Is the Current Royal Australian Air Force an Air Force of Strategic Influence?

Abstract

Abstract : The increasing economic and geopolitical importance of the Indo-Pacific region means that Australia must be prepared for all nature of contingencies in support of its national interests, and its international and alliance obligations. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was an air force of limited strategic relevance for many years primarily due to the limitations of its existing weapon and support systems, and its lack of critical enabling capabilities. However, the RAAF has recently undergone significant reform and has undertaken an extensive program of upgrades and modernization to existing weapon systems, funded the acquisition of new weapon and support systems capable of conducting new roles and missions, and has made a determined effort to ensure that all these systems and platforms are integrated, and interoperable for Joint and Combined Operations. The US Quadrennial Defense Review details the broader policy for the US rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific region and further details how the US will have a higher expectation and deeper asks of those nations with which it has alliances. The weapon and support systems which have been acquired, and those which are still being acquired, have corrected RAAF capability and enabler deficiencies, and have provided the RAAF with an integrated, self-reliant, expeditionary power projection capability that is interoperable with alliance and coalition partners around the globe. Although this program is still underway, it has already transformed the RAAF into a force capable of asserting and achieving strategic influence to effect the aims of the Australian Government.