Publications | Joint Air Power Competence Centre

Journal 16

We begin this edition with an interview with Brigadier General Jiří Verner, Chief of the Czech Air Force; whom we are indebted to for providing a privileged insight into developments within the Czech Air Force whilst also stressing the exceptional importance of Air Forces in military operations. Later we take a look at the Czech approach to maintaining a viable Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) capability through modernisation and the possibilities of cooperation with neighbouring nations as a ‘Smart Defence’ opportunity.

Enhancing NATO’s Operational Helicopter Capability

The aim of this document is to determine helicopter shortcomings in international standardisation, doctrine, and Education and Training (E&T) within the NATO environment; especially in Joint and Combined operations. This project will also provide recommendations to enhance future NATO helicopter capabilities in land operations. This will also detail the current complexities of stand-alone national doctrines and national Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTP’s). Finally, the study proposes enhancements necessary for a more collaborative approach.

Flyer 8

“Leadership is action, not position.“ When dealing with the word, term, perception or idea of ‘competence’, a cardinal problem and inevitable debate enter the stage: “What precisely is competence?” “What do you understand by competence?”

Flyer 7

s the current conflict in Afghanistan has evolved over the past decade, so has the joint application of firepower and associated weapons systems. Today, at the heart of Joint Fires, hundreds of Forward Air Controllers / Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (FAC / JTACs) are supporting land commanders and troops across the ISAF theatre of operations with their air, Joint Fires and CAS expertise. Joint Fires Observers (JFOs), also supporting the fight in Afghanistan, are considered to be a significant force multiplier and of great value to the coalition in the Joint Fires community.

Filling the Vacuum – A Framework for a NATO Space Policy

The JAPCC intends with this document not to write a broad NATO policy, but to help readers understand the operational impact of realistic and achievable specifically targeted policy prescriptions. The following proposal is intentionally narrow in scope and concentrated on the employment, coordination and defence of space capabilities used to support NATO operations and core business.

Flyer 6

NATO depends greatly on space capabilities to achieve its political aims. While the Alliance has yet to fully come to grips with the implications of its reliance on space capabilities, there are signs pointing to improved orchestration, defence and employment of NATO space capabilities. The most important of these could be efforts to formalise the NATO Space Integrated Project Team (IPT) led by Allied Command Transformation.

Flyer 5

A task force of nine NATO nations and Australia (BLUE) battled a combination of terrorists, pirates and affiliated third parties (RED) during the world’s premier space and cyberspace wargame conducted by U.S. Air Force Space Command and hosted by the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center. Set in 2023, Schriever Wargame 2012 International (SW 12 International) offered NATO an unprecedented opportunity to explore combined space operations within a NATO construct.

Journal 15

In this edition of the Journal we offer our analysis of counter-piracy operations and provide you with an update to this delicate issue. Our Maritime Air expert will present the key results of an experiment conducted in gaining insights into potential commitment levels of A&S ISR platforms in the Region off the Horn of Africa.

Regional Fighter Partnership – Options for Cooperation and Cost Sharing

The aim of this paper is to describe a RFP concept to share costs across common fighter aircraft capabilities and their enabling aspects, including logistics, maintenance and training, whilst keeping national sovereign command over assets. The focus is on CEE nations willing to pool and share resources that supports basic national requirements for air policing, precision strike and Close Air Support (CAS) of ground forces.

JAPCC Annual Report 2011

2011 was a challenging year for the Joint Air Power Competence Centre (JAPCC). We completed a number of important projects as well as sustained our participation in many NATO activities. Our annual conference was one of the year’s highlights along with a visit from a Russian Federation delegation. JAPCC also produced two Journals and many other products with which the Centre has once again emphasised its attention to all related Air and Space matters. Combined, these projects, activities, and events contribute to the overall program of work for the JAPCC.