The multi-domain battle doctrine, although relatively new, is one of the building blocks of the warfare techniques of the future. The active and uninterrupted sustainability of the war of information, which guides the real combat, is the core of the doctrine.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) has already started the study on the multi-domain battle doctrine it plans to implement with the F-35B Lightning IIs and the platforms it will add to its inventory in the future. In this context, RAF, which launched “Project Astra”, plans to make Voyager refuelling tankers, which based on the A330 MRTT into a flying “information node”. The force, which will launch the Babel Fish VII test process in the next months, will integrate the cloud-based application Deckard, the data platform Nexus, and the micro-digital server Raven. The equipment, which is connected to different air platforms and enables combat missions to ensure the information feed, will connect the fourth-generation Eurofighter Typhoon and the fifth generation F-35B Lightning IIs in the virtual space. With the ability to transfer fuel to other aircraft, Voyagers will become a flying command-control centre thanks to the new data infrastructure and will enable virtual co-ordination of the platforms in the region. Thus, while both task endurance reconnaissance and patrol capability increase, instant data transfer to both headquarters and connected aircraft will be provided, and the course of the battle will be instantly tracked.
The fifth-generation warfare environment, the physical bases laid with the F-22 Raptor, will continue to expand its scope with new requirements and solutions developed in response to them.
