In tone with the recent CAS2022 this 2021 legacy Spotlight Brief emphasises issues relating to robotics and autonomous systems (RAS). Highlighting the Army's commitment to expanding this capability, with unprecedented funding and support within Force Structure Plan 2020 and advanced trials across maritime, land, air, and cyber domains. In addition, Army is expanding its cognitive capability in these fields, spearheaded by the Robotic and Autonomous Systems Implementation and Coordination Office (RICO) within Future Land Warfare Branch. Spotlight Brief 6/21 explicitly reflects some of the challenges that Army and the Joint Force are tackling in their efforts to bring uncrewed and autonomous platforms into the battlespace.

Chris Roberts introduces a well-researched book that considers the Canadian performance on the Western Front through a slightly different lens. The study is commended as well-rounded and still significant today and is highly recommended reading for military officers.

A big thank you to all the teams and exhibitors involved in the successful conduct of Army’s Quantum Technology Challenge 2022 held in Adelaide earlier this month. Stand by for an in-depth announcement and review of the challenge on the Army Land Power forum soon.

BRIG Chris Roberts AM, CSC (Retd.) finds that Carmichael's book on the Battle of Minden provides a wealth of information about the campaign, including the culminating battle, and sheds useful light on this aspect of the Seven Years War as it affected Great Britain.

Duncan Foster discusses the ADF’s increasingly complex contemporary battlespace, emphasis on state versus state competition and potential conflict. Highlighting that now is the time to rethink Army’s structure; to best prepare it for the future.

For the ADF to deter and disrupt an invasion and occupation of Australia, it is necessary to arm and train our force to conduct asymmetric warfare against an occupying enemy. Ian Richards explores why.

With the advancement of technology and the accelerated rate of disruptive engagements, militaries are exploring swarm-related capabilities across several
lines of effort, spanning from concepts to research and physical trials. In response, this AARC Occasional Paper outlines the current state of swarm and counter-swarm research and technologies through a high-level review of academic, industry and coalition partner efforts.

Based on the expectation that the future of land power will be in the littoral environment, Dr John Nash considers the transformation demanded of Army as it integrates in the joint environment as part of a whole-of-ADF maritime strategic capability.

This Post by Sam Baumgarten opens by describing the concept of protracted battle in the context of supporting military theory. It then makes the case for why the Army must continue efforts to enhance its ability to achieve decisive battle outcomes against semi-irregular opponents.

Reflecting on observations made by Richard Barrett in 'The Profession of Arms needs a CPD Program' John Wellfare makes a strong bid to resolve a challenge faced by many leaders throughout the organisation – how to achieve professionalisation of the ADF at the other ranks (OR) level.

John Brennan outlines the importance of enhancing Army's capability and flexibility to draw on the part-time force to meet Australia's security requirements in peace and war. Using overseas examples, he proposes a force design model to effect such an outcome.

K identifies the opportunity that exists for Army to transform land power through the innovative use of additive manufacturing to generate a more resilient supply chain, particularly in the field.

Robotic and autonomous systems represent the potential future of land warfare. Opening with this assertion, William Hill looks to history to see how technology has transformed the nature of warfare and analysing the implications for land combat capabilities.

Andy Maher explores the strategy of resistance, Ukraine’s employment of this strategy, and the issues that emerge as lessons for national security professionals.

The future of the Australian Army is inextricably linked to the society that it serves. In its efforts to transform land power, Annie North challenges Army to invest in storytelling to build the trust-based personal relationships needed to sustain and grow the force.

Dr Al Palazzo introduces a book that will be welcomed by anyone with an interest in Australia and Second World War in the Pacific. While not claiming to be a work of great academic history, the book is commended as a great historical story about the eclectic mix of Australian mariners who supported Allied operations in New Guinea in 1942.

Entries in the the 2022 AARC Short Thoughts Competition, ‘Transforming Land Power’ have now been judged. Authors spanned a range of ranks and backgrounds proving that good ideas are not the monopoly of a particular area, group or rank band. This Post lists the winners and commended entries. Winners will be awarded a trip to the Chief of Army Symposium 2022 and a book voucher. All entries are in the process of being posted on the Land Power Forum.

James Eling makes the case for Australia to develop a sovereign manufacturing capability for Unmanned Combat Aerial Systems (UCAS) – drones able to deliver kinetic effects to provide a scalable, effective and agile capability for our soldiers.

This Spotlight Brief is the second in a series of focus pieces on the Russo-Ukrainian War. It describes the events of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, part of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. This analysis is in three parts: first, it examines the broad composition of the Russian and Ukrainian Armed Forces; second, it discusses the first phase of the invasion from February-April outlining the major operational level actions; and third, it discusses the invasion’s second phase covering the April-June period.

In this Post, Tingting Luo explores the issue of land power transformation through the lens of concurrency pressures, the challenges posed by a competitive employment market, and the enduring need for Army to foster a sense of Service.