Joint Air Power Competence Centre

Our Vision

Be NATO’s catalyst for the improvement and transformation of Joint Air and Space Power; delivering effective solutions through independent thought and analysis.

Our Mission

As a team of multinational experts, we’re to provide key decision-makers effective solutions on Air and Space Power challenges, in order to safeguard NATO and the Nations’ interests.

In the Spotlight

Joint Personnel Recovery in an Urban Environment

Urban warfare is not a new phenomenon: Syria, Iraq, Ukraine, and Gaza are just some of the most recent examples. As global urbanization accelerates, it becomes increasingly probable that the Alliance will be involved in more Urban Operations (UO) than it experienced in the past. When conducting a military operation in an Urban Environment (UE), two challenges immediately arise: ‘One is simply being able to understand the environment. The other is being able to understand how to operate in the environment’....

Journal Edition 38

After an exhilarating three years in Kalkar, my tenure as the JAPCC Assistant Director and Managing Editor of this Journal will end in September 2024. I am immensely grateful to my editorial team, under the leadership of the Chief of Staff, for their dedication and hard work in ensuring the success of our Journal. Their efforts have made my role seamless, and I truly appreciate their contributions. I also extend my thanks to all the contributing Nations for providing their...

Joint Air and Space Power

Warfighting Domains​

Air Operations

Cyberspace Operations

Land Operations

Maritime Operations

Multi-Domain Operations

Space Support in Operations

Competencies

Our multinational team of subject matter experts from across all military services provides the Alliance with recognized expertise, experience, and in-depth knowledge committed to delivering effective solutions for the Alliance through independent thought and analysis.

Joint Air and Space Power Conference 2024 Concluded

Our annual Joint Air and Space Power Conference was held from 8 to 10 October 2024 and focused on ‘Challenges and Opportunities for Air and Space Power in an Evolving Security Environment’.

The conference was opened by a welcome address from Lieutenant General Thorsten Poschwatta, Commander German Air Operations Command, Commander NATO Combined Air Operations Centre Uedem, and Executive Director Joint Air Power Competence Centre, followed by the introductory keynote speech of Dr Gergely Németh, Director General of the Hungarian Defence Innovation Research Institute.

The first panel discussed the global security changes, the ripple effects of shifting power dynamics, the changing landscape of warfare and the need for the alliance to adapt to deter and prevail in future conflicts effectively. The afternoon of the first day was opened by Dr Jyh-Shyang Sheu from the Taiwan Institute for National Defence and Security Research, outlining the current challenges for his country. The subsequent panel then examined the role of joint air and space power in contemporary conflict.

The second conference day opened with a keynote address by General Stephen N. Whiting, Commander of United States Space Command. The third panel discussed how the proliferation of advanced drones, loitering munitions and precision missiles challenges the conventional paradigms of air dominance and how NATO needs to adapt. The concluding panel debated the industry’s contribution to enhancing NATO Allies’ dedication to the defence sector in maintaining the necessary production capacity for defence during peace, crisis, and the preparation for conflict escalation.

We want to thank our moderator, speakers, panellists, and the audience for their contributions to excellent and thought-provoking discussions about the challenges and opportunities for air and space power in an evolving security environment.

We look forward to next year’s Joint Air and Space Power Conference, which will be held again at the Congress Centre Essen, Germany, from 6 to 8 October 2025.

Recent Publications

Ramstein Flag 2024

NATO’s First Flag Level Air Exercise
By Lt Col 
William 
Barksdale 
By Lt Col 
Athanasios 
Sdrakas 
NATO conducted its first Ramstein Flag (RAFL) in Greece from 30 September to 11 October 2024. The exercise was spearheaded by NATO Allied Air Command, conducted across Greek airspace, and represents a transformative step in [...]

Introducing NATO’s New UAS Training Methodology

By Lt Col 
Andre 
Haider 
In recent years, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have become essential to military and civilian operations worldwide. These systems offer unprecedented capabilities in surveillance, intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, and combat missions. As the use of UAS expands, [...]

Journal Edition 38

After an exhilarating three years in Kalkar, my tenure as the JAPCC Assistant Director and Managing Editor of this Journal will end in September 2024. I am immensely grateful to my editorial team, under the [...]

Publication Categories

The JAPCC’s mission is to provide advice and subject matter expertise for the transformation of Joint Air and Space Power; provide independent analysis and solutions to the Alliance of Nations, as well as future-oriented visions of Air and Space Power, all of which have to be realised in high-quality real-time professional output and targeted media. Our diverse online publication archives and academic material are professionally produced to communicate effectively and be recognised as a reliable and professional resource.

Professional Air and Space Power Publications Written by NATO’s Premier Subject Matter Experts

What is 'Air Power'?

Fast Facts

Based on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the JAPCC is sponsored by 14 NATO nations who provide a variety of experienced Subject Matter Experts (SME) that come from all three services. Through its multi-discipline organization, the JAPCC chooses the most suitable SMEs for the task and combines their knowledge and experience to fully contribute to transforming NATO’s A&S Power. More importantly, the JAPCC is not constrained by the need for consensus or by political expediency in developing ideas. It can offer independent military advice across the spectrum of A&S Power to NATO HQs and national policy-making bodies.

Our primary customers are NATO Headquarters (Allied Command Operations, Allied Command Transformation, NATO Joint Commands and Air Command) and sponsoring nations. However, the JAPCC does accept Requests for Support (RfS) from other sources via our RfS form, which can be accessed via the link below. With numerous successful products and ever-increasing connections with industry and academia, the JAPCC continues to build upon its reputation as NATO’s preeminent advocate for the development and enhancement of Joint A&S Power

Online Request for Support Form

A&S Power SMEs, drawn from the Land, Maritime and Air components of the 16 MoU nations, conduct collaborative research into areas in which JAPCC assistance is requested by leveraging their independent thought and a global network of experts that reach across the military, academic and industrial spheres. The resulting analysis and solutions are disseminated via studies, reports, journal articles, seminars, panels and conferences.

Contact Us

Contact Information

Joint Air Power Competence Centre
Römerstrasse 140
47546 Kalkar
Germany

+49 (0) 2824 90 2201

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