RAAF aviators gather in Canberra to focus on “fighting depth” mindset

The Aviator Symposium 2026, held on March 18, 2026, in Canberra, brought together nearly 1,000 aviators and Air Force personnel to examine how Australia’s Air Force is preparing for a more demanding strategic environment.

Senior military leaders from 30 nations have arrived in Australia ahead of the Air and Space Power Conference 2026 (ASPCon26) to discuss the role of air and space power in National Defence.ASPCon26 positions the @AusAirForce as a forward‑leaning, credible voice in national… pic.twitter.com/zL55rh0LP7— Defence Australia (@DefenceAust) March 17, 2026 Opening the discussions, Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, Chief of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), framed the issue in human terms rather than technological ones, stressing that air power ultimately depends on people and mindset. Quoting strategist John Boyd, he reminded the audience that “military success is determined by people first, ideas second and things third.”

“Our aviators are the heart and soul of this effort,” Chappell said, linking individual development directly to the broader objective of building fighting depth.

That theme was echoed throughout the day. Warrant Officer of the Air Force Ralph Clifton described the “airminded warfighter” as a mindset rather than a fixed definition, grounded in realism about the strategic environment, individual excellence, initiative, and teamwork.

Air Vice-Marshal Glen Braz, Air Commander Australia, pointed to action as the key differentiator, arguing that a warfighter mindset becomes visible when teams emerge stronger from adversity.

Wing Commander Tim Hurford reinforced that message with a more personal perspective, emphasizing preparation for worst-case scenarios rather than peak performance: “We are not training for our best day. We are training for our worst day, and then the next, and the day after.”

The Aviator Symposium 2026 was held as part of ASPCon26, a one-day conference that brought together more than 1,000 in-person attendees and over 850 online participants from around the world to examine the role of air and space power in national defense.

The conference featured presentations and panel discussions, including sessions on “Building Fighting Depth” and “Space in the Integrated Force,” led by senior officials from the Australian Defence Force and the Royal Air Force.

Across both events, a consistent message emerged: in a more contested strategic environment, building capacity extends beyond platforms or technology to the people, culture, and resilience needed to sustain operations over time.

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