{"id":18724,"date":"2017-12-06T15:10:05","date_gmt":"2017-12-06T15:10:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2017\/12\/06\/the-power-of-partnership-for-security-and-deterrence-commentary\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:43:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:43:23","slug":"the-power-of-partnership-for-security-and-deterrence-commentary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/industry\/techwatch\/2017\/12\/06\/the-power-of-partnership-for-security-and-deterrence-commentary\/","title":{"rendered":"The power of partnership, for security and deterrence [Commentary]"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Defense News Weekly’s Jeff Martin is on the ground in Dubai for the 2017 Dubai Airshow.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

In addition to the mega-deals announced in the trade press, a highlight of the recent Dubai Airshow \u2014 and the Dubai International Air Chiefs Conference<\/a> that preceded it \u2014 was the unmistakable evidence of the extraordinary level of sophistication in not only equipment but, more significantly, in thinking on the part of the Emiratis and other U.S. military partners. These advancements, fostered by U.S. efforts and fueled by the vision of the Emiratis and others truly demonstrate the power of partnership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the Dubai International Air Chiefs Conference, or the DIAC, in particular, this advanced thinking was manifested in a striking sea change in the nature of the presentations and substance of the panel discussions. As one who has attended every DIAC since the event began 14 years ago, what I observed at DIAC 2017 was positively dazzling! Whereas in previous conferences various presenters \u2014 usually air chiefs of various countries \u2014 most often touted rudimentary accomplishments and\/or blatantly advocated aircraft and equipment manufactured by local companies, not so much this time. This conference was characterized by knowledgeable discussion of not only net-centric capabilities, but the application and synergization of such capabilities to facilitate greater speed in gathering information and fusing this data to produce vastly increased war-fighting effectiveness \u2014 and interoperability!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interoperability \u2014 something I viewed as a key objective of the work we did when I was in my official position \u2014 finally seems to have reached a level of acceptance and comprehension. Complementing this was a near-universal understanding at the DIAC of what true fifth-generation air war-fighting capabilities are in terms of net-centricism and sensor fusion, rather than the now seemingly ancient and obsolete perception of the fifth-gen advantages as being stealth coupled with speed and maneuverability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course the big headline emanating from the DIAC was the acknowledgement by U.S. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Gen. Stephen \u201cSeve\u201d Wilson that the United Arab Emirates is being considered as eligible for acquisition of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. While some may have been surprised, this is a logical step in the development of a partner that has been flying the most sophisticated fourth-gen fighter in the world, the Block 60 F-16. More significantly, this announcement is but more evidence of the power of partnership.<\/p>\n\n\n\t