30 March 2025
The Royal Australian Air Force is celebrating 10 years of innovation under Plan Jericho.
The milestone brought together inaugural co-directors, Vice-Chief of the Defence Force, Air Marshal Robert Chipman, and Air Commodore (Ret’d) Andrew 'Jake' Campbell, at the Australian International Airshow.
Plan Jericho was challenged to integrate technologically and culturally the new fifth-generation capabilities introduced into service in 2015.
Air Marshal Chipman was in at the start.
“Jericho has continued to be a brand that’s useful as a centre point for innovation in the Air Force, it’s really pleasing to see the results today," he said.
“It hasn’t been just about improving joint operations, but it has also improved Air Force’s relationship with the industry, with academia, and with our partners around the world.”
Ten years on Plan Jericho was paying dividends to Air Force, Air Commodore (Ret’d) Campbell said.
“What’s been pleasing to me is to see that the engagement with the industry has continued over the 10 years of Jericho”, he said.
As the crowds were thronging around the Air Force Innovation Stall at Hall 2 engaging with the team, Group Captain Jesse Laroche, the Director of Jericho, was pleased to say that Jericho and its ecosystem of innovation was thriving within Air Force.
“Jericho, now known as Jericho Disruptive Innovation, is focused on answering the challenges of the National Defence Strategy and we’re doing that through our lines of effort," Group Captain Laroche said.
"One of them is working on digital enhancement and integrating AI technology.”
Group Captain Jesse Laroche said Jericho had been extremely successful in adapting to the needs of the Air Force.
“Now, as we look to the future, we have an integrated and focused force," he said.
"The appetite within the country for innovation has never been higher, and I think we have an incredibly important role to play for the next 10 years and beyond.”
