Air Power 2017

32 AIR POWER 2017 21 ST CENTURY PARTNERSHIPS

PARTNER PERSPECTIVES

The head of the Royal

Canadian Air Force

underlines the close

relationship the Royal

Canadian Air Force enjoys

with the Royal Air Force

and other partner air forces

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) is
the guarantor of Canadian sovereignty.
It is the means by which the Canadian
Government can reach every square
foot of Canada, and act, with speed and
agility. The RCAF executes air operations
in support of national sovereignty every
day, including essential surveillance
and control of our airspace, both
independently and in the context of
NORAD (North American Aerospace
Defense Command) with the United
States. It is also engaged internationally
as tasked by the Canadian Government.
The NORAD partnership, now
in its 59th year, is a stellar example of
structurally embedded cooperation,
intelligence sharing and integration with
our closest neighbour. This cultural norm
of interoperability has also contributed to
the RCAF’s effectiveness within NATO and
in coalition air operations around the world.
The RCAF contributes highly capable forces
alongside larger allies, in part because of
our close ties with our partners. Together,
within our alliances, we are able to present

continued in the Second World War with

the Canadian-led British Commonwealth

Air Training Plan. This training effort

was so successful it was referred to

as ‘the aerodrome of democracy’.

ENDURING PARTNERSHIP

We have flown together in battle, and

in peace, for generations of airmen and

airwomen, and today, the partnership

between the RCAF and RAF remains very

strong. The RCAF enjoys connections

with various RAF units, including a

strong reciprocal exchange programme,

and concerted bilateral efforts to

advance air power cooperation.

As one example of this close

cooperation, RAF maritime patrol

specialists have been employed within

the RCAF CP-140 Long Range Patrol (LRP)

community for many years to maintain

RAF maritime patrol operational capability

and crew currency, prior to the delivery

of the P-8 Poseidon. These personnel

seamlessly integrated into RCAF crews,

exemplifying the best traditions reminiscent

of RCAF and RAF personnel “Flying

in Formation”, side by side in bomber

crews during the Second World War.

COMMON THINKING

It is imperative that we continue to

foster these deep and substantial ties;

together, we will be much better able to

anticipate and act. The future security

environment and rapidly evolving

aerospace technology, including space

domain activities, fighter integration and

complex ISR systems, call for the harnessing

of partner air forces’ intellectual capital

and inherent cooperation. Our shared

history has engendered a common way

of thinking about air power; together, we

will continue to rely upon and strengthen

this well-established relationship.

credible deterrence and reassurance that

our governments require. In that vein,

Canadian Defence Policy affirms Canada’s

unwavering commitment to our long-

standing alliances and partnerships.

Our air forces are integrated at the

most senior of leadership levels. Our annual

staff talks, Air Power Conferences and

‘Five Eyes’ Air Chief Symposiums provide

us with mutually beneficial venues for

information-sharing and cooperation.

Going beyond multinational cooperation,

the RCAF and the Royal Air Force (RAF)

are fortunate to share our own very close

ties. As far back as the First World War,

the Royal Flying Corps started training

military pilots in Canada. The relationship

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL MICHAEL HOOD

Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force

and Chief of the Air Force Staff

We have flown together in battle,

and in peace, for generations...

the partnership between the RCAF

and RAF remains very strong