FOREWORD21st CENTURY PARTNERSHIPS AIR POWER 2017 15women are defending the Falkland Islanders, 35 years on from
their liberation. In total, the RAF is currently involved in 13 missions
across four continents in more than 22 countries. It’s a supreme
effort. All the while, our Quick Reaction Squadrons are guarding
the UK’s mainland – ever ready to deter sudden danger.
As well as appreciating what our RAF is achieving today, we
must also anticipate tomorrow. The defence budget is rising year-
on-year and we’re using it to invest our £178bn Equipment Budget
in new RAF capability, including P-8A maritime patrol aircraft and
F-35B Lightning – the spearhead of our carrier force. A 21st-century
fleet fit to face 21st-century threats. But success against dangers
growing in multiplicity, diversity and complexity demands not only
aircrews and air power, but air alliances. So this year’s Air Power
Conference and Journal focus on building 21st-century partnerships.
We’re going to do three things to achieve that goal: first,
boost our bonds with industry – pressing our private sector
partners to deliver more punch for our pound. Voyager offers a
model for future working. Owned by a private contractor, tasked
by the Ministry of Defence and operated by the RAF alongside
civilian crews, it is delivering unprecedented levels of service.
We’re also looking for industry to help us innovate. British brains
produced the Spitfire, the jet engine and, today, an engine that
will reach sub-orbital velocity. By tapping into tomorrow’s talent,
we will develop the disruptive capability we need - stimulating
export markets and increasing investment in British jobs.
Second, improve integration between the three services. With
HMS Queen Elizabeth now on sea trials and our F-35 squadrons
beginning to form, the regeneration of our carrier strike is near
at hand. Capitalising on this capability step-change will require
an unprecedented degree of collaboration between the Royal
Navy and the RAF. But they’re on the case. Over the past few years
they’ve been working tirelessly to enhance their joint operational
effectiveness. At the same time as our RAF becomes better at
gathering data from every domain, it must accelerate its ability
to analyse and exchange information across our Armed Forces.
In the future, we want to create a four-dimensional picture of the
battlespace to target our quarry with unprecedented precision.T
his journal is a timely opportunity to celebrate
the RAF’s immense contribution to our nation’s
security. It’s been a busy 12 months. Today our
pilots and aircrew are in the Middle East pushing
Daesh to the brink of defeat in their last Iraqi stronghold- Mosul. Besides striking the terrorists, they’re providing
local forces with cover, gathering detailed intelligence,
and refuelling our partners’ aircraft. We haven’t seen such
operational intensity for a quarter of a century, and the
RAF’s contribution is second only to the United States.
Elsewhere, our famous 3(F) Squadron – who earned their
wings in two World Wars – are policing Black Sea skies to ward
off Russian aggression. In the South Atlantic, our airmen and
RT HON
SIR MICHAEL FALLON MP
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE