The RAAF is a tier one air force, not large but with advanced capabilities which can be further strengthened through building of fighting depth, says RAAF chief Air Marshal Stephen Chappell.
Addressing the 2026 Air and Space Power Conference in Canberra, he said Australia was facing the most challenging strategic circumstances since World War 2.
“We find ourselves in an era of deep and accelerating geopolitical disruption, one that calls for strategic discipline, heightened preparedness and a shared commitment to safeguarding our future,” he said.
Most recently, the RAAF deployed an E-7A Wedgetail aircraft to the Middle East at the request of the United Arab Emirates, he said Australia has also supplied the UAE with an unknown number of AMRAAM missiles.
AIRMSHL Chappell said Australia was indeed confronting the most challenging and precarious strategic environment since WW2.
“And what that means for us as leaders is we must respond in ways not seen since World War 2, ways that may feel unfamiliar to us,” he said.
AIRMSHL Chappell termed this time now as a strategic autumn.
“I see this as being our season of preparedness, a time to make changes, evolve and ensure we are ready for any number of plausible possible future scenarios including the worst-case scenario of conflict and war,” he said.
In these circumstances, conflict and war is not inevitable and can be deterred.
“The more we are prepared in autumn, the less chance of winter,” he said.
AIRMSHL Chappell said the RAAF was a small to medium sized air force from a capacity point of view.
“But we are definitely a tier one air force from a capability point of view. Tier one to me means we can deliver to a very high level across the key air power roles…. control of the air, strike, ISR and air mobility,” he said.
“Building fighting depth is about creating more capacity and capability in everything we do and all of our thinking, behaving and operating differently. It is part mindset, part making sure we have the right capabilities and systems and the right culture.”
That wasn’t a strategy, plan or blueprint but an idea to guide how people were thinking and operating.
“It is unlocking more capacity by recruiting the next generation of aviators, strengthening relationships with existing partners and finding new partners to work with. It’s harnessing Australia’s diverse aviation resources, both military and civilian,” AIRMSHL Chappell stated.
“It is doing the ordinary things extraordinarily well every day and finding those one and two percenters in everything we do to further unlock our potential and optimise our capability and capacity.”
He said unlocking 1,000 one percenters would significantly enhance our performance.
“All of this helps us as an air force give our nation more options in more places more often,” he said.
“Building fighting depth is about growing what we can do as an air force, how much we can do and the circumstances of what we can do across the dimensions of time, space and posture.”
AIRMSHL Chappell said the good news was that RAAF was already doing this and had been for years.
“But we now need to accelerate and expand its adoption,” he said.
AIRMSHL Chappell cited the example of the firefighters at RAAF Base Williamtown who, at their own initiative, worked with NSW civilian fire and emergency services, creating a better and more capable firefighting team at one of the largest RAAF bases.
He said fighting depth was created by making sure the entire air domain team felt connected to the mission of generating and building air power and possessed a warfighting mindset.
At RAAF Tindal and other northern bases, personnel had been rehearsing to ensure critical fighting positions could survive and recover from attack.
“These activities directly link every person on that base to our core purpose,” he said.