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This paper examines the way in which Australia has responded to the post–Cold War concept of a Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA). It argues that, between 1994 and the present, Australian thinking about an information-age military revolution has gone through two distinct phases: a period of informal debate and a period of institutional theorising. The informal phase of Australian RMA thinking lasted from 1994 until 1997 and represented a period of intellectual speculation under the rubric of Defence of …

This working paper analyses the continuing importance of combined arms warfare in modern armed conflict. The paper consists of three edited essays: a conceptual introduction to the theory of combined arms combat; a case study of combined arms warfare based on the Australian Army's experience in Vietnam; and a concluding essay with historical and contemporary insights on the continuing relevance of all-arms combat. The first essay by Michael Evans provides a conceptual context for understanding the …

A primer for ADF commanders to assist them to own the challenge of military suicide in the ranks as a command and leadership issue. This paper seeks to provide a primer for Australian Defence Force commanders to assist them to own the challenge of military suicide in the ranks as first and foremost a command and leadership issue. It argues that it is impossible to understand a suicidal soldier unless the subject of suicide is itself broadly understood by the profession of arms. In order to frame the …

The Potential for a Broader Army Role in Domestic Counter-Terrorism Terrorist incidents in recent years—including the 2014 Sydney Lindt Café siege, the November 2015 Paris attacks and the 2016 Nice Bastille Day attack—have continued to highlight the vulnerabilities of Western societies to extremist violence. They also demonstrate how some global developments have removed some impediments for groups or individuals to conduct high-profile attacks with local resources and without deep connections to a …

This Strategic Assessment provides insights into the global supply chain issues that will shape Defence’s ability to maintain adequate war stocks of strike weapons. It discusses the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Western stockpiles, the diversification of rare earth processing and the increasing pressure on Western militaries to secure their stockpiles of strike weapons. These topics have been emphasised on the basis of their significance to long-term strategic decision making, the formation …

Tactical Observations on the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine Abstract This Spotlight Brief examines Russia’s combined-arms approach during its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. To provide context to this study, it discusses the primary Russian tactical unit of action, the Battalion Tactical Group. It subsequently explores a range of observations on the application of combined-arms at the tactical level during the initial phases of the invasion. It concludes by offering a number of deductions pertinent to the …

An introduction to gender studies, unshackling human talent and optimising military capability for the coming Era of Equality: 2020 to 2050 Introduction Gender has been a high-profile issue within the Army over the last five years. In response to Pathways to Change (PtC), Army has introduced significant changes in a short period. However, there is now a chance for Army to catch its breath and reflect more deeply and strategically about how it approaches gender issues in the longer term. Although there may …

   Foreword ‘Understanding the best use of autonomous systems will ultimately be what separates militaries that capitalise [sic] on the advantage of autonomous systems from those that do not.’ The use of advanced and networked technologies on the battlefield is increasing, and future warfighting is expected to centre on human-machine teams in both the physical and virtual sense. Army’s Robotic and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Strategy V2.0 articulates how Army aspires to leverage emerging technology such as …

FOREWORD Our region is entering an increasingly challenging strategic environment. In response, it is the responsibility of all ADF members to be alert to the implications of current and emerging threats and their relevance to the military’s ability to deliver capability, where and when it is needed, in support of Australia’s national interests. As the ADF’s instrument of land power. Army needs to be willing to engage intellectually with the questions central to its contribution to the joint force, and how …

Welcome to the sixth issue of Future Land Warfare Branch’s Spotlight Brief from the Australian Army Research Centre (AARC). This issue has a particular emphasis on issues relating to robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) in addition to its usual areas of interest. RAS forms a vital part of the Australian Army as it modernises to meet the challenges brought on by accelerated warfare where the rate of change of technology is increasing. The Army RAS Strategy 2019 and the ADF Concept for Future Robotics and …