2020 was a big year for the nation, with Defence and defence industry playing an important role in the nation’s post-COVID recovery. In this top five, we will cover the most popular Strike and Air Combat domain stories of the year.
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In this podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Steve Kuper discuss the massive year that was for the Royal Australian Air Force, which has seen major progress across the acquisition cycle, including on some of Australia’s largest Defence projects, with the growing fleet of fifth-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and announcements around Australia’s acquisition of an armed remotely piloted aerial system.
2020 has also seen major progress and advancements across the Air Force’s fleet of E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning command and control aircraft, KC-30A Multi-role Tanker Transport and airlift aircraft fleet.
However, 2020 was a year dominated by a focus on air combat and strike capabilities, with public conversation focusing on the F-35 and America’s decision to cancel the F-22 Raptor in the mid-2010s, as well as concerns about Australia’s long-range strike capability gap becoming increasingly topical talking points.
Enjoy the podcast,
The Defence Connect team
Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:
Episode 510: CONTESTED GROUND: Iran’s collapsing sphere of influence
Episode 509: DEFENCE PROPERTY PODCAST: Understanding the ever-changing landscape of regional property investment
Episode 508: PODCAST: A proud history of providing debate and connecting sailors, with Mark Schweikert, federal president, Navy League of Australia
Episode 507: SPOTLIGHT: GWEO – protecting Australian sovereignty, with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control’s James Heading
Episode 506: CONTESTED GROUND: Ukraine’s freedom of manoeuvre in the information domain
Episode 505: SPOTLIGHT: AUKUS Pillar II – how technology sharing is strengthening our national security, with FAS Stephen Moore and Dr Nigel McGinty
Episode 504: PODCAST: Unleashing Australian know-how to grow military power fast, with John Storey, Institute of Public Affairs
Episode 503: CONTESTED GROUND: The intersection of national security and Australia’s declining economic performance
Episode 502: SPOTLIGHT: Developing risk frameworks for Defence, with Atturra’s Andrew Balmaks
Episode 501: CONTESTED GROUND: Maritime competition drives need for an Australian Coast Guard, with Jennifer Parker