From ‘fail-safe’ to ‘safe-to-fail’
Is it possible to reconceptualise the value of failure to the RAAF and its operational effectiveness? In this new #FailureWins post,...
The Central Blue
The Central Blue is a forum designed to promote informed discussion and debate about air power issues affecting Australia. Our scope is broad, covering topics from tactical integration to strategic theory; and from historical lessons to future capabilities. We welcome submissions from any source, and particularly encourage serving military practitioners to contribute, in order to foster a new generation of air power thinkers.
- Apr 30
- 7 min
Book Review: How to Lead a Quest - and reframing the conversation of failure
Through this book review in support of our #FailureWins series, TCB editor Luke Webb explores Dr. Jason Fox’s book on How to Lead a Quest...
- Apr 23
- 5 min
#FailureWins: Is success or failure a scale?
Is a culture where acceptance of failure is normalised one that will have a positive impact on ADF capability? Robert Vine argues that in...
- Apr 2
- 2 min
#FutureChiefs: Could AI fill the role of CAF?
In this instalment of #FutureChiefs, Keirin Joyce (@keirinjoyce) questions if AI could fill the role of CAF - or is a hybrid affair the...
- Mar 19
- 6 min
How can we improve the RAAF’s Officer Training System?
Building a capacity for junior leaders to ask deep questions and possess a greater integrated view of Air Force specialisations is...
- Mar 5
- 2 min
#FutureChiefs: Future CAF – why blue?
The Royal Australian Air Force is the principle air and space force of Australia, and yet each branch exclusively conducts its own air...
![Flying Camelot: the F-15, the F-16, and the Weaponization of Fighter Pilot Nostalgia [Book Review]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/806351_ca75830a7644498aa69ff68547c7f088~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_480,h_360,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/806351_ca75830a7644498aa69ff68547c7f088~mv2.jpg)
- Feb 26
- 5 min
Flying Camelot: the F-15, the F-16, and the Weaponization of Fighter Pilot Nostalgia [Book Review]
Chris McInnes takes a look at Flying Camelot: the F-15, the F-16, and the Weaponization of the Fighter Pilot Nostalgia by Michael W....
- Feb 16
- 3 min
Remembering Brendan Sargeant: Australia’s Premier Strategist
By Robbin Laird FEATURED STORY Remembering Brendan Sargeant: Australia's Premier Strategist | Defense.info This is a piece I never wanted...
- Feb 5
- 3 min
#FailureWins - Call for submissions: Innovation, iteration, and lessons learned
Failure carries a stigma. In mature cultures gripped by the Curse of Efficiency, failure is bad. Very bad. The learning derived from...
- Jan 29
- 8 min
Airpower, baby! How Air Force can unlock latent workforce capability
It’s no secret that people are the principal capability that keeps any organisation functioning and competitive. Ben Gray looks at Air...
- Jan 22
- 13 min
A 'Scorched-Earth Orbit Policy' emerges from Indifference to Space Debris from ASAT missions
With the Air Force’s Space Command going live this year, it’s worth kicking off 2022 with a timely piece by Air Force Reservist SQNLDR...
- Dec 22, 2021
- 3 min
2021: A Central Blue year review
As 2021 draws to a close, it seems a perfect time for TCB editors to reflect upon another big year. This year's focus on autonomous...
- Dec 11, 2021
- 6 min
Bringing the Thunder – All Domain Command & Control in the Next Fight
Since WW2, effective airpower integration into land forces has been a recurring theme. But as Western air superiority faces a new era of...
- Dec 4, 2021
- 8 min
Logistics in War: Enablers to Aviators
In this multi-faceted #AirForce2121 piece, SQNLDR Kylie Melville reflects on what logistics will look like over the next 100 years....
- Dec 3, 2021
- 2 min
Meet the new The Central Blue Editorial Interns!
The Central Blue recently sought expressions of interest from passionate and dedicated Junior Officers, Enlisted and Australian Public...
- Dec 1, 2021
- 6 min
Commentary on Likely Increase in JSF Engine Costs to Increase - Part 2
Air power discourse is The Central Blue’s core focus. In this two-part series, Gary Waters provides an in depth commentary on likely...
