Editorial

Our world has faced a challenging last few months in this first half of 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic influenced every area of our daily lives and did not spare the Air & Space Power Community. After celebrating our 15th Anniversary, the JAPCC is now challenged by the restrictions resulting from the current worldwide situation. The Steering Committee in June was held via Video Conference and the 2020 Joint Air and Space Power conference is postponed to December. Defying the challenges, the members of the JAPCC continue working at their offices or from home, providing you with effective solutions and food for thought on Air & Space Power Challenges.

Therefore it is my distinct pleasure to present to you the 30th Edition of the ‘Journal of the JAPCC’. We have a variety of articles in our ‘15th Anniversary Edition’ that will offer you some interesting reads during this exceptional time. Our former Director and current SACEUR General Tod D. Wolters starts off by highlighting the importance of comprehensive readiness for the 21st century. The Chief of the German Air Force Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, provides us four very interesting theses on how to approach future all-domain challenges, stimulating an open dialogue.

In the following article Major General Phillip Stewart presents the capabilities and benefits to NATO of the ‘Alliance Ground Surveillance Force’. Major General Juan P. Sánchez de Lara provides a Spanish view of the ‘Space Situational Awareness’ challenges and ‘The Case of PEGASUS’ gives a university perspective on the development of competences for Space Power. Subsequent articles discuss the ‘State’s Right to Self-Defence in Outer Space’, the ’Arctic Space Challenge for NATO Emerging from China’s Economic and Financial Assertiveness’ and ‘Using the Space Domain’ from an ISR perspective. We are moving from Space back to the Earth with ‘Air-Land Integration – NATO’s Strategic Joint Challenge’ and ‘The New Aircraft Cross-Servicing Programme of NATO’. The article ‘Hybrid/Electric Aero-Propulsion’ highlights the challenges and benefits of possible future propulsion solutions. ‘The Future of Air Power and the Future of European Defence Industry’ takes a critical look into the modernization of air forces and the role of a competitive European arms industry. The Journal then moves on to different view Points on ‘Cyber-Electromagnetic Domain’ and ‘The Importance of Integrated Air and Missile Defence Training’. Finally we want to highlight the ‘NATO SEAD Course’ trying to repair the NATO SEAD knowledge gap, which was highlighted in a previous Journal article.

Thank you for taking the time to read the ‘Anniversary Edition’ of our Journal, and thanks to our authors for their contributions. I hope you find this offering as informative and thought-provoking as I did. We at the JAPCC greatly appreciate your feedback and thoughts and we welcome discussion about the published articles. The JAPCC has successfully increased its social presence over the last years, which you can read more about in of the ‘Inside the JAPCC’ articles. Please visit our website www.japcc.org, like us on LinkedIn or Facebook, follow us on Twitter or send us an e-mail to to give us your opinion.

Ciao and good reading!

Giuseppe Sgamba
Brigadier General, ITA AF
Assistant Director, JAPCC