both part of the Defence Studies
Department of King’s College London, with the assistance of the RAF Centre for Air Power
Studies and the Royal United Services Institute.
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
DAY ONE
1030-1045
Opening Address - Director General, Defence Academy –
Rear Admiral James Morse RN
1045-1130
Keynote – Lt Gen Burton M. Field – Deputy Chief of Staff,
Operations, Plans and Requirements, US Air Force –
‘The
Re-Balance and Air-Sea Battle’.
1130-1300
PANEL ONE
Dr Tim Benbow – ‘Impact of the Re-Balance on UK Strategic
Thinking’.
Prof Geoff Till – ‘Impact of Re- balance on ASEAN Strategic
Thinking’.
1300-1400
LUNCH, Victory Dining Room, JSCSC
1400-1530
PANEL TWO
Dr. Harsh Pant – ‘Impact of Re-Balance on Indian Strategic
Thinking’.
Hall Gardner - ‘Impact of Re-Balance on French Strategic
Thinking’.
1600-1730
PANEL THREE
Elinor Sloan – ‘Impact of the Re-Balance on Canada’s Strategic
Thinking’.
Cdr Bob Poling, USN - ‘The Conceptual Lineage: Air-Sea Battle
Concept Lessons from WWII’
DAY TWO
0900-1030
PANEL FOUR
Dr Colin Wills – ‘Utility of Unmanned Combat Air Systems: the
Air-to-Air Role’.
Carl Johnson, Northrop Grumman – ‘X-47 UCAS’.
1100-1230
PANEL FIVE
Dr David Jordan – ‘Organic vs Land-based Air Power in the AirSea Battle’.
Air Cdre (Rtd) Graham Wright - ‘Cyber and Space
Considerations for Air-Sea Battle’.
1400-1530
PANEL SIX
Conference Round Table – discussion period. Prof Kennedy or
Dr Goulter to Chair.