The Central Blue

SUPERIOR THOUGHT: "A misunderstanding of air power is distorting Australia’s defence discussion. The misunderstanding is the use of combat air patrols (CAP) over surface forces as a substitute for air superiority. CAP has its place but using it as a substitute for air superiority conflates presence with utility and ignores two key insights from history." See our latest Expert Analysis piece by Chris McInnes where he addresses the critical differences between air superiority and combat air patrols - and the implications for the Royal Australian Air Force and the broader Australian Defence Force. https://lnkd.in/g8dWD5uT

INTEGRATED LEARNING: Heading to the Australian War College next year for the Australian Command and Staff course? In his 2021 piece, Matt Kelly provides some pragmatic advice to help you prepare & ‘ride the ACSC wave’ – and even enjoy it, despite its challenges. He also offers some insights about balancing an Air Force identity in a highly joint learning environment, including ways to actively bring important air power expertise to the cohort. https://lnkd.in/gQQWgd8

SPACE BRAIN: With SpaceX’s second integrated test flight of its Starship system last night, we’re taking another look at this piece by Ryan Sanford as he reflects on the concept of ‘space-mindedness’. In it, he argues that a sharper concept of space-mindedness is critical for advancing the discussion around the roles and responsibilities of the US Armed Forces in space. Whilst much has changed since the post's initial publication (such as the launch of the USSF and the Defence Space Command), his piece offers important food-for-thought about Australia’s own role, interests, and capabilities in space. #airpower #spacepower #militarypower #nationaldefence #dsr #auspol #ausdef #youradf #ausairforce #intellectualedge https://lnkd.in/giU7txJ

TRITON TIME: With the first flight of the RAAF’s first MQ-4 Triton aircraft just the other day, we’re taking another look at this 2020 analysis by Dr. Peter Layton, PhD on Australia’s potential role in the Indian Ocean. In this final part of a 3-part series, Layton outlines some prospective strategic mission-sets for the MQ-4 including requirements such as basing infrastructure to enable enhanced patrol times. He also explores some of the strategic reasoning that Australia, the country with the longest coastline in the Indian Ocean, needs to take its western flank seriously. https://lnkd.in/g9ZBJUjk