The next 10 years will see significant changes in the Air Force as the Service transitions to a networked force. A significant element of this transition will see changes in platforms and procedures. In March 2005, the Air Force reviewed aircrew categories, which was completed in conjunction with a broader review of Air Force personnel. These reviews highlighted considerable commonality between future officer operators of Multi-Mission Aircraft (MMA), Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C), Maritime Unmanned Aerial Systems (MUAS) and the Air Defence Ground Environment (ADGE). The principle area of commonality identified in the review was the requirement to make real time command and control decisions in a 3-dimensional environment, effectively being a mission manager who will ensure the mission is successfully completed in the most efficient, safe manner.

In order to reap the benefits of common skill sets and to enhance shared approaches to networked warfare, the Air Force has established a new officer specialisation called Air Combat Officer (ACO). This new officer specialisation will provide the people to operate the new capabilities (detailed above) and comprises personnel from the previous categories of Air Defence Officer, Navigator and Airborne Electronics Officer.

Following graduation from initial employment training, ACO’s will be streamed into one of three specific areas of employment; Air Battle Management (ABM), Maritime Patrol and Response (MPR) and Air Combat and Tactical Support (ACTS). The specific roles undertaken by ACOs within each stream are detailed below.

Air Battle Management
ACOs selected for employment within the ABM stream will perform surveillance and control duties using complex electronic command and control systems in both the ground and air environments. You will operate as part of a team in the Air Defence Ground Environment (ADGE) or in the airborne environment on board the Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft. Regardless of the environment, you will operate technically advanced systems including radar, communications, tactical data links and electronic support measures in the accomplishment of your assigned mission. Throughout the conduct of your mission you will operate these systems to detect, locate and identify air and surface targets and disseminate this information using a number of different communication and information systems.

Maritime Patrol and Response
ACOs selected for employment within the MPR stream will perform the duties of a mission commander, otherwise known as a Tactical Coordinator (TACCO) on board the AP-3C Orion. You will operate as part of a crew performing a variety of missions including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance over land and sea. To put it simply, you're an integral part of a team with responsibility for the surveillance of Australian and International waters. You're involved in search and rescue operations, the detection and identification of warships, illegal fishing boats and large merchant vessels. You will also conduct above and below surface warfare and provide critical intelligence to ground forces.

Air Combat and Tactical Support
ACOs selected for the ACTS stream will be employed as aircrew on the F/A-18F Super Hornet, or the C-130H Hercules. In the Super Hornet, in cooperation with the Pilot, you will operate state of the art mission systems including aircraft systems, sensors and weapons. Roles of the Super Hornet are varied and complex in nature and include air-to-air combat, air-to-ground and air-to-surface weapons employment. You will be at the heart of Australia's Air Combat Capability. In the C-130H Hercules you will work with the crew to tactically direct and coordinate the aircraft to ensure mission success. Operating systems such as radar and communications, you will perform a variety of roles including low level tactical transport, troop insertion, disaster relief, Search and Survivor Assistance and special operations tasking.

In the future, ACO will also be needed to transition emerging capabilities such as Space, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and Joint Terminal Attack Control. ACOs will continue to provide essential support and direction to assist in transitioning capabilities that they might not be directly employed in such as the Joint Strike Fighter and the C-17 Globemaster III. ACO’s, together with Pilots, will make up an Air Force Battle-space Command and Control personnel group who will be responsible for the direct application of air power in any theatre of operations on a global scale.

This group will provide all future candidates for the position of Chief of Air Force.