DEFENDING EXPANDING DEFENCE WHITE PAPER THE NATION’S SOVEREIGNTY: ROLES IN WIDER HORIZONS DEFENDING THE NATION'S SOVEREIGNTY: EXPANDING ROLES IN WIDER HORIZONS DEFENCE WHITE PAPER LOOKING BEYOND TOMORROW Beyond the immediate priorities established in this White Paper, the progressive strengthening of the “The RBAF’ primary task is to preserve the peace, and, thankful to Allah, this is becominga reality. However, we must remember complacency is always our omnipresent enemy. If we are a little bit complacent it can lead to disaster or calamity. . Is it not that despite the peace, there is yet uncertainty with the possible existence of unexpected threats?” His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s Titah (Royal Speech) in conjunction with the Royal Brunei Armed Forces 49th Anniversary Celebration on 31st May 2010 * An Recent strategic developments place a high priority on the ability of the RBAF to deliver important operational effects today, whether in support of the national interest or to promote a stable security environment in cooperation with others. The initiatives set out in this White Paper will significantly enhance that capacity. Importantly, they also provide the essential foundations for a robust defence of the nation and its direct interests should strategic circumstances deteriorate at some point in the future. the RBAF’s operational effectiveness will be underpinned by: * Strengthened joint command and control. High levels of military professionalism based on a comprehensive training and development system. of neighbouring countries to facilitate combined Developing the advanced combat capabilities that would be necessary in such circumstances to deter and if necessary respond to aggression cannot, however, be accomplished quickly. Importantly: = The new weapons systems must be acquired and introduced into service. * Extensive capability-specific training and doctrine development must be undertaken. « Associated combat support infrastructure must be developed. capacity for more active land forces. « Strengthening for the forces’ capabilities in underwater warfare, in a contingency, this would significantly increase its ability to offer the * Increasing the combat effectiveness of the « Joint force exercising and doctrine development. those enhanced control of national airspace, including in the immediate maritime approaches. This would be important not only to deterring and responding to air space intrusion but also to providing close air support to maritime and protection to shipping and protect immediate approaches to the nation. « Surveillance and reconnaissance to establish a transparent operational environment. « Capabilities benchmarked against operations where interests overlap. RBAF’s combat capabilities is important. Particular areas that would be essential to the depth and robustness of national defence in those circumstances include: individual soldier through the training concepts and equipment embodied in contemporary planning for the next generation soldier. « Expanding the engagement envelope of the land force through the addition of medium to longer range firepower. This would ensure more defensive depth to key national infrastructure and support effective force manoeuvre. Current strategic circumstances do not place these capabilities ahead of the priorities identified earlier in this White Paper. They are not, however, capabilities that can be acquired overnight. To be in a position to develop those aspects of combat power within a 10 to 15 year timeframe, if required, planning for their introduction and developing a core capability to facilitate future expansion does need to be undertaken. Specific capability areas that would be most important, given the nation’s strategic geography and interests, are: * An air interdiction capability including the introduction of versatile fighter aircrafts. « More comprehensive protection capabilities for the maritime force, particularly for underwater warfare and mine counter-measures. « Further strengthening the Land Force’s capacity for protected manoeuvre and delivering layered fire power. Developing an ordered program for these longer term capability developments should be an important part of the overall capability development plan being developed by the new Defence Capability Committee.