RAeS Future Combat Air & Space Capabilities Summitで講演
Giving that global view from one of the GCAP partners, Japan, was Maj Gen (Rtd) Koji Imaki, who outlined the Japan Air Self Defense Force’s (JASDFs) strategic challenge and its procurement priorities. Particularly interesting was his observations on how Japan was looking to use drones (both exquisite and attritable) to build out combat mass from 5th/6th crewed fighters in a affordable way. The correct mix and balance between high-end loyal wingman, attritable drones and low-cost consumer devices was one that that was returned to in other presentations and it seems the jury is still out of what a future fighter squadron looks like, but all at the Summit seemed to agree on the importance of ‘loyal wingman’ or ‘Collaborative Combat Aircraft’ (CCA.)