RAF chief: Russian air force failures down to poor 'people' investment

The head of the RAF has told his international counterparts that Russia's failure in the skies above Ukraine comes down to technology-over-people investment and that co-operative training must underpin equipment advances.

Speaking at the Global Air & Space Chiefs' Conference 2022, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston said "technology is nothing without the conceptual framework in which it is employed" and highlighted the role of air control in efforts on the ground.

"The Russian Air Force, by contrast, has shown what happens when you invest in modern technology but don't invest in the people, the training and learning that generates a truly effective 21st Century air force," he said.

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"Its inability to conduct complex missions or to integrate air effects across domains is plain to see, as is the unreliability of their technology."

The air and space chief stressed the importance of "training together as air and space forces and with our armies and navies" to generate a multi-domain effect, adding that "interoperability doesn't happen by accident".

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He detailed Ukraine's destruction of "massed armoured columns" thanks to reconnaissance drones and the defending forces' use of "improvised space-based services from military and significant commercial sources".

However, warnings of "reckless" space-based behaviour from Russia and China were matched by "the threat of ballistic and cruise missile attack".

Describing the UK's Future Combat Air System replacement programme for the Typhoon set for the late 2030s – drone swarm trials, uncrewed combat aircraft and next-generation concepts – the Chief of the Air Staff looked ahead to large-scale warfighting exercises being held by partners as they prepare for whatever dangers the future holds.