North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Command Transformation
April 16, 2014
DSACT Emphasises the Importance of Air Power in Turkey
NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (DSACT) Italian Air Force General Mirco Zuliani participated as the keynote speaker at the International Symposium on the History of Air Warfare (ISAW 14) held in Istanbul, Turkey, April 9-11, 2014.
In this symposium organized by the Turkish Air War College with the support of the Turkish Air Force, the history of air warfare was reviewed and included diverse discussions focussing on the emergence and rapid development of air power and its impact on society and scientific research.
Bringing together Scholars, Academics, high-ranking military officials and senior fellows, the symposium was split into several break-out sessions covering topics such as Air Power in Theory and Implementation, Air and Space Power in 20th-Century Warfare, How Air Power Has Become An Independent Service, the Contribution of R&D and Think Tanks to Air and Space Power and Air Power and Society.
In his speech, DSACT highlighted that the issues related to Air Warfare are currently at a crossroad. “The current and difficult economic and financial climate we are still facing today and the end of the Cold War era has brought western Nations to seek cost cuts and savings yet again in the Defence Sector, possibly jeopardizing the industrial-military cooperation, especially in the areas where technology is evolving very quickly,” he said.
DSACT also outlined the importance of Smart Defence. “Smart Defence is a concept that encourages Allies to cooperate in developing, acquiring and maintaining military capabilities to meet current and future security threats, in accordance with the actual NATO Strategic Concept.”
DSACT concluded saying, “I am in the end fully convinced that, having established itself as a critical component of the war-fighting abilities of a military force in such a short time, Air Power is destined to play a significant role in determining a nation’s military capability and intent in the 21st century. In other words, it is here to stay, as long as we manage to recognize the trends and transform accordingly, keeping up with the fast pace of innovation that has always been the Air dimensions main characteristic.”
Click here for an extensive coverage of the event from the Turkish Air War College.
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