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The Land Power Forum blog is published by the Australian Army Research Centre in order to generate discussion and debate about the future of Army.

It is a forum for informed analysis, commentary, thoughts and ideas. Contributions are welcomed from stakeholders, subject matter experts and those interested in future land warfare.

Articles
Professor Anne-Marie Brady of New Zealand's University of Canterbury is shown in an undated photo.
Seminar on ‘Information as magic weapons: threats and opportunities’
Content ReleaseEmerging Threats and OpportunitiesMajor power competition

In a talk hosted by 2(AS) Division and streamed by The Cove on Tuesday 24 September, Professor Anne-Marie Brady will discuss implications for the Australian Army of the PRC’s use of ‘magic weapons’. This is a term used by China's President Xi Jinping to describe the threats and politically influence activities used by the CCP to give effect to its global political objectives.

Professor Peter J. Dean PhD SFHEA
Seminar on ‘The Defence Strategic Review, National Defence Strategy'
Landpower lessonsStrategic AnalysisCognitive edge

In a talk hosted by 2(AS) Division and streamed by The Cove on Tuesday 27 August, Professor Peter Dean will discuss implications for the Australian Army from the DSR, NDS and IIP. In doing so this discussion will support our understanding of Army’s role in defence of the nation, a role with significant importance for 2(AS) Division, the Army and the ADF as a whole.

Cover image of Occasional Paper 24, by Dr Carl Rhodes; the background image shows three DJI Mavic drones in the air over an arid landscape.
The Rapid Advance of Uncrewed Aerial System Technology and Operating Concepts in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Accelerated WarfareEmerging TechnologiesContent Release

In his newly released Occasional Paper, Cr Carl Rhodes considers lessons learned from the use of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Recognising that the military utility of UAS has rapidly emerged over the last decade, he analyses why the Australian Army and ADF more broadly need to immediately equip and prepare to face this threat across the spectrum of conflict.

Cover of Occasional paper 23, with the cover image blurred behind; The black and white cover photograph shows British Army personnel disembarking onto the beach from a Landing Ship Tank (LST) amphibious vessel at Salerno, Italy on 9 September 1943.
Occasional Paper 23 release - From The Sea
Content ReleaseEmerging TechnologiesAccelerated Warfare

Author Richard Bushby compares WW2 Allied amphibious operations in the European and Mediterranean theatres with those conducted in the central Pacific theatre. The article further examines the relationship between amphibious techniques and broader concepts of strategy and operational art.

Military soldier controls drone for reconnaissance operation of enemy positions. Concept using quadcopters in smart war. Source: Adobe Stock Images
How are Drones Changing Modern Warfare?
Irregular WarfareMajor power competitionEmerging Threats and Opportunities

This Land Power Forum post by Oleksandra Molloy is part of a larger project - the first evidence-based research on the lessons learnt from the use of drones in the war in Ukraine – drawing on both Ukrainian and Australian expertise. The post summarises highlights from the research – lessons from the use of drones in the Russia-Ukraine War.

HMAS Warramunga prepares to enter the port of Visakhapatnam, India during a regional presence deployment.
Small but Mighty
Our RegionProximity and PartnershipsStrategic Analysis

Opportunities to enhance collaboration between Australia and India exist in the realm of defence trade and technology transfer. Pradeep Mehta and Anil Wadhwa of the Consumer Unity and Trust Society explain why.

Seminar on Information Warfare
Cognitive edgeEmerging Threats and OpportunitiesHybrid Warfare

As part of 2 Div's fortnightly PME series, Jeremy Barraclough will deliver a presentation, livestreamed on The Cove on 30 July, addressing the topic of information warfare. Drawing on lessons from recent conflict, he will reflect on their relevance to the Australian Army.

Medics in the Mangroves
Littoral WarfareShort Thoughts 2024

The 1st Place winner of the Short Thoughts Comp, this article attempts to highlight and tackle some of the medical complications that come with littoral warfare.

Australian Army soldiers and Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles are loaded onto LHD Landing Crafts during the reconstitution of the Australian Amphibious Force during Exercise Sea Raider 2023.
Army Adapting its views on Combined Arms to Contribute to Littoral Operations
Littoral WarfareShort Thoughts 2024

2nd Place in the Short Thoughts Comp, this article suggests how Army will need to modify the education of junior officers for joint operations in the littoral environment if it wishes to adapt itself to littoral warfare.

Small boat patrol teams on water.
Strategic Cooperation as Army Littoral Strategy
Littoral WarfareShort Thoughts 2024

Our 3rd Place winner in Short Thoughts Comp, this article argues that one way Army can adapt to littoral warfare is through partnership and cooperation with neighbours to our near north, especially Papua New Guinea.

