25 March 2025
Transcript
Your Excellency, the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, Governor General of the
Commonwealth of Australia, Minister Brooks, members of the diplomatic corps,
industry leaders, AMDA Foundation representatives, aviators, ladies and gentlemen,
good evening.
I’d like to echo the sentiment of our earlier speakers and acknowledge the Traditional
Owners of the land on which we meet tonight, and pay my respects to their Elders,
past and present. I extend my respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples with us tonight, and particularly wish to acknowledge all Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples who have served our country with dedication in times
of peace and war.
About five kilometres down the road from here is a facility that is home to our E-7A
Wedgetail Integration Research Environment, or WIRE, as we like to call it.
It is our E-7A Wedgetail human performance environment.
Working side-by-side, as one team, are scientists from the Defence Science and
Technology Group, aviators from our Air Force and technical experts from our prime
integrator, Boeing Defence Australia.
It’s an overlayed research environment that allows them to measure individual and
team performance in tasks that mirror the operational environment.
To give you just one example, an aviator may execute a mission scenario; and then
using tools such as eye tracking and input monitoring, experts can assess the impact
of design changes and optimise the design before modification.
If it sounds high-tech, it’s because it is.
This collaborative environment of scientists, aviators and defence industry working
together, side-by-side, on the same project or inputting into the same project, is not
unique. In fact, it’s commonplace.
To further the example of the E-7A, scientists have been embedded in the Wedgetail
team from its inception. They have worked alongside Boeing and Northrop
Grumman, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group and our aviators to deliver
this world-renowned aircraft.
Meanwhile, tonight’s platinum dinner sponsor, GE Aerospace, also contributes to this
capability, working in a consortium that supplies product for the Wedgetail’s engine.
Collectively, they have delivered a world-class Airborne Early Warning and Control
capability proven in combat. As the old adage goes, ‘Two minds are better than one’
– or, in this case, a number of brilliant minds.
And that’s the point I really want to make tonight. The Air Domain team, which
comprises of aviators, public servants, defence industry and academics, is greater
than the sum of its parts…
… Every organisation, every function, every single person contributes to Air Force’s
mission of generating and delivering highly effective air power as part of an
integrated and focused force.
Defence industry is a critical component of our mission success, you are part of the
broader Air Force family, you help sustain our Air Force.
I’d like to acknowledge your efforts and inputs, and take this opportunity to thank
you.
We find ourselves facing the most challenging strategic circumstances since the
Second World War. As I often say, to our aviators, to our international partners and
now to you here this evening, we are in a period of strategic autumn.
To evolve to meet the strategic challenges we face, the Australian Government has
directed Defence to adopt a Strategy of Denial, which, above all else, is about
deterrence.
A few quick words on deterrence. Deterrence cannot be a broad-brush endeavour. It
needs to be focussed to be effective. As I described at today’s Symposium,
deterrence must be focussed on the malign actors who – if they choose force – have
the power to push us all from autumn into winter. Deterrence needs the capability
and credibility communicated in a way which the malign actors comprehend. In other
words, we need to be able to demonstrate our hard power in training and
preparedness activities every day – and sustain that over the autumn that is ahead
of us.
As an Air Domain team, this requires the detailed integration of our ADF and APS
colleagues, our whole of government partners, our industry partners, and
internationally with our allies and partners. Today’s strategic environment demands
we work even closer together.
For defence industry, that means working with you to increase and enhance our
capability and preparedness, both for the challenges we face today, tomorrow and in
the years ahead. I commend you for your willingness to push the boundaries of what
is possible and team with us to pursue asymmetric advantage.
As part of the Air Domain team, I also call on you to help lift interest in aviation and
help attract and recruit the right people into our team. Everyone has a role to play in
attracting the right people into aviation, including industry.
And what better event to do it then the Australian International Airshow?
At last count, there were just under 8000 young people and students registered to
attend the STEM and Careers day at the Airshow, where they’ll have the opportunity
to hear from our Australian astronaut, and Air Force reservist, Group Captain
Katherine Bennell-Pegg, as well as experienced US astronaut Colonel Mike
Bloomfield. I cannot think of a better way to inspire the future than by hearing from
this remarkable pair.
It’s an incredible opportunity to showcase what the aviation industry has to offer and
to harness future minds.
As I said earlier, Air Force and our Air Domain team is greater than the sum of its
parts—and this week is an incredible showcase of the many diverse and different
parts of air power.
Thank you for your ingenuity and innovation, your efforts and expertise, and your
commitment to helping Air Force achieve its mission.
I greatly value your contributions as part of the broader Air Force family.
Thank you.