A range of factors will drive spending in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region with border and maritime disputes and regional geo-politics as well as a push for defense indigenisation being amongst the prime factors for continued growth in defense budgets. This will drive the APAC region to demonstrate the fastest growth in defense spending with a 5.4% CAGR led by spending in countries such as China, India and South Korea, among others. Strategy Analytics forecasts that the APAC region will increase to 32.1% of total global defense spending in 2026 (see Global Defense Spending Momentum will provide $771 Billion Opportunity for Industry and Trump Administration National Security Budget - What are the Implications for Global Defense?).

Amongst the primary factors that will underpin future spending on defense will be developing operational capabilities to counter A2AD (Anti-Access Area Denial) strategies and counter aerial threats at all ranges, from UAVs in the VSHORAD/SHORAD range to Ballistic Missiles up in the THAAD range. Effectively defeating these threats requires the capability to act effectively across the full spectrum of air defense incorporating radar, EW, communications and other platforms, systems and technologies.

The emerging internal response to this so far for many has been to consolidate air defence units together under joint air and missile defence commands. These changes to force structures will set the tone for national requirements and acquisition in the coming 10 years.

Moreover, air defence commanders are now faced with two major issues; building technical capabilities and layered defences across the full spectrum of air defence, and becoming key stakeholders in ensuring regional security. In response, air defence commanders are now looking for closer partnerships with regional peers in the belief that more closely integrated air and missile defence systems may provide equivalency  to gaining technical superiority typically achieved through procurement and development.

Strategy Analytics will be attending Defence IQ’s Full Spectrum Air Defence Asia (FSADA) conference taking place May 16-17 May, 2018 in Singapore, which is aimed at being the only military conference to analyse and examine the full spectrum of integrated air defence in detail. Strategy Analytics will be joining industry experts to discuss how forces can build an affordable, layered defence system designed to combat all threats across every range. This will include exploring how air defence assets will be consolidated through new command, control processes and air defence systems and how regional partners will work together to tackle the intrinsic challenges in handling the constantly evolving threat environment.

Air defence commanders will be providing an in-depth technical analysis of existing and future air defence capability development by the region’s leading research and procurement institutions. The 2018 senior speaker panel includes the: Philippine Army, Republic of China (Taiwan, Republic of Korea Air Force, US Army Pacific, Malaysian Army, Nepali Army, Defence Technology Institute, STRIDE Malaysian MoD, Royal Cambodian Army, Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies and more.