Raaf 100Th Birthday Edition Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld Interview
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AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT MAR 2021 VOL.47 NO.2 RAAF 100TH BIRTHDAY EDITION AIR MARSHAL MEL HUPFELD INTERVIEW ARMY'S NEXT GEN KEEPING RAAF FLYING SATELLITE TECH WATERCRAFT AN THE ROLE OF THE PATHWAY TO A INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITY LOCAL INDUSTRY SOVEREIGN CAPABILITY B:245 mm T:235 mm S:225 mm B:285 mm S:265 mm T:275 mm HONOURING 100 YEARS OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE Founded in values of service, courage, respect, integrity and excellence, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has been defending the people of Australia for the last century. Since 1927, Boeing and the RAAF have partnered to create next-generation products and push the boundaries of air defence. Boeing also proudly welcomes RAAF veterans into our workforce, where they continue to support Australia’s defence. As enduring partners, we recognize the centenary of the RAAF and we look forward to many more years of partnership, innovation and protection. boeing.com.au Job Number: 11518889 Version: D Client/Brand: Boeing/BDS Date: 2-10-2021 1:34 PM APPROVALS File Name: 11518889vD_BDS_RAAF_Australian_100_235x275.indd QC: Steve Jablonski Bleed: 245 mm x 285 mm Gutter: None Publications: Asia-Pacific Defence Reproter PA: Steve Hutchings PR: Pat Owens Trim: 235 mm x 275 mm Folds: NoneNone (APDR) RET: Greg Olsen PP: Sue Breitenecker Safety: 225 mm x 265 mm Media/Color Sp: PRINT/4 COLOR Notes: L+T bill to: 11518971 AB: Fallon Pfeiffer TM: None Scale: 1:1 Country: Australia Vendor: None GCD: Bruno Mazzotti Actual Size: 235 x 275 mm Language: ENGLISH Output%: None Colors: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black AD: Sarah Hollis Fonts: Helvetica Neue (55 Roman, 95 Black; Type 1) CW: Yessy Downs AE: Olivia Troy/Heather Schwartz ALL CONTENT WITHIN THIS FILE IS FOR OUTPUT ONLY BY END PRINTER/VENDOR. CHANGES, SHARING AND/OR DISTRIBUTING CONTENT IN WHOLE OR IN PART ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED. LICENSING RIGHTS AND APPROVALS MUST BE REQUESTED AND APPROVED TO/BY FCB CHICAGO. Images: 11518889CT01_R0_BDS_RAAF_Australian_100.tif (300 ppi; CMYK), Boeing_white_50mm.eps CONTENTS FEATURES Print Post Approved PP349181/00104 12 DEFENCE INVESTMENT IN SPACE TECHNOLOGIES Managing Director/Publisher As much as $20 billion over two decades Marilyn Tangye Butler AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT MAR 2021 Phone: +61 (0) 410 529 324 VOL.47 NO.2 Email: [email protected] 14 HOW AUSTRALIA CAN DEVELOP A SPACE Editor CAPABILITY Kym Bergmann Others have done it – and so can we Phone: +61(0)412 539 106 Email: [email protected] 18 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SPACE DOMAIN Contributors Vladimir Karnozov Vital – and becoming even more so Arie Egozi Mark Farrer Mike Yeo 20 AUSTRALIA TO DESIGN AND BUILD ARMY Geoff Slocombe WATERCRAFT George Galdorisi RAAF 100TH BIRTHDAY EDITION A great opportunity for local industry Australia AIR MARSHAL MEL HUPFELD INTERVIEW Ventura Media Asia-Pacific Pty Lt RAAF 100TH BIRTHDAY PO Box 88, Miranda ARMY'S NEXT GEN KEEPING RAAF FLYING SATELLITE TECH 24 WATERCRAFT AN THE ROLE OF THE PATHWAY TO A NSW 1490 Australia INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITY LOCAL INDUSTRY SOVEREIGN CAPABILITY Interview with Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal ABN 76 095 476 065 Mel Hupfeld Subscriptions A trio of F-35A Lightning II aircraft in formation over the Pacifi Rose Jeffree with a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport during Exercise Phone: + 61 (0)2 9526 7188 Lightning Ferry 21-1. Credit CoA / Nathan Dull 28 AIRBUS Fax: + 61 (0)2 9526 1779 Email: [email protected] 29 BAE SYSTEMS ADVERTISING OFFICES: REGULARS Australia, NZ & Asia Pacific 30 BOEING DEFENCE AUSTRALIA USA, Canada & South America 04 EDITOR'S LETTER Graham Joss The worsening situation in Myanmar Sales Director 32 LOCKHEED MARTIN AUSTRALIA Phone +61 2 9526 7188 Fax +61 2 9526 1779 Mobile +61 (0) 419 492 836 NEWS 34 NORTHROP GRUMMAN AUSTRALIA Email: [email protected] 06 Loyal Wingman 1st fligh Europe 37 RAYTHEON AUSTRALIA Diana Scogna Mobile: +33 6 6252 2547 Kleos complete satellite milestone Fax: +33 1 7079 0534 38 TAE Email: [email protected] 07 LAND 400 Phase 3 test vehicles arrive Israel ST Asa Talbar 08 Government commitment to Operation Argos 40 1 PERSON INTERVIEW Talbar Media Quickstep CEO Mark Burgess Phone: +972-77-562-1900 NATO ground surveillance IOC Fax: +972-77-562-1903 Email: [email protected] Australian consortium leverages quantum 43 FIX THE QUARANTINE CRISIS Use RAAF Base Woomera Printer technologies Times Printers ISSN 1446-6880 10 Continued strengthening of UK defence links 45 RUSSIAN AIR COMBAT TECHNOLOGY Design Stealth or speed? Maybe both Stun Media Lockheed