Air chiefs conference stresses on interoperability, closer relationships

Building interoperability and synergy among partners was the main theme at last week''s Global Air Chiefs Conference (GACC) in Washington DC.

Nearly a dozen of the world''s air chiefs led discussions about international relations and the interoperability of air and space forces required in the fight against terrorism and to ensure global stability well into the future.

Strengthening partnerships with coalition and allied air forces is one of the US Air Force''s strategic goals and the conference was an effort to accelerate progress toward achieving that goal, said US Air Force Chief of Staff Gen T Michael Moseley.

He said the basic aim of the conference was establishing and reinforcing air force-to-air force relationships, increasing the overall understanding of the operational dynamics faced by airmen around the globe, and working toward interoperable solutions for common challenges. "I''m confident that we achieved those objectives," he said, adding: "We operate in the same medium but often with different resources. The key is working together to achieve the desired effect quickly in any situation."

More than 80 international air chiefs attended the weeklong GACC, which ended on 28 September. The conference gave leaders a chance to build and reaffirm global relationships.

Ghana''s air chief Air Vice Marshall Julius Boateng emphasised the need to improve partnerships with the US Air Force. He stated, "Our countries need to continue to dialogue and strengthen our partnerships."

Air Vice Marshall Boateng also emphasised that air forces must work toward greater interoperability. By standardising equipment, training and procedures, they can progress toward this goal, he said.

Commander of the United Arab Emirates air force and air defence Staff Major General Pilot Mohammad bin Swaidan al Qamzi expanded on the notion of interoperability beyond technical, machine-to-machine connections. He pointed out that air forces also must have cultural interoperability - by understanding each others'' doctrines and tactics, techniques, and procedures - to work together effectively.

The air chiefs also discussed the need to address interoperability in weapon systems procurement. Seventeen NATO nations currently operate UAVs and most are not interoperable. In addition, 60 more UAVs are currently in development around the world which, when fielded, will only increase the challenges associated with air force-to-air force interoperability, the air chiefs said.

General Moseley highlighted some of the missions that could be improved by partnering. "Our nations are engaged in a worldwide conflict," he said, "which requires greater international partnering to defeat threats to our way of life." He said air forces should share in cooperative efforts, like medical assistance and humanitarian missions, as well as search, rescue and recovery efforts.

Gen Moseley said that air forces need to work together to bring quick relief to those who are suffering, whether they are victims of earthquakes in Pakistan, the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami or Hurricane Katrina. "Developing closer relationships allows us to fly immediately into action when required," he said.

Air chiefs all over the globe face the same set of fundamental challenges, Gen Moseley declared at the conclusion of the conference. He urged air forces to continue to share ideas and build relationships, so they could better leverage their air and space power capabilities to achieve a common goal - "making the world a safer place for our children and grandchildren".