Overview
Building on seven highly successful earlier editions, the 8th Dubai International Air Chiefs Conference (DIAC 2017) hosted its largest ever edition on November 11, 2017 at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai, UAE.
DIAC was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and was supported by the Ministry of Defense and the UAE Air Force and Air Defense.
DIAC became one of the most important and largest focused international gathering for air force leaders anywhere in the world and the 8th edition tackled a topic of growing interest – transitioning to fifth generation capabilities.
As a highly focused one-day conference, DIAC 2017 brings together thought leaders and the most senior decision-makers from air forces and industry partners to address a series of strategic and operational considerations concerning the employment, development, and future of fifth generation air power.
DIAC 2017 brings together over 500 participants including over three dozen air force delegations, prominent officials and officers from the UAE and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) partners such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar, as well as key international partners such as NATO, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Sweden, Korea, Pakistan, China, Russia, Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco, among others.
Schedule
| Opening Session | |
| 08:20-09:00 | Morning Registration with Refreshments |
| 09:00-09:05 | Opening Remarks |
| 09:05-09:15 | Keynote Speech His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense, UAE, & Ruler of Dubai (or Representative) |
| 09:15-09:25 | Welcome Speech Major General Ibrahim Naser Al Alawi, Commander, UAE Air Force and Air Defense |
| 09:25-09:30 | Gift Ceremony and VIP Group Photograph |
| Session One | Shaping the Environment: Adapting Operations to a Distributed Information Network |
| Moderator: Gary North, Vice President for Customer Requirements, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company | |
| 09:40-10:00 | New Roles and Missions: Integrating Future 4th & 5th Generation Capabilities into Counter-Insurgency Operations General Stephen W. “Seve” Wilson, Vice Chief of Staff, United States Air Force |
| 10:00-10:15 | Closing the Sensor-Shooter Gap: Increasing ISR and Targeting Capacity against an Asymmetrical Threat” Brigadier General Rashed M. Al Shamsi, Deputy Commander, UAE Air Force and Defense |
| 10:15-10:30 | Connecting the Battlespace: Defining C4I Requirements in a 4th & 5th Generation Coalition Environment” Lieutenant General Enzo Vecciarelli, Chief of Staff, Italian Air Force |
| 10:30-11:00 | Interactive Panel Discussion |
| 11:00-11:05 | Presentation of Gifts |
| 11:05-11:25 | Mid-morning networking session with refreshments |
| Session Two | Developing a Shared Joint Picture: Leveraging Air Power’s Asymmetrical Advantages Moderator: Paul Casey, UAE General Manager, Northrop Grumman International |
| 11:30-11:45 | Examining the SMARTer Tanker Concept: Utilizing Air Mobility Assets as a Coalition Force Multiplier Air Vice Marshal Leigh Gordon, Head, Joint Strike Fighter Program, Royal Australian Air Force |
| 11:45-12:00 | Cooperative Engagement Capability: Directing Shared Sensor Data toward a Maritime and Ballistic Missile Threat Vice Admiral John C. Aquilino, Commander, Naval Forces Central Command, United States Navy |
| 12:00-12:15 | Examining Future Manned & Unmanned Platform Architecture and Interactions: Addressing the Air Operations Connectivity and Network Sharing Challenges Air Commodore Philippe Adam, Commander for Operations, Aviation Brigade, French Air Force |
| 12:15-12:45 | Interactive Panel Discussion |
| 12:45-12:50 | Presentation of Gifts |
| 12:50-13:10 | Afternoon networking session with refreshments |
| Session Three | Defining the Future Requirements: Preparing for a New Sensor Fused Battlespace Moderator: Christopher J. Davis, President, Raytheon International, Incorporated |
| 13:15-13:30 | Leveraging Innovation to Build the Future Force Lieutenant General Michael J. Hood CMM, Commander, Royal Canadian Air Force |
| 13:30-13:45 | Future Plans and Priorities for 5th Generation Training: Striking a Balance between LVC and Live Training Air Vice Marshall Gerry M. Mayhew CBE, Commander, No. 1 Group, Royal Air Force, United Kingdom |
| 13:45-14:00 | Building a Fifth Generation Air Force: Reshaping Defense into an Integrated Fighting Force Air Commodore Robert Adang, Deputy Director, European Air Group (EAG), Royal Netherlands Air Force |
| 14:00-14:30 | Interactive Panel Discussion |
| 14:30-14:35 | Presentation of Gifts |
| 14:35-14:45 | A Perspective on the Future of Air Power Marillyn A. Hewson, Chairwoman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Lockheed Martin Corporation |
| 14:45-14:55 | Summary and Closing Remarks for Conference |
| 14:55-16:00 | Lunch |
| 19:30-22:00 | Evening Reception: VIP Invitation-only Reception & Dinner at Atlantis Hotel The Palm (Conference Pool Side Area) |
Venue Information
Patrons
Sponsors
Official Event
Dubai Air Chiefs Conference (DIAC) 2017 was accumulated wide regional media coverage, links to some coverage are provided below:
Arabic:
Dubai Media Incorporated
Al Arab News
Al Bayan
Al Ittihad
Emarat Alyoum
Al-Ain
motamemservice.com
English:
Wam
Flight Global
Gulfnews
Video Coverage:
Dubai TV
Defense and Aerospace Report
Al-Ain
Defense and Aerospace Report
Defense and Aerospace Report
Defense and Aerospace Report
MoD Air Power Industry Reception
May 1, 2017
Abu Dhabi – Major General Abdullah Al Hashmi, Assistant Undersecretary for Support at the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and Major General Ishaq Al Baloushi, Director for Industrial Development at the Ministry of Defense (MoD), today hosted an air power industry reception at the Armed Forces Officers Club and Hotel.
Major General Al Hashmi and Major General Al Baloushi met with senior executives from leading industry partners including Emirates Defense Industries Company (EDIC) Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Textron, Dassault Aviation, MBDA, Saab, Thales, Rockwell Collins, Rolls Royce, L3, Diehl, Harris, ATK Orbital and Bell Helicopters, to discuss ways to enhance partnerships and cooperation between the UAE Armed Forces, UAE defense industries, and industry partners from around the world.
Major General Al Hashmi and Major General Al Baloushi also briefed attendees on the Dubai Air Show 2017, and the 8th Dubai International Air Chiefs Conference (DIAC 2017), scheduled to be held on November 11, 2017 in Dubai, UAE.
DIAC 2017 is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Defence Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and is fully supported by the MoD and the UAE Air Force and Air Defense (AFAD).
DIAC 2017 convenes one the largest gathering of air force chiefs, policymakers, industry partners and academics anywhere in the world. This year’s edition of DIAC is especially important given its focus on the future of air power and exploiting advances in network-centric warfare.
Thanking industry partners for their participation, Major General Al Hashmi and Major General Al Baloushi stressed the importance of partnerships and cooperation with industry partners to ensure both balance and vision for the development of future air power capabilities. He recognized the importance of the relationship between industry and the UAE government and stressed that through cooperation on initiatives such as DIAC how parties could raise the profile of shared issues and challenges.
Following the industry reception, Textron Systems and MBDA announced their continued support to and participation at DIAC 2017 as Associate Sponsors. Several other leading industry partners are expected to announce their participation in DIAC 2017, the most important air power conference this year anywhere in the world, in the coming days.
Specialized Events and General Marketing Activities (SEGMA) was selected to organize DIAC 2015. SEGMA is an event organizer and management firm based in Dubai, UAE, which is in the process of taking over events and events-related activities previously owned, managed, and run by INEGMA.
