A vision realised

Since the 1920s, Australian air and sea power have worked together, though not always harmoniously, in an effort to create an effective sea control and denial capability. From the Seagull to the AP-3C Orion, the RAAF has remained committed to supporting the RAN’s projection of sea power. What has been lacking, however, is the integration of the capabilities for control of the sea with those developed for control of the air. These roles remained largely separated into single service spheres of interest, influence, and control; in essence, creating an organisational air-sea gap.

But this is changing. Two factors in particular have played an important role in bridging the gap: the RAN’s development of the Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) and the RAAF’s creation of Surveillance and Response Group (SRG).

While the AWD has attracted much attention, RAAF organisational changes have gone largely unremarked. Although not as newsworthy as a new class of warship, the creation of SRG as one of RAAF’s six Force Element Groups (FEG) continues to have a profound impact on the development of an integrated air-sea control capability.

Formed by the 2004 merger of Surveillance and Control Group and Maritime Patrol Group, SRG was established as a conglomeration of related but disparate capabilities: air defence and control systems, the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) of over-the-horizon radars, military air traffic services, and the AP-3C maritime patrol aircraft. Although ISR was considered to be ‘the glue that binds the FEG’, there was little integration across the FEG’s capabilities during its initial years.

Gradually, the integration of air defence and maritime patrol increased, partly because of the organisational structure, partly because of the introduction of new capabilities. The arrival of the E-7A Wedgetail led to platform cross-over with the AP-3C community, stimulating a growth in the level of cross-domain understanding. Another factor has been the acceptance into service of the Vigilaire air battle management and command and control system, which facilitates the exchange of information across the FEG’s various elements, fighter aircraft, and, importantly, RAN surface combatants. The result is a comprehensive air picture extending to the limits of the ADF’s sensors, but with only a limited maritime dimension.

New capabilities coming online within SRG over the next decade will lead to a significant improvement in this area.

In 2015, SRG established the ADF’s first space operations unit with the renaming of No 1 Radar Surveillance Unit to No 1 Remote Sensor Unit (1RSU). The impetus for change was the unit’s introduction of new space systems. Already in receipt of overhead persistent infrared data, 1RSU is now gaining access to key space situational awareness sensors, providing unprecedented persistence and pervasiveness in the ADF’s ISR capability.

The introduction of the P-8A Poseidon later this year will be complemented, in the early 2020s, by the introduction of the MQ-4A Triton unmanned aerial system and up to five Gulfstream long-range electronic warfare support aircraft. These new platforms, together with the E-7A, will greatly increase the range and persistence of ADF surveillance and response in the air and maritime domains. Moreover, their integration will contribute to ADF’s ability to continue to operate effectively in satellite-denied, degraded, or contested environments. Designed for the integrated networking of their sensors, these platforms will be the key to cross-domain shared situational awareness.

Supporting this will be the transition from the Vigiliare air-centric battle management system to a truly joint, multi-domain battle management system under AIR 6500. Eventually, AIR 6500 will also deliver a medium-range ground-based air and missile defence system which, with the F-35 and AWD, will provide the ADF with an integrated air and missile defence system.

The introduction of these systems will vastly improve the level of ADF shared situational awareness. The result will be a truly fifth-generation multi-domain ISR capability that will remove a longstanding organisational air-sea gap.

After a century of continual improvement, the RAAF will have fulfilled its founding father’s vision. SQNLDR Travis Hallen is a RAAF/Williams Foundation Air Power Scholar.

RAAF organisational changes have gone largely unremarked