MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE SENATE
SENATOR THE HON. ROBERT HILL
KEYNOTE ADDRESS: 2002 RAAF AEROSPACE CONFERENCE
NATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE, CANBERRA
28 MAY 2002
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Air Marshal Houston.
Distinguished guests - ladies and gentleman.
It gives me great pleasure to be with you today for the opening of the Air
Force’s seventh Air Power Conference, or perhaps more notably and
correctly, the first ‘Aerospace’ Conference, with the emphasis now on
Aerospace and not just Air Power.
I know there are many overseas visitors attending this conference and I
would like to especially welcome all our distinguished guests, many who
are regional Air Force Chiefs and senior General Officers.
Your presence emphasises the importance of the Air Force Aerospace
Conference in enhancing our understanding of each others perspective
and the vital, and at times pivotal, role that aerospace power will
continue to play into the 21st Century.
It is appropriate before I begin, to take this opportunity to publicly
acknowledge on behalf of the Federal Government and the Australian
people the outstanding efforts of the men and women of the ADF in the
ongoing contribution to the International Coalition Against Terrorism.
The professionalism and dedication demonstrated by all members of the
ADF in conducting the war against terrorism, including those supporting
our people deployed overseas, is both recognised and appreciated. It is
particularly impressive to the background of the many other operations
around the world engaging the ADF.
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The events of 11 September have demonstrated the asymmetric nature
of much of today’s conflict. To be able to respond effectively to this
unpredictability will shape the armed forces of many nations, including
Australia, well into this new century.
The development of increased capability, particularly aerospace
capability, is what this conference is all about.
I would like to discuss this from three perspectives: firstly, the role of
aerospace power; secondly, future aerospace capability, and finally; the
role of the Aerospace Industry as part of Australian defence into the
future.
THE ROLE OF AEROSPACE
The 2000 Defence White Paper established a benchmark for the ongoing
development of the ADF over the next decade.
It discusses Australia’s military strategy and states in very simple and
succinct terms that the first task for the ADF is the defence of Australia.
However, the Government also expects the ADF to contribute to the
security of our immediate neighbourhood and to contribute to
international coalitions of forces to meet crises beyond our immediate
neighbourhood.
The foundation of this three tiered strategy is the recognition that an air
combat capability is an essential capability for the defence of Australia,
as it is for so many military operations.
Aspects of our air capability have been tested as part of the International
Coalition Against Terrorism.
Our air-to-air refueling aircraft, based in Kyrgyzstan, are providing crucial
support in sustaining air operations over Afghanistan.
And only last week, our FA/18 contingent returned from active duty on
Diego Garcia.
Our C-130s are now providing strategic transport into Afghanistan and
our AP3 surveillance aircraft have been available for deployment.
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We also had air combat capability recently deployed over the skies of
southern Queensland, during the Commonwealth Heads of Government
Meeting in March.
This time last year, the concept of deployments in Afghanistan against
terrorism and of homeland defence involving combat air patrol would
have seemed incredible.
Today it is a reality - thus further emphasising the need for Australia to
develop capabilities that can satisfy both domestic requirements as well
as being interoperable in offshore international coalitions.
As for the future, it is no accident that this is our inaugural ‘Aerospace
Conference’, making the transition from ‘airpower’ to ‘aerospace’ power.
Aerospace power represents the ability to project military force in the
boundless third dimension, that is both air and space.
The boundless dimension of space in particular, and our ability to exploit
its unique characteristics, is also no longer a fantasy; it is a reality.
Space has played a crucial role in the war against terror.
Technologies based on the Global Positioning System, integrated into
targeting systems and guiding weapons launched from both manned and
unmanned aircraft have further demonstrated the pervasiveness and
precision of aerospace power in the international coalition environment.
These characteristics of aerospace power, along with other aspects such
as flexibility, reach, speed and casualty minimisation, will form the basis
of our thinking for the role of aerospace power in the future, as well as
inform our deliberations on future aerospace capability acquisitions.
FUTURE AEROSPACE CAPABILITY
Allow me to now look to the future for a moment.
The Air Force’s Order of Battle will be substantially renewed during the
next two decades, and the Government has clearly stated the tasks it
expects the RAAF to undertake in the White Paper.
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The Government believes that Australia must have the ability to protect
itself from attack, and control our air approaches, whilst maintaining an
air-combat capability at least comparable to any in the region.
As I said, Air Force will also need to offer the potential to effectively
contribute to regional and wider Coalition commitments.
