Conroy officially opens Ocius Technology global operations centre, manufacturing expansion
Australian Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy has officially opened the Ocius Technology advanced engineering, production an...
New Zealand to acquire 5 MH-60R Seahawk helicopters under signed US agreement
The government of New Zealand has signed an agreement with the United States government to purchase five MH-60R Seahawk maritime h...
RSL Australia calls for national preparedness framework to address ‘duty nobody holds’
RSL Australia national president Peter Tinley has called for Australia to step up national preparedness in the wake of more confli...
PODCAST: Contested logistics and Australia’s defence industry priorities at Land Forces 2026, with Amentum Australia’s Kim Katheklakis
Amentum is looking to expand its presence in Australia’s defence and national security sectors, with a focus on contested logist...

PODCAST: How a changing ADF will shape the benchmarks that Air Combat Group strives to achieve, AIRCDRE Mike Kitcher, Air Combat Group – RAAF

Air
|
By:
Mike Kitcher, RAAF, Air Combat Group

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, recorded on-site at the RAAF Base Williamtown, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Air Commodore Mike Kitcher, Commander Air Combat Group to discuss their position in the development of the future of the Royal Australian Air Force.

In this episode of the Defence Connect Podcast, recorded on-site at the RAAF Base Williamtown, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Air Commodore Mike Kitcher, Commander Air Combat Group to discuss their position in the development of the future of the Royal Australian Air Force.

AIRCDRE Kitcher will share his thoughts surrounding the arrival of the F-35 fighter jets, and discuss how better connectivity across the ADF will lead to a stronger collective joint war fighting capability. AIRCDRE Kitcher will talk about his history within the services, the direction that his position takes in the greater defence landscape, and reveal his plan for training in the drive towards IOC.

Reflecting on his time in the industry, AIRCDRE Kitcher will discuss how quality standards have shifted over the years, the role of defence professionals in the creation of a united Defence Force, and provide an update on the roll-out of Plan Jericho.

Enjoy the podcast,

The Defence Connect team

Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Defence Connect a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Defence Connect as a preferred news source.

Tags:

Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:

Episode 11: PODCAST: Contested logistics and Australia’s defence industry priorities at Land Forces 2026, with Amentum Australia’s Kim Katheklakis
Episode 10: PODCAST: Containerised solutions and human-in-the-loop systems at Land Forces 2026, with IAI’s Maxim Zemer
Episode 9: SPOTLIGHT: Lockheed Martin Australia’s priorities, leadership and life after service, with Jeremy King
Episode 8: THE PROGRESS REPORT: Leadership, mentorship and life at sea – Commander Melanie Lennard on 17 years in the Royal Australian Navy
Episode 7: PODCAST: Australia’s munitions manufacturing push at Land Forces 2026, with NIOA Group’s Robert Nioa
Episode 6: PODCAST: EOS showcases new interceptor and layered drone defence at Land Forces 2026, with Lee Kormany
Episode 5: CONTESTED GROUND: The information advantage – how AI is reshaping influence, competition and power
Episode 4: PODCAST: Next-generation equipment at Land Forces 2026, with Aquaterro’s Graeme Bulte
Episode 3: SPOTLIGHT: Defence electronics supply chains, counterfeit components and shortages
Episode 2: PODCAST: AUKUS, China and Australia’s defence industrial future, with former prime minister Scott Morrison