Martin LRASM contracts Email: [email protected] 48 NEWS FROM ACROSS THE TASMAN Our regular feature Follow us on twitter: @APDR_APAC READ APDR: ANYTIME, ANYWHERE. Facebook: Asia Pacific Defence Reporter (APDR REGISTER NOW FOR YOUR MOBILE FRIENDLY APDR ONLINE www.asiapacificdefencereporter.com SIGN UP TO THE DAILY BULLETIN https://asiapacificdefencereporter.com/#News_Bulletin_Form Contributor’s opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or editor and while every precaution has been taken to ensure that the information contained in this publication is accurate and timely, no liability is accepted by the publisher or editor for errors and omissions, however caused. Articles and information contained in this publication are the copyright of Asia Pacific Defence Publications Pty Ltd (unless otherwise stated) and cannot be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to uncommissioned photographs, manuscripts or other media. © Ventura Media Asia Pacific Pty Ltd 2020 Asia Pacific De ence Reporter MAR 2021 3 EDITORIAL SECURITY SITUATION IN MYANMAR DETERIORATING loot the country through a multitude of legal and and the country became more normal – though of illegal mechanisms including – but not limited to – course still blighted by ethnic conflicts and in logging, gems and drugs. particular the expulsion of hundreds of thousands The election of November 8 saw a further of Rohingya in 2017. Foreign investment has swing to the LND estimated to be in the vicinity poured in from countries such as Singapore, of 83% of the total vote. Having said that, voting Japan, South Korea and China. The military was blocked for security reasons – legitimate or has probably made the calculation that even if not – in Rakhine state and partially blocked in sanctions are re-imposed they will not be as strict Shan, Kachin and a few others. However, if it had and that in any case so much wealth has come into KYM BERGMANN // CANBERRA been permitted the results would most probably the country that it is unlikely to move rapidly in the have favoured the NLD even more heavily, given other direction, no matter what. he daily death toll amongst protestors in the anti-military sentiment resulting on the brutal The least-worst alternative for Australia is to Myanmar is continuing to rise while the crackdown on the Rohingya as well as other ethnic keep the door open for dialogue. The best way T response of the Australian government has minorities. to do this is through military-to-military contacts been ambivalent. The impoverished nation of 60 Another related factor was the political and because whether we like it or not these are the million people is remote from Australia and our economic prize of the Presidency, sought after people who have access beyond that which can economic links are relatively minor, but strategically by coup leader Ming Aung Hlaig. The political be achieved by diplomats. There is the counter it is a key part of Asia. The country has also become dominance of the NLD might also have snatched argument that we must do something to stop part of a broader struggle for influence between the office away from him – and in any case the the Tatmadaw killing their own people in large the West on one hand, China on the other – and sheer scale of the vote has been widely interpreted numbers and that cancelling all military links is the ASEAN somewhere in the middle. as being an anti-military slap in the face. In short, best way of delivering that message. The military seized power on February 1, despite what seems to have precipitated the coup was not To which we say if the West and ASEAN break numerous international warnings to them not to that the LND won the election, but that they did so off contact, that will strengthen the position of do so. The flimsy pretext was that the election in such an emphatic way. Russia and especially China. Beijing now has the of November 8 last year was fraudulent – which Turning now to what, if anything, Australia should economic clout to prop up Myanmar if needed – it most certainly was not. What appears to have do – the dynamics of Myanmar have been affected, and in any case can use its position in the United prompted the coup was, if anything, the magnitude like everything in Asia, by the rise of China. Even Nations to veto sanctions. It also has a very large of the win of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League 20 years ago the Tatmadaw could be influenced stick to keep the Tatmadaw in line – if it wishes for Democracy. This placed her and her party by the opinions of the West – and they were to apply pressure it only needs to start funnelling close to having a sufficient majority in Parliament certainly aware of the consequences of the tough cash and weapons to any of the insurgent groups to be withing striking distance of the 75% of seats international sanctions in place. As the author can inside Myanmar.