2016–17: Plan Jericho Implementation Phase (AI Study Guide)
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Title title
𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
In 2016–17 the RAAF moved Plan Jericho from concept to implementation. The re-established Air Warfare Centre coordinated integration, experimentation, and mission-data work to connect aircraft, sensors, and command systems. Jericho Dawn trials, force-level exercises, and industry–academia partnerships validated fifth-generation tactics and networks. Investment from the 2016 Defence White Paper underwrote upgrades in data links, electronic warfare, and battlespace management, embedding a culture of test-driven change.
𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲
𝟏. 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐨. RAAF initiative to create an integrated, networked, fifth-generation force through experimentation and rapid adoption.
𝟐. 𝐀𝐢𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞 (𝐀𝐖𝐂). RAAF organisation directing integration, test, electronic warfare, and mission-data activities.
𝟑. 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐨 𝐃𝐚𝐰𝐧. Trial series demonstrating practical integration of platforms, sensors, and digital services.
𝟒. 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚. Tailored threat libraries and parameters that optimise sensors, countermeasures, and weapons employment.
𝟓. 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. Processes and tools that fuse tracks, intent, and effects across air and joint forces.
𝟔. 𝐅𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐡-𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. Combining stealth, sensors, and networks to amplify combat effects across the force.
𝟕. 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬. Tactical digital networks enabling secure exchange of tracks, messages, and targeting data.
𝟖. 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞. Measures that sense and shape the electromagnetic spectrum to protect and enable operations.
𝟗. 𝐑𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. Short-cycle updates to software, tactics, and mission data based on trial evidence.
𝟏𝟎. 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲–𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬. Cooperative work programs delivering prototypes, analytics, and specialist skills.
𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬
𝟏. 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐞. Plan Jericho aimed to turn a fleet of platforms into a connected combat system. The 2016–17 phase concentrated on integration tasks with operational payoffs: data links that carried more value, mission data tuned to threats, and command tools that let crews decide faster with less ambiguity.
𝟐. 𝐀𝐖𝐂 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. The Air Warfare Centre provided a single organising hub for trials, electronic warfare, intelligence integration, and test governance. Its structure linked squadrons, program offices, and science agencies, ensuring experiments produced certified, repeatable change rather than isolated demonstrations or one-off technology insertions.
𝟑. 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐨 𝐃𝐚𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬. Trial events connected fighters, ISR aircraft, command nodes, and deployable networks in realistic conditions. Teams measured latency, track quality, and mission outcomes, then adjusted software loads and procedures. Evidence from these events flowed directly into updates for exercises and operations, proving trial-to-tactics pipelines.
𝟒. 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞. Implementation prioritised robust mission-data processes: collection, analysis, validation, and loading. Crews received libraries aligned with contemporary threats and terrains, raising detection, identification, and self-protection performance. Governance ensured every change had traceable evidence, enabling commanders to authorise risk with confidence.
𝟓. 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐮𝐩𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬. Work packages improved tactical networks’ reliability and throughput, enabling richer sensor–shooter coordination. Crews practised sharing high-quality tracks and target solutions across aircraft types and services. Integration of data links with planning systems cut re-keying errors and shortened the path from detection to effect.
𝟔. 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. Teams refined electronic order-of-battle products and tactics for protection and attack in contested spectrum. Exercises rehearsed emissions control, geolocation, and countermeasure timing. The approach treated electromagnetic manoeuvre as integral to air operations, with results captured in updates to tactics, techniques, and procedures.
𝟕. 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞-𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬. Jericho tasks embedded into major exercises validated integration at operational scale. Air and joint headquarters rehearsed planning with fused pictures, while aircrew practised cross-platform sensor tasking. After-action analysis identified software, configuration, and training fixes, sustaining a rhythm of measurable improvement.
𝟖. 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬. The implementation phase leveraged Defence science agencies, universities, and industry teams for analytics, prototypes, and specialist tools. Agreements enabled rapid experimentation on instrumented ranges, while data scientists accelerated insight from telemetry, turning large trial datasets into practical recommendations crews could adopt quickly.
𝟗. 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. Test authorities enforced configuration control, safety cases, and evidence standards so innovations entered service responsibly. The governance model treated software, data, and procedures as airworthiness matters, ensuring integration gains arrived with the documentation, training, and risk assessments needed for daily operations.
𝟏𝟎. 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟔–𝟏𝟕. This period embedded habits of trial-led change, mission-data stewardship, and cross-platform tactics. The Air Warfare Centre’s coordinating role, the Jericho Dawn method, and investment lines from the 2016 Defence White Paper established enduring pathways for updating sensors, networks, and doctrine as a single, integrated system.
𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝟏. Department of Defence. 2016 Defence White Paper. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, 2016.
𝟐. Department of Defence. 2016 Integrated Investment Program. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, 2016.
𝟑. Royal Australian Air Force. Plan Jericho: Strategy and Implementation Papers, 2015–2017. Canberra: RAAF, 2017.
𝟒. Royal Australian Air Force. Air Warfare Centre—Role and Functions. Canberra: RAAF, 2016.
𝟓. Davies, L. Selected Speeches on Plan Jericho and Fifth-Generation Integration, 2015–2017. Canberra: RAAF, 2017.
𝟔. Defence Science and Technology Group. Experimentation and Analytics in Support of Plan Jericho. Edinburgh: DST Group, 2017.
𝟕. Department of Defence. Jericho Dawn Trials—Official Summaries and Outcomes. Canberra: RAAF, 2016–2017.
𝟖. Australian War Memorial. Post-1975 RAAF Collections: Integration, Electronic Warfare, and Networked Operations. Canberra: Australian War Memorial, n.d.