- Nov 27, 2021
- 4 min
Commentary on Likely Increase in JSF Engine Costs to Increase - Part 1
Air power discourse is The Central Blue’s core focus. In this two-part series, Gary Waters provides an in depth commentary on likely...
- Nov 21, 2021
- 1 min
Call for Submissions: #FutureChiefs
With senior leadership movements on the horizon within Air Force, we’re turning our attention to thinking about the role of its primary...
- Nov 20, 2021
- 2 min
2021 Announcement: The Dr Alan Stephens Air Power Literary Prize winner
In 2021, the Royal Australian Air Force celebrated 100 years of service - a monumental achievement celebrated all around Australia. The...
- Nov 6, 2021
- 7 min
Australia’s ‘Loyal Wingman’ Disrupts Designs for Aircraft and Air Missions with Autonomy and AI
The first test flight of the ‘Loyal Wingman’ marks an important step for Australia’s first designed and built military aircraft in over...
- Oct 23, 2021
- 5 min
What will the RAAF look like in 2121?
The 20th century saw some of the greatest and fastest technological advancements. With ever quickening advances, what wonders will the...
- Oct 16, 2021
- 5 min
The Case for a Universal Multi-Domain Shipping Container
Logistics is the backbone to any operation for every Service where fast, efficient transport is vital to success. Logistic Officer...
- Oct 9, 2021
- 5 min
Automation: A Blind Reliance
Automation is finding its way into more aspects of Air Force technologies. These processes are able to significantly speed up manual...
- Oct 2, 2021
- 4 min
What is a MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Sensor Operator?
The Royal Australian Air Force, under Project AIR 7003 Phase 1, is looking to gain a competitive advantage within the region with its...
- Sep 25, 2021
- 6 min
Going Pro—The Profession of Arms and the Enlisted Aviator
What does it truly mean to ‘go pro’? Warrant Officer David Turnbull dives into the concept of being a professional within Air Force and...
- Sep 18, 2021
- 6 min
Assuring 2121 - Ben Luther
In this latest instalment of our #AirForce2121 series, we move from the sci-fi-esque notion of future AI-enabled capabilities and turn to...
- Sep 4, 2021
- 8 min
Human-Machine Teaming: “Hal and iKnow, a Smarter Working Team”
This week Squadron Leader Michael Spencer uses science fiction to theorise on the struggles, and solutions, that a future force may...
- Aug 28, 2021
- 5 min
#BookReview: Airpower in the war against ISIS – Benjamin S. Lambeth
This week, SQNLDR Jenna Higgins reviews Benjamin S. Lambeth's book released this year by the US Naval Institute chronicling Operational...
- Aug 25, 2021
- 2 min
EOIs Open: Join the Central Blue team
The Central Blue editorial team is seeking Expressions of Interest to join the team. Who are we? The Central Blue is an online forum...
- Aug 21, 2021
- 6 min
Fighting for Time: Conflict in the 22nd Century
This week GPCAPT Phil Arms offers a prospective glimpse into the ‘New Generation Force’ of the 2100s in the latest instalment of our...
- Aug 14, 2021
- 7 min
Why long-wave infrared threatens fighter stealth and survivability
This week, The Central Blue welcomes ADFA graduate Jack Ryan as he examines the implications of emerging Infrared sensors. While IR...
- Aug 7, 2021
- 4 min
Kobayashi Maru: Decision survivability & finding ways around the impossible - Chris McInnes
We welcome back multiple-time contributor Chris McInnes as he takes inspiration from Star Trek to advocate for decision-makers who can...
- Jul 25, 2021
- 6 min
#AirForce2121: Air Force’s Strategic Culture as a Force for Continuity
We welcome back our editorial colleague WGCDR Ulas Yildirim as he asks a provocative #AirForce2121 question: is Air Force on a path to...
- Jul 17, 2021
- 7 min
The autonomy advantage: Is the ADF missing an opportunity? - WGCDR Keirin Joyce
In April this year, The Sir Richard Williams Foundation's return-from-COVID seminar Next Generation Autonomous Systems (NGAS) offered a...
