It is with great privilege, I am once again given the platform here at DSEI, ready to address you all in my debut role as the Head of Air Staff. I feel compelled to express my gratitude towards my predecessor and freshly appointed CDS for the substantial groundwork set during his term, providing me with a robust platform to leap forward from. As I reflect on my previous appearance here in 2021, during my period as the MOD’s initial Director of Space, I recall discussing the crucial role of the Space domain – then I was tasked with establishing the UK Space Command, and crafting a fresh Defence Space Strategy and program. Touching on Space briefly later, it is notable to see the tremendous progress we’ve made in only 4 years regarding our Space Domain perspective. The speed of transformation and the complexities faced are truly noteworthy, and as the old saying goes, ‘nothing is impossible’, a concept thoroughly underscored now.
Zooming in to the essence of my role as the new Head of Air Staff, it is my principal responsibility to tackle this rate of evolution straight on, by infusing more vitality into AIR – becoming more adaptable, more unified, ready to take to the skies and be combat-ready, for today, for tomorrow, and in unison. The world has transformed considerably post-2021 with a slide in democratic rule globally, renewed rivalry between superpowers, the recent addition of Finland and Sweden to NATO, and many more developments. For a while, we have been beneficiaries of the peace dividend, rooted in the Cold War victory and a 30-year effort towards counterinsurgency operations, involving battles on foreign soils, a domestic bastion providing us security, a narrowed focus towards garrison efficiency, no direct threat to our homeland, and a fairly tolerable impact on national finance. Yet, the scenario is different in the present day.
Currently, we are up against a multitude of intensifying hazards, conflicts on the European continent, a significant shift in the Middle East dynamic, and the intensifying American emphasis on safeguarding their homeland and their vested interests in the Indo-Pacific region. Consequently, our government is investing in Defence initiatives, signalled by a fresh Strategic Defence Review and welcoming news from the Hague NATO Summit on funding boosts – a clear acknowledgment of the intensifying global tensions. Shifting focus, the topic of Integrated Air & Missile Defence, or IAMD gets highlighted this month as we rightfully celebrate the 85th anniversary of our Service’s ‘Greatest Hour’ – The Battle of Britain.
IAMD is more than just terrestrial air defence; it comprises a layered multi-domain, multinational suite of capabilities incorporating command and control, detect and alert systems, defensive air combat and missile defence functionalities, and importantly, an arsenal of offensive possibilities forming key elements of this system. Moving on to the significance of Space – its role is more definitive than ever in our lives. In a setting wherein our rivals invest enthusiastically in Space, I envision the establishment of a UK Space Defence Centre, providing clear command and control over our assets, in conjunction with solid counterspace faculties to safeguard and defend our critical national interests in the ether.
Our potential adversaries are far from being static – indeed, they seem to be picking up speed – their militaristic-industrial complex is operating at full capacity, and it often gives the impression that ours is still in a state of peace – hence, there is much ground to cover, and we cannot afford to squander the scant time available to us.
The post Newly Appointed Head of Air Staff Shares Insights at DSEI appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
