International Air Chiefs Gather for the 12th DIACC in Dubai

The UAE Ministry of Defence inaugurated the 12th edition of the Dubai International Air Chiefs Conference (DIACC), bringing together senior airpower leaders, defence officials, and industry experts from around the world. The event was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

His Excellency Mohamed bin Mubarak bin Fadhel Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of State for Defence Affairs, opened the conference at Atlantis – The Palm, Dubai, marking the start of discussions focused on the future of air and space power. More than 100 official delegations, including Chiefs of Staff, Air Force commanders, decision-makers, and executives from major national and international defence and aerospace companies, attended the event.

Organised in strategic partnership with ADNEC Group, the conference was held under the theme “Hypersonic Edge: Re-Envisioning Airpower Across Asymmetric Spaces.”

Session 1: Adapting Airpower to New Battlespaces

The opening session, titled “Hypersonics, UAVs, and Artificial Intelligence: Adapting Airpower to Asymmetric Battlespaces,” began with remarks by Joseph Guastella, Corporate Vice President and Regional Executive for Europe and the Middle East at Northrop Grumman.

The panel featured:

• Major General Rashid Mohammed Al Shamsi, Commander of the UAE Air Force and Air Defence

• General Adrian L. Spain, Commander of the US Air Combat Command

• General Jérôme Bellanger, Chief of Staff of the French Air Force and Space

• Lieutenant General J.R. Speiser-Blanchet, Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force

The session explored coalition agility, technological adaptation, and the evolving nature of emerging airpower challenges, followed by an interactive dialogue with global delegations.

Session 2: Integrating Air and Space Domains

The second session, “Beyond the Atmosphere: Integrating Air and Space Capabilities for Strategic Superiority,” brought together leading space and airpower officials, including:

• Major General Vincent Chusseau, Commander of the French Space Command

• His Excellency Eng. Salem Butti Al Qubaisi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency

• Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, Chief of the Royal Australian Air Force

• Air Marshal Narmdeshwar Tiwari, Vice Chief of Air Staff, Indian Air Force

Speakers emphasized growing cooperation between air and space domains and the importance of integrated capabilities for future strategic advantage.

Session 3: Preparing the Warfighter of Tomorrow

The final session, “The Warfighter of Tomorrow: Standards, Artificial Intelligence, and Accountability in Next-Generation Airpower,” opened with a keynote by Dr. Chaouki Kasmi, President of Technology and Innovation at EDGE Group.

Moderated by Dr. Kasmi, the session featured insights from:

• Major General Jonas Wickman, Commander of the Swedish Air Force

• General Son Sug Rag, Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Air Force

• Lieutenant General Antonio Conserva, Chief of the Italian Air Forces

Discussions focused on redefining recruitment, preparing future air forces, and maintaining operational excellence amid rapid automation.

Professor Peter Hays of the Space Policy Institute at George Washington University presented a paper on building intellectual readiness for future space conflict environments.

Closing Ceremony

The conference concluded with an official recognition ceremony honoring participating delegations, followed by a group photo session. The 12th DIACC reinforced Dubai’s role as a strategic platform for advancing airpower dialogue, international cooperation, and the future of defence innovation.