Events

We are committed to enhancing NATO Joint Air and Space Power by promoting networking and collaboration among key decision-makers and subject matter experts. To achieve this, we host a range of events, including conferences, working groups, and expert meetings. Our three major annual events are the Joint Air Power Conference, the Think Tank Forum, and the Joint Air and Space Power Network Meeting.

Our events serve as a platform for Air and Space Power entities and actors to convene, discuss shared concerns, exchange insights, and explore opportunities for collaboration in developing effective solutions to real-world problems. Our ultimate goal is to foster a culture of innovation and knowledge-sharing that will enhance NATO Joint Air and Space Power capability, making it even stronger and more effective.

Event Schedule

Air-to-Air Refueling Workshop

Joint Air Power Competence Centre, Kalkar, Germany

Think Tank Forum

Allied Air Command, Ramstein, Germany

Steering Committee and
Senior Resource Committee Meetings

Joint Air Power Competence Centre, Kalkar, Germany

Joint Air and Space Power Conference

Congress Centre Essen, Germany

Joint Air and Space Power Network Meeting

Joint Air Power Competence Centre, Kalkar, Germany

The Think Tank Forum

The JAPCC has organised the Think Tank Forum since 2014, and it has evolved over the past years to become an effective venue that brings together national and NATO HQs, Air and space-related academic institutions, and Air and Space Warfare Centres to share perspectives and engage in discussions on current and emerging Air and Space topics. Furthermore, sharing insights and identifying areas of common interest have proven to be practical mechanisms that allow us to avoid duplication of effort and provide the essential dynamic to keep transforming in order to be prepared for future challenges.

The main objectives of the Think Tank Forum are to:

  • share information regarding the transformation of Joint Air and Space Power and developments within the Air and Space domains.
  • share insights and discuss our organizations’ agendas and programmes of work, focusing on the main topics and developments that influence those.
  • identify, discuss, and develop potential areas of cooperation and prevent duplication of effort.
  • develop better synergies and strengthen relationships within the Air and Space Power community.
  • promote JAPCC’s overall activity with emphasis on the areas with potential for cooperation and collaboration.

 

In 2024, the TTF was organized with the Allied Air Command (ACC) as a two-day conference, with participation from national, NATO and international entities, and in total, more than sixty distinguished individuals attended.

The positive trend of increasing national defence budgets provided the basis to discuss topics like state-of-the-art technologies, capabilities development and procurements, effective employment of National Air and Space forces, and structures and processes supporting interoperability across multiple domains. Together, we identified areas of common interest and potential collaboration to contribute collectively to both national and NATO forces’ transformation.

It is recognized that the benefit of any meeting is the networking opportunities and the chance to make new personal contacts or strengthen old ones. The opportunities to interact with others are of utmost importance.

Forums like the TTF effectively foster cooperation and collaboration that will enhance our common deterrence and defence.

This next year’s event will be organized again at the Allied Air Command in Ramstein, Germany, in March 2025.

The JAPCC and ACC welcome any national, international and NATO entity with a role, interest, or working agenda in the Air and Space domains. If your unit or organization considers TTF relevant to your activities, please get in touch with us, and we will send you the necessary joining information.

Steering Committee and Senior Resource Committee Meetings

The Steering Committee (SC) meeting is intended to inform sponsoring nation air chiefs or their designated flag officer representatives of the JAPCC programme of work, the Director’s priorities, the state of the Centre and then allow the Committee to provide broad strategic guidance to shape the future programme of work. Additionally, this meeting will provide a progress update on action items from last year’s Committee discussions.

The Senior Resource Committee (SRC) meeting is intended to ensure JAPCC activities are matched with a prudent allocation of resources. The chairman will lead delegates through a review of the 2023 SRC action items, the previous day’s SC meeting decisions, and the normal budget review, including previous year’s summary, current year execution, fiscal year 2025 request and the mid-term financial plan. 

Please note that this meeting is by invitation only.

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.

Air-to-Air Refueling Workshop

The AAR Clearances Workshop will be held 3-4 December 2024 at JAPCC, Kalkar Germany with the alternate location at CAOC Uedem, Germany.

The AAR Workshop is open to all Allies and NATO Military Authorities (NMAs). All Allies who are targeted with an AAR capability in the NATO Defence Planning Process (NDPP) or who have aerial refuelling capable aircraft are kindly requested to send their subject matter experts to this workshop. Additionally, operational experts from within the NATO Command Structure are invited to attend as well.

Registration is mandatory for all attendees. Please register by 31 October 2024. Please email the event POC, , soonest with your intention to attend the workshop.

The meeting will be held at the JAPCC premises, with CAOC  Uedem as an alternate location (tbd).

The overall security classification of the meeting is NATO UNCLASSIFIED. 

The maximum capacity of participants has been reached. Please contact for any inquiries.

The Joint Air and Space Power Network Meeting

Since 2014, the Joint Air and Space Power Network (JASPN) Meeting has been a venue to share ideas and perspectives, identify areas of common interest, and, thus, achieve efficient approaches and avoid unnecessary duplications with the aim to collectively contribute to solutions for imminent and future Air and Space Power challenges.

Similar to the Think Tank Forum, the JASPN Meeting helps to develop better synergies within the Air and Space Power community by bringing together NATO, EU, and international organizations.

The main objectives of the JASPN Meeting are to:

  • share information regarding the transformation of Joint Air and Space Power and developments within the Air and Space domains.
  • share insights and discuss our organizations’ agendas and programmes of work, with a focus on the main projects and activities.
  • identify, discuss, and develop potential areas of cooperation and prevent duplication of effort.
  • develop better synergies and strengthen relationships within the Air and Space Power community.
  • promote JAPCC’s overall activity with emphasis on the areas with potential for cooperation and collaboration.

In 2023, on 14th and 15th November, the JASPN Meeting welcomed representatives from the Allied Command Transformation, NATO HQ International Staff, NATO Science and Technology Organization, NATO HQ Military International Staff, European Air Group, European Defence Agency, European Air Transport Command, Movements Coordination Centre Europe, Command and Control Centre of Excellence, Integrated Air and Missile Defence Centre of Excellence, Space Centre of Excellence and the Competence Centre for Surface-Based Air and Missile Defence. The two-day event highlighted the importance of AirCom’s five priorities in addressing threats such as conflicts on European borders, challenges posed by China and Iran, terrorism, and cyber and hybrid attacks. Throughout the discussions, participants agreed Alliance capabilities must be interoperable and integrated across all domains to support multi-domain operations and deliver multi-domain effects.

It is recognized that the benefit of any meeting is the networking opportunities and the chance to make new personal contacts or strengthen old ones. The opportunities to interact with others are of utmost importance.

This year’s event will be held in Kalkar, at the JAPCC, from November 19 to 20, 2024.

The JAPCC welcomes any NATO, EU or international entity with a role, interest, or working agenda in the Air and Space domains. If your unit or organization considers JASPN relevant to your activities, please contact us, and we will send you the necessary joining information.

Contact Us

Contact Information

Joint Air Power Competence Centre
Römerstrasse 140
47546 Kalkar
Germany

+49 (0) 2824 90 2201

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