- Jul 11, 2021
- 7 min
Space law and military operations 101 – Dr Dale Stephens and Jenna Higgins
Despite its futuristic feel, the first space war has already been fought, and by some decades. In 1991, in fact – the Gulf War[1]. While...
- Jul 3, 2021
- 6 min
How Safe is Too Safe? Putting the Reasonably Back in Reasonably Practicable
This week The Central Blue welcomes back Flight Lieutenant Joshua Vicino as he asks some 'reasonably challenging' questions about...
- Jun 19, 2021
- 6 min
Tomorrow’s Air Force Airbases: Fit for Purpose, Robust and Resilient
This week we welcome back Dr. Peter Layton who turns a spotlight to a sometimes-understated aspect of airpower: Airbases. As airpower...
- Jun 5, 2021
- 12 min
From Frankenstein to Astro Boy: Humans, Automation, and Warfare
In April this year Group Captain Jo Brick (an esteemed editor at The Central Blue) gave a compelling presentation to the Williams...
- May 22, 2021
- 8 min
All Teeth and No Tail – Evolving the Air Power Workforce
This week we welcome back Wing Commander David Hood to discuss how the Royal Australian Air Force can better engage the full spectrum of...
- May 16, 2021
- 6 min
A Need for an Australian Space Force
In his first piece for the Central Blue, Dr. Graham Wild explores Australia’s future and outlines the need for our own Space Force. Space...
- May 8, 2021
- 6 min
The Right People in the Right Place at the Right Time
Not all motivations are the same. Corporal Dylan Williamson demonstrates the importance for supervisors, and the Australian Defence Force...
- May 2, 2021
- 8 min
Leading Edge – Australia’s air and space power in the next century
In this piece, multiple-time contributor Chris McInnes makes the argument that the RAAF must build the capacity and capability to lead...
![[Part 2] NASA Remote Piloted Aircraft Displaced in Time and Space is Ingenuity](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/806351_ceb63a87d39b4169b5a866e7bf2f274b~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_480,h_360,fp_0.50_0.50,enc_auto/806351_ceb63a87d39b4169b5a866e7bf2f274b~mv2.png)
- Apr 25, 2021
- 6 min
[Part 2] NASA Remote Piloted Aircraft Displaced in Time and Space is Ingenuity
In the second half of his series on NASA’s remote piloted aircraft, join Squadron Leader Michael Spencer as he deep dives into the...
- Apr 18, 2021
- 7 min
NASA Remote Piloted Aircraft Displaced in Time and Space is Ingenuity - Part 1
In this two part series, Squadron Leader Michael Spencer details the significance of NASA’s remote piloted aircraft, the Ingenuity...
- Apr 10, 2021
- 2 min
#AFSTRAT LOE 4 Response: Evolving Air Force Culture - Patrick Helsing
In our fourth instalment in our series on how can you help make the #AFSTRAT a reality, Flying Officer Patrick Helsing raises important...
- Apr 3, 2021
- 2 min
Call for Submissions: #AirForce2121
Submissions due 1 October 2021 Following this week’s celebration of the Royal Australian Air Force’s 100 years of service, we at The...
- Mar 31, 2021
- 2 min
How can you help make the #AFSTRAT a reality? - Kate Yaxley
Look to the sky! In our third instalment in our series on how can you help make the #AFSTRAT a reality, Squadron Leader Kate Yaxley draws...
- Mar 27, 2021
- 2 min
How can you help make the #AFSTRAT a reality? - Luke Webb
In our second instalment in our series on how can you help make the #AFSTRAT a reality, Luke Webb demonstrates how good questions are key...
- Mar 27, 2021
- 2 min
How can you help make the #AFSTRAT a reality? - Matt Kelly
At the start of the year, The Central Blue posed the question: How can you help make the #AFSTRAT a reality? We're excited to share with...
- Mar 20, 2021
- 10 min
Losing Jefferson
Can a machine grow beyond its programming and learn to be brave? Wing Commander Trav Hallen uses science fiction to explore an Air Force...