The 5th Manama Air Power Symposium (MAPS 2024)

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Official Conference of
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Overview

Platinum Sponsor

The 5th edition of the Manama Air Power Symposium (MAPS-2024) was held successfully on November 12 at the Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa. MAPS 2024 is the official conference of the Bahrain International Air Show. MAPS 2024 brought together a high-caliber audience of nearly 300 air force commanders, operators, policymakers, and industry leaders from over 22 countries for the most important regional air power conference in 2024. Strategically timed to pre-curser BIAS, the theme for MAPS 2024 was “Air Power in All-Domain Warfare,” where the one-day international conference discussed the most pressing issues in air power and air defense considering the most recent experiences and lessons learned in theater from operations.

The event was opened with a welcome speech by SEGMA Director General Riad Kahwaji, who underlined the importance of MAPS. It comes at a time when several areas worldwide are witnessing military conflicts reasserting the role of air power and missile defense. He noted that MAPS allows air commanders to exchange views and experiences and assess the effect of new technologies on air operations.

The Royal Bahrain Air Force (RBAF( commander, Major General Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Khalifah, addressed the evolving threat environment in his speech, compelling many countries to reconsider their military doctrine and strategies. He called on the defense industry to develop systems that can improve capabilities in confronting the threats posed by terrorist groups. Major General Hamad called for a global dialogue focussing on disarming terrorist groups and depriving them of all forms of support.

General (Ret) Gary North, VP of Program Management at Lockheed Martin, chaired the conference’s first session. The first speaker was Lt. General Derek France, commander of the U.S. Air Force Central Command. His presentation concentrated on joint manned and unmanned operations and highlighted the progress in developing the semiautonomous unmanned aerial systems known as Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). He emphasized the role of AI in advancing the CCA so that fifth—and sixth-generation platforms can perform more effectively in all-domain warfare. The second presentation was done jointly by two RBAF officers, Colonel Ali Mahmoud, and Colonel Khaled Kamal, under the guidance of Brig. General Abdulla Alnaimi, Air and Missile Defense commander in RBAF. The presentation focussed on the role of AI in confronting airborne threats through proper situational awareness assessment and preemption.

The second session tackled more topics related to AI’s growing influence on defense systems. Riad Kahwaji moderated the session, which Vice Admiral George Wikoff, commander of the U.S. Navy Central, U.S. 5th Fleet, led. Wikoff addressed multiplying the effect and efficiency of air-sea autonomous operations through the proper employment of AI. Lt. General Gunter Katz, the commanding general of the German Air Force forces command, highlighted the role of AI in improving the training of pilots to operate manned and unmanned systems. Air Vice Marshal P. V. Shivanand, Deputy Commander of the Indian Air Force, tackled the role of air power in increasing the C4ISR effectiveness in multi-domain operations.

General North moderated the third session, which featured two speakers. The first was the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force, Lt. General Aurelio Colagrande, who examined the next-generation helicopters and underlined the importance of the flexibility provided by the multi-role platforms. The last presentation was by Air Marshal (Ret) Martin ‘Sammy’ Sampson, Executive Director Middle East, International Institute for Strategic Studies. Sampson presented his views on the best means to enhance cross-generation interoperability in multinational aerial operations. Each of the three sessions was concluded with a Q&A panel that witnessed interaction between the audience and the presenters.

Schedule

FINAL AGENDA

“Air Power In All-Domain Warfare”

Opening Session
8:00 – 9:00Registration of participants
Opening Session
9:00 - 9:10Welcome and Opening Remarks
Riad Kahwaji, Chief Executive, SEGMA
9:10 - 9:20Welcome Address
Major General Shaikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Khalifah, Commander, Royal Bahrain Air Force
First Session
9:20-9:30Moderator: General (ret) Gary North, VP Program Management, Lockheed Martin
9:30-9:55Joint Manned-Unmanned Operations: Means to Multiply the Effect.
Lieutenant General Derek France, Commander, US Air Force Central Command
9:55-10:25Maintaining the Technological Edge in Air Power & Air Defense Capabilities
Brigadier General Abdulla Anoaimi, Air and Missile Defence Commander
Colonel Mohammed Mahmood, PhD, Royal Bahrain Air Force
Colonel Khalid Kamal, Royal Bahrain Air Force
10:25-10:40Panel Discussion
10:40-11:00Coffee Break and Networking
Second Session
11:00-11:05Moderator: Riad Kahwaji, SEGMA Director General
11:05-11:25Improving Air-Sea Operations and Efficiency in the Age of Autonomous Systems.
Vice Admiral George Wikoff, Commander, US Navy Central, US 5th Fleet
11:25-11:55Role of Artificial Intelligence in Advanced Training for Manned and Unmanned Aircrafts
Lieutenant General Gunter Katz, Commanding General of the German Air Force Forces’ Command
11:55-12:15Role of Air Platforms in Increasing C4ISR Effectiveness in Multi-Domain Operations
Air Vice Marshal P.V. Shivanand, Deputy Commander, Indian Air Force
12:15-12:30Panel Discussion
12:30-12:50Coffee Break and Networking
Third Session
12:50-12:55Moderator: General (ret) Gary North, VP Program Management, Lockheed Martin
12:55-13:15Multi-Role versus Mission-Specific: Selecting the Next-Generation Helicopter
Lieutenant General Aurelio Colagrande, Deputy Chief of Staff of Italian Air Force
13:35-13:55Enhancing Cross-Generation Interoperability in Multinational Aerial Operations
Air Marshal (Ret) Martin ‘Sammy’ Sampson, Deputy Commander, Executive Director Middle East, International Institute for Strategic Studies
15:55-14:10Panel Discussion
14:10-14:15Closing Remarks and Conclusion for Conference
14:15-15:00Luncheon
20:00-22:00MAPS Reception and Gala Dinner

Venue Information

Venue Title:
Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa, Manama
Address:
Address: 105, Building 2015 Zallaq Hwy, Manama, Bahrain
Phone Number:
Phone: +973 1763 6363
Location:
Photograph:
Venue photograph

Patrons

Supported by
Bahraini Transport
Royal Bahraini Air Force
Official Conference of
Official Event of

Sponsors

Official Event

Official Partner
Bahrain International Airshow

The 5th Manama Air Power Symposium (MAPS 2024) received extensive regional media coverage. Below are links to select coverage from various sources:

Bahrain TV News Center (BNC) – BNC

AlAyam News PaperAlAyam

Bahrain News Agency (BNA)BNA

SD ArabiaSD Arabia

Official Media Sponsor
Media Sponsors

Event Video

Photo Gallery