Abstract In the future, land force commanders will need to manage the use of airspace to enable multidimensional manoeuvre—coordinating joint and coalition assets and denying adversaries. Battlespace management, in an era of uninhabited and automated systems, is becoming increasingly complex. The author argues for the development of a ‘land force air and missile defence’ (LFAMD) to enhance friendly capability and defeat conventional and asymmetrical enemy manoeuvre. Introduction The Australian Defence …

Abstract Robots and their uses are a staple of science fiction, and yet practical applications are already in the field. Uninhabited aerial vehicles, such as Predator or Global Hawk, can be considered robots. This article examines robots by using the battlespace operating systems (BOS) paradigm. The author concludes that, as technological change gathers pace, capability planners need to consider the uses and benefits that robots offer the military of tomorrow. Introduction Anyone who has seen the latest …

Abstract The mortar is the only organic indirect fire support available to Australian Army infantry battalions. The author argues that detailed consideration of the mortar as a battalion asset has been neglected during the Army’s prolonged commitment to peace operations. This article examines the Army’s mortar training and employment requirements in light of future operations and capability development initiatives. The author concludes with options for further developing this battalion asset. Fire Mission …

Abstract The load of the infantry soldier has remained steady through centuries of technological evolution—about 40 kilograms. The essentials: ammunition, food, and water are eternal. Yet, these are only part of the exhaustive ‘load list’. The author argues that logistic systems must be able to deliver resupply ‘just in time’ and commanders must rigorously enforce a weight limit. He presents his case for profound reform in what the infantry soldier carries into battle, leading to true ‘light infantry’. …

Abstract This article is based on a presentation to the Rowell Profession of Arms Seminar, held at the Telstra Theatre, Australian War Memorial, on 23 June 2005. It is a personal reflection on the evolution and context of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI), by the man who planned and deployed Australia’s contribution to that operation. A truly international and interagency effort, RAMSI is often viewed as a template for promoting security and governance in Australia’s volatile …

Abstract This article is based on a presentation prepared in August 2004 for the Land Warfare Studies Centre’s occasional seminar series. Professor Black begins from the premise that technology alone cannot win war. In the 21st century, with urbanised Third World populations suffering poverty and unemployment, warfare and its aftermath will take place in the complex terrain of megacities, where the war-winning power of technology is reduced. He argues that war is won when your enemy is persuaded that they …

Abstract Alliances require each party to constantly assess the benefits of maintaining the relationship. As the United States re-frames its defence posture and strategy to accommodate the new strategic environment, the utility of the ANZUS alliance, with its distinctly Cold War orientation, is under increasing scrutiny. Similarly, public opinion polls in Australia suggest that the ANZUS alliance, and US foreign policy generally, is viewed negatively. This article examines the several aspects of the …

Abstract This article is based on an address by the Chief of the Australian Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy AO, to the Royal United Services Institute of the United Kingdom at the Royal Palace of Whitehall on 8 June 2006. Lieutenant General Leahy outlines why the Australian Army is seeking a significant increase in combat weight when most Western armies are lightening their forces. He argues that Australian military history is the backdrop against which this apparent anomaly can be resolved. This …

Abstract New information technologies are challenging the way we organise and operate, and our soldiers are facing greater ambiguity and scrutiny. This article examines the way we intend to help prepare ourselves for these two major challenges. The extraordinary improvements in information technologies are affecting almost every part of our lives. In particular, connections between individuals, groups and societies are intensifying. The ability of new machines to collect, store and move information around …

On 25 May 2006, the Australian Defence Force commenced a highly complex stabilisation operation in the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste in response to an urgent request from that nation’s government. An outbreak of violence had culminated in a breakdown in the security forces of Timor Leste. In the ensuing security vacuum, sectarian and criminal violence created a humanitarian emergency. At very short notice an Australian Defence Force Joint Task Force (JTF 631) was deployed to Timor Leste. The task …