The Chief of the Air Staff’s Global Air and Space Chiefs’ Conference 2024 focused on deterrence and the importance of working together in an increasingly volatile and contested world.
Air and Space Power Chiefs from around the world met this week in London for the annual Global Air and Space Chiefs’ Conference, hosted by Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Sir Rich Knighton. They were joined by leaders from industry and technology and experts in international academia.
Reflecting the constantly evolving threats in Europe, the Middle East and Indo-Pacific regions, this year’s conference focused on deterrence and the importance of enduring partnerships in this 75th anniversary year of NATO.
In his keynote speech on day two of the conference, ACM Knighton highlighted Ukraine’s experience to illustrate the prohibitive costs of war to a nation in terms of lives lost, equipment destroyed and money spent. He reminded delegates that it took the UK 60 years to repay borrowing from the US and Canada for WW2 and said, “We’re building our Armed Forces to stop an all-out war starting and that demands more sophisticated thinking.”
Continuing the theme of deterrence, ACM Knighton paid tribute to NATO, calling it 'the greatest military alliance in history.' But he acknowledged that ways of warfare have changed and deterring all-out war in Europe will require a very different approach to that taken in conflicts over the past 25 years.
At the heart of this will be a combined allied readiness to fly and fight and win control of the air. He emphasised that deterrence cannot be static or passive and that operational agility delivered through agile combat employment will play a key part in deterring potential adversaries.
Echoing a point that he has reiterated throughout his first year as Chief of the Air Staff, ACM Knighton told delegates that the Royal Air Force’s priority is its people – but acknowledged the challenge that he and his fellow Chiefs face in recruiting and retaining the right personnel. He also said that, despite having enviable capabilities, the Royal Air Force would need to get more out of them to repay the nation’s investment.
Addressing industry partners in the room, ACM Knighton suggested that a ‘one size fits all’ approach to industry by Defence wouldn’t work in these challenging times and that “speed, creativity and productivity” should be at the heart of any new industrial strategy.
ACM Knighton concluded his speech by returning to his opening comments about building our Armed Forces to prevent war. Speaking about the vital role that all the global air forces represented in the room play in deterring conflict.
“Air and space power is going to play a critical role in deterring our adversaries. That is why we are the first line of defence and the first responders.”
Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton
Chief of the Air Staff
On the first day of the conference, in a significant moment reflecting the special relationship between the UK and the US, ACM Knighton, General David W. Allvin, Chief of Staff United States Air Force and General B. Chance Saltzman United States Space Force Chief of Space Operations, renewed a Shared Vision Statement.
Signing the Vision Statement, ACM Knighton said, “Through working together, we continue to build on our long history of close military security co-operation as two NATO partners.”
The Shared Vision Statement aims for seamless interoperability and integration at the operational and tactical level. Its renewal during the conference demonstrates both the shared strategic aims of both nations and the joint challenges that ACM Knighton spoke about in his subsequent keynote speech.