Personnel from the Australian Army, United States Army and Armed Forces of the Philippines swim to shore after helocasting from a United States Army CH-47 Chinook at Fort Magsaysay during Exercise Balikatan, Philippines.
Bridging the Gap
Littoral WarfareShort Thoughts 2024

This article, focusing on how to utilise and advance the Australian infantry platoon to improve Army's littoral capabilities, is the SO1's Choice of Short Thoughts Competition.

Investing in the North
Littoral WarfareShort Thoughts 2024

This article was the People's Choice of Short Thoughts Competition, and argues for increasing investment in the Regional Force Surveillance Group to improve Army's littoral capabilities and help the pivot to our near north.

A child carrying blankets through rubble from destroyed building in Palestine Gaza Strip. Image by hosny salah from Pixabay.
Seminar on ‘Reflections on Defence of One’s Homeland’
Cognitive edgeLandpower lessonsMajor power competition

In a talk hosted by 2(AS) Division and streamed by The Cove on Tuesday 25 June, Dr Levi West will consider lessons emerging from the current conflict between Hamas and Israel in the Middle East. His focus will be on the dynamics of fighting for, and from, one's Homeland and its relevance to Australia's strategic circumstances.

Oil tanker on calm waters in the distance with the sunset in the top two thirds of the image. Source: [10:55 pm] Matthew Struthers JACOBS (Guest) Pixabay user: Lingualpirat-Glenn (https://pixabay.com/users/lingualpirat-glenn-9811466)
Helpful Lessons from an Unhelpful Source
Book reviewLandpower lessonsEmerging Threats and Opportunities

Acknowledging that the operating environment in the Indo-Pacific is different, Brendan Kelleher explores how the Red Sea Crisis provides a unique opportunity for the Army to infer valuable lessons for its future land based maritime strike capability.

Cover of book, Clearing the Way, by Chris McNab, with the cover art faded in the background.
Book Review - Clearing the Way
Book reviewCognitive edgeLandpower lessons

In this book review, Nick Bosio reflects on the importance of military history to any professional effort to master operational and strategic art. While focussed on US military engineering, Bosio observes that 'Clearing the Way: US Army Engineers in World War II' touches on three factors that any military professional needs to understand: the heritage of war-fighting skills and techniques; how different parts of the profession integrate to support the force as a whole; and what lessons can be learned from history to inform the resolution of contemporary military issues.

Major General Stephen Day, DSC, AM President of RSL Queensland, addresses guests at the Can Nha memorial at Kokoda Barracks in Canungra, Queensland.
Seminar on ‘Thoughts on Generalship’
LeadershipCognitive edgeStrategy

In a talk hosted by 2(AS) Division and streamed by The Cove on Tuesday 28 May, Major General Stephen Day, DSC, AM will speak on the topic of Generalship and how bold staffs can support their leaders to understand the nature of conflict. The presentation will foster greater awareness of the role of military staffs in a warfighting headquarters and lay the foundation for understanding how Generals win and succeed.

Indian and Australian Army soldiers share infantry tactics, techniques and procedures during Exercise Austrahind 22.
Seminar on ‘Accelerated Preparedness - Scalability Insights for Defence’
StrategyForce DesignAccelerated Warfare

In response to the release of the National Defence Strategy (NDS), a seminar was hosted by 2(AS) Division on the topic of accelerated preparedness, titled Scalability Insights for Defence.

Occasional Paper 20 release - Understanding how to scale and accelerate the adoption of RAS
Robotics & Autonomous SystemsContent Release

While militaries publicly declared an interest in robotic and autonomous systems (RAS), no documented wide-scale deployments of weapon systems exist. This paper co-branded with RAND identifies a promising range of RAS technologies with military implications and evaluates the potential barriers to their widespread adoption.

Occasional Paper 21 release - Respite Periods in the ADF
People, Culture and EthicsContent Release

Reflecting on recently introduced ADF-wide policy on respite, author Phillip Hoglin identifies areas for further improvement. He outlines factors that contribute to enduring challenges to the achievement of consistent respite policy, with reference to both Australian and overseas experience. Hoglin identifies a spectrum of applied and academic approaches to address these issues and, based on his analysis, provides several workable options for consideration by the ADF.

Single quad rotor drone in centre of image with sky background. Image by andri333 from Pixabay.
Manoeuvreist Doctrine in the Age of Autonomy
Robotics & Autonomous SystemsEmerging TechnologiesHybrid Warfare

The Ukraine war has thrust small drones into the spotlight as an integral component of combined arms warfare. Matthew Krupczak contends that commanders must consider the doctrinal implications of both current and evolving off-the-shelf drone technologies and procure countermeasures.

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