NATO air forces need to focus on air superiority and ‘realistic’ training
European air forces ‘should not pretend to need to put money’ into all different types of air operations and capabilities. (Photo: UK MoD/Crown Copyright)
At the RUSI Combat Air Conference 2023, experts and senior air force personnel openly talked about the lessons air forces learned from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. NATO air arms must focus on SEAD/DEAD missions, stockpiling ammunition and air superiority.
Ukraine cannot be given Western fighter jets to use them as NATO forces do, Russia will not stop mobilisation, NATO air forces need to focus on suppression and destruction of enemy air defences (SEAD/DEAD) missions if they want to prevail in future conflicts, and the RAF will reach its ultimate size for the next decade by 2025.
These are just some of the main comments researchers, experts and senior air force leaders made at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) Combat Air Conference 2023 at the end of March.
The war in Ukraine has provided air forces with a vast
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Air Warfare
-
![Bell selected over Boeing to build DARPA SPRINT X-Plane]()
Bell selected over Boeing to build DARPA SPRINT X-Plane
The programme first began in 2023 with Bell and Boeing’s concepts progressing to Phase 1B, in which testing has been carried out over the last year.
-
![National Audit Office report highlights major delays in UK’s F-35 programme]()
National Audit Office report highlights major delays in UK’s F-35 programme
The report discloses that while the capability provided by the F-35 is superior to previous UK aircraft, delays from the UK Ministry of Defence on the programme have significantly impacted the country’s warfighting capabilities.
-
![France and UK to resume and upgrade Storm Shadow/SCALP production]()
France and UK to resume and upgrade Storm Shadow/SCALP production
The new ‘Entente Industrielle’ will work on a range of other projects to boost the UK economy and defence industry, including joint development on new high-tech frequency weapons and extended range air-to-air missiles.
-
![Boeing E-7A still in South Korean AEW&C competition, despite dropout reports]()
Boeing E-7A still in South Korean AEW&C competition, despite dropout reports
The E-7A is one of three aircraft submitted for the South Korean AEW&C II competition, which seeks to acquire four more aircraft of the type for its air force by 2028.
