Australia’s Air Power Reimagined: The Case for Collaborative Combat Aircraft
The most useful argument at the Sir Richard Williams Foundation’s seminar on air combat mass and depth in Canberra on 1 October was not about aircraft.
The discussion centered on a broader strategic shift, emphasizing the need for Australia to build a defense industrial base capable of integrating autonomous systems rather than focusing solely on platform numbers. John Conway, WGCDR Chris McInnes, and Jeremy Feldhahn, panelists at the event, highlighted how collaborative combat aircraft (CCAs) could offer combat depth, persistence, and operational flexibility—key requirements for a nation with vast territorial responsibilities and limited resources.
The seminar, titled “Collaborative Combat Aircraft in Context: CCAs and Defence Industry,” brought together air force practitioners, industry leaders, and researchers. Moderator John Conway set three “guardrails” for the discussion: relevance to Australia’s strategic context, avoiding tactical comparisons with other conflicts, and focusing on mass and depth as national strategy tools. The conversation avoided platform comparisons, instead exploring how CCAs could complement existing forces rather than replace them.
From Range to Reach: A New Metric for Air Power
Range is a fair description of a land- or sea-launched weapon, measured from the launcher.
Australia’s geographic challenges remain unchanged since 1937, when John Curtin emphasized aviation as the cornerstone of defense. Australia holds more than 8,000 islands across some 10 million square kilometers of sovereign territory… a real quantity to be defended is a volume of airspace rather than a map.
The panel noted that Australia functions as an “archipelago,” with cities connected by air and maritime supply lines reliant on aviation for security.
The Role of Sovereign Industry in CCA Development
Australia’s ability to develop and adapt CCAs hinges on a sovereign industrial base. The MQ-28 program, which has involved over 125 suppliers and reinvested 70% of its funding into Australian industry, exemplifies this approach. The point was not that this one aircraft is the answer but that the intellectual depth now exists to pivot if a different system is needed.
Panelists stressed that while full self-sufficiency is impractical, Australia must retain control over critical design and production capabilities.
The discussion also highlighted the risks of vendor lock-in, with government reference architectures (GRAs) proposed as a solution. Industry initially resisted them. Their purpose is to break vendor lock, so that a mission autonomy package… can be swapped in without rebuilding the platform.
This approach, driven by the U.S., aims to ensure interoperability and flexibility in future systems.
Cost and Value: Beyond Unit Price
The extreme cost of the rescue of a downed crew member… an uncrewed loss would not trigger that cascade.
The panel argued that CCAs are not about replacing crewed aircraft but extending their operational effectiveness.
Addressing the Unresolved Questions About CCAs
Despite consensus on the strategic value of CCAs, several questions remain unresolved. Panelists also raised concerns about air-mindedness, noting that the mindset of prioritizing aerial perspectives and flexibility must be cultivated across institutions.
Did You Know?
The Sydney-Melbourne route, cited as the sixth busiest in the world in 2025, is the most aviation-intensive globally, with nearly 90 seats per 100 people. This reflects Australia’s reliance on air connectivity for both economic and strategic purposes.
Pro Tips
For industry leaders, the challenge is to develop dual-use technologies that can pivot between civilian and military applications, as seen in Ukraine’s rapid adaptation of car manufacturing for defense needs.
FAQ
What is the primary goal of collaborative combat aircraft (CCAs) in Australia’s defense strategy?
CCAs aim to provide combat depth, persistence, and operational flexibility, enabling Australia to defend its vast territory without relying on mass attrition. They complement existing forces rather than replace them, focusing on extending the effectiveness of crewed platforms.
Why is sovereign industry critical for CCA development?
Australia must retain control over critical design and production capabilities to avoid dependency on foreign suppliers. The MQ-28 program demonstrates that domestic industrial depth can be built, even if full self-sufficiency is impractical.
How does Australia’s geography influence its defense needs?
Australia’s vast territory, spanning 10 million square kilometers and 8,000 islands, necessitates a focus on airspace coverage rather than land-based metrics. This geographic reality underscores the importance of air power in maintaining security and connectivity.
Related reading