Integrated Air and Missile Defence Study: The Challenge of Integrated Force Design

The Williams Foundation conducted an Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) study between Sep16 and Feb 17 to explore the challenges of building Australia’s IAMD capability and the implictions for the Department of Defence’s integrated force design function.

The study was focussed at the Program level of capability.

The study incorporated a visit to the US for a month to explore the IAMD challenge with United States Defense Forces and Agencies, think tanks and Industry. The initial study findings were then explored in Australia in three Defence and Industry workshops on 31 Jan 17 and 1 Feb 17, using a Chatham House model of unattributed discussions.

Many of the statements made in this report are not referenced as they are derived from these Chatham House discussions and associated meetings.

IAMD is a highly complex issue; comments made in this report should not be construed in any way as being critical of the IAMD approach of the Department of Defence.

This report cannot account for the full complexity of the integrated force design process that is being addressed within Defence; however, it may offer some value in providing suggestions based on the study findings.

This study would not have been possible without the support and assistance of several areas within the Australian Department of Defence, the US Defense Department, Industry and think tanks.

The Williams Foundation deeply appreciates the support of the IAMD Study major sponsors, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.

Thanks are also due to Jacobs in funding the services of Dr Gary Waters who provided valuable support in the research for the study and in the produc=on of the workshop notes.

This report represents the views of AVM Blackburn (Retd), the IAMD Study lead. This study report is intentionally high level and brief; in the author’s experience, long and detailed reports are rarely read by senior decision makers.