A vision realised

Closing the air-sea gap

Australian air power has always had a distinct maritime focus. Sir Richard Williams, the RAAF’s founding father, established the importance of the sea to Australian airmen when he stated in 1925 that, “Australia’s first requirement is to provide itself with an Air Force capable of defeating that which might be brought against it in ships by any probable enemy. ” Much has changed technologically and strategically since 1925, but the fundamental geographic reality remains: Australia’s security and prosperity remains inextricably linked to the sea, and the airspace above it.

The importance of joint force operations in the maritime domain has gained attention recently thanks to the promotion of the concept of an ‘Australian maritime strategy’ in successive Defence White Papers. But the concept is not new, though the buzz surrounding it is.