However, planning is not constrained by thoughts of replacement of
hardware, but rather is focussed on the capability we wish to deliver.
Whilst we must take on board changes in military needs and
requirements as a result of recent events, we must ensure that we are
not ‘reactive’, but that we are in fact ‘proactive’.
That we are not simply responding to world events and crises, but
looking beyond, and well into the future.
That we are considering and analysing all options that we ‘may’ require,
not necessarily always focussing only on what it is that we ‘will’ require.
This emphasis on a broad suite of capability, rather than capability to
address specified threats, has been what has changed in recent years.
In air combat, we have embarked upon Project AIR 6000, the ADF’s
future strike and air control capability. We have time to make wise
decisions in what will be Australia’s largest ever Defence procurement.
The F/A-18 and F-111 forces are the mainstay of our current air combat
and strike requirements. The Government is determined to ensure that
these aircraft maintain a credible capability.
Boeing Australia has nearly completed Phase 1 of the upgrade to the
fleet of 71 F/A-18 Hornets, and has recently commenced Phase 2.1.
These two phases of the upgrade, worth $1.5 billion, will bring the aircraft
to a similar configuration and combat capability to the US Navy’s latermodel Hornets and will help them remain combat-effective until their
projected retirement date of 2012-15.
We are similarly continuing to invest in the F-111s which, despite their
age, offer a capability unmatched within this region.
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The next 10 years will also see the introduction of capabilities not
previously seen in the ADF.
The Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft will be a potent force multiplier, providing
greatly enhanced situational awareness to all our forces, on land, sea
and air.
Our new aerial refuelling aircraft will increase the persistence of
surveillance and combat assets in theatre.
Further, the commitment through Global Hawk to better understand the
ability of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to enhance maritime surveillance will
usher Australia into a new era of operating sophisticated unmanned
platforms.
Concurrently, Project AIR 7000 will investigate the capability
requirements of systems to follow the tasks and roles conducted by the
P-3C Orion aircraft.
The ADF is also extending its aerospace capabilities through the use of
space-based capabilities.
Aircraft are being equipped with satellite navigation systems, thereby
achieving increased mission accuracy.
As well, our weapons inventory will also make the leap into this realm,
with satellite guidance enabling the degree of accuracy and reduction in
collateral effect.
State of the art command, control, communications, computers,
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, wedded to force
multipliers such as precision guided munitions will be what makes the
difference in the future. Remembering also the need for interoperability
as coalitions tend to become the norm rather than the exception.
THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY IN AUSTRALIA – ITS ROLE INTO THE
FUTURE
I mentioned previously that there will be substantial change in the ADF
aerospace capabilities in the next two decades.
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The Australian aerospace industry must play an important part in the
provision of the necessary capabilities, as well as the overall provision of
a broader range of options to Government.
Before addressing the aerospace industry, however, I would like to
briefly mention the policy Government adopted last year in relation to
defence industry.
In one sentence, we want to have a long term alliance relationship with
fewer cost effective primes in a sustainable demand environment.
We also want to ensure that these primes, and the significant number of
Subject Matter Experts that subcontract to them, provide for those
Defence needs that are critical for the success of ADF operations at the
same time as reducing in service support costs.
The aerospace sector plan currently under development will articulate
the arrangements for these new projects and for existing capabilities at
the prime contractor level, and first indications are that Defence could
have strategic alliances with a handful of prime contractors to support the
range of aerospace weapons systems.
As I mentioned at the Pacific 2002 conference earlier this year the
aerospace sector plan (and the broader policy) will benefit Defence by
sustaining critical capabilities in industry, by reducing project risks and
making savings through commonality and rationalisation of platforms.
It will benefit industry by allowing continuity of work, and a capacity to
make long-term investment in infrastructure, skills, training and research
and development.
We expect to go back to Cabinet on the details of the aerospace industry
plan late this year.
CONCLUSION
The Federal Government, and the people of Australia, will continue to
look to the RAAF to ensure that we continue to be a regional leader in
the ability to project aerospace power.
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The development and integration of new capabilities, in conjunction with
a vibrant Australian aerospace industry, will provide Government with the
options necessary for the defence of Australia and support of our friends.
To facilitate a vigorous and well informed debate on these issues – I
have great pleasure in officially declaring ‘Conflict: The State and
Aerospace Power’, the seventh air power and first aerospace
conference, open.
[ENDS]