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As the integration of cyber networks reaches full saturation within the deployed environment, the time that cyber defenders and a cyber network defence framework should have been put in place has already passed. This leaves our networks and the missions reliant on those networks for command, control and communications vulnerable to exploitation by any number of adversaries within the battlespace. With  governments around the world  spending billions of dollars on the implementation of cyber defence …

"Our subordinates are from the digital and “sharing economy” generation where disruptive technologies and practices routinely replace traditional services. When our subordinates comfortably use the largest transport company in the world which has no cars and the largest accommodation provider which has no property we need to do more to harness the agility embodied in our workforce and their comfort with technology and change."   - Commander Forces Command, Major General McLachlan, 2017 As the proportion of …

A Submission to the Chief of Army’s ‘Contest of Ideas’ The basis of this submission is this cover note and the enclosed short paper authored by Dr Albert Palazzo and myself in 2016 titled  Coming to Terms with the Modern Way of War: Precision Missiles and the Land Component of Australia’s Joint Force . Much of the Western military’s attention has focussed on developments in particular technological fields such as cyber, space, artificial intelligence and hypersonics; but, by focussing on the parts we may …

Every soldier has an individual responsibility to study the profession of arms. A soldier without either interest in, or knowledge of, the history and theory of warfare - the intellectual content of the military profession - is a soldier in appearance only. ( LWD 1, The Fundamentals of Land Power, 2014 ) As a learning organisation, Army must have robust frameworks for ongoing development and continued education programs to ensure knowledgeable and competent staff. The  2016 Ryan Review  is a good start and …

Whether you’re interested by new drone technology, quantum computing or the latest mobile phone tech, this month’s METS has something for you. BIRD DRONES? THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN DRONE TECHNOLOGY   A  RMIT research team  with support from the Defence Science and Technology Group have developed a drone that is based on bird flight patterns. By using the same air currents used by birds, the drone can stay in the air for longer and have an extended flight range. The ‘bird’ drone in contrast to the current …

The  Professional Standards Councils  suggest that ‘a profession positions itself as possessing special knowledge and skills… [and] is prepared to apply this… in the interest of others’. When considering many professions, the uniting principle that defines them is relatively easy to discern. For medical practitioners it is understanding the human body; for lawyers, a nation’s law codes – these provide a unifying start point for the development of more specialised expertise. However, what is the specialist …

Close combat is Army’s strength and its foundational principle, but recent operations show how it can be turned into a weakness if we fail to acknowledge how adversaries use robot-enabled warfare. In helping Army and the Australian Defence Force grapple with the potential of robotics and automation, I have been struck by a recurring 'blind spot': a reluctance to see improvised explosive devices as robots. On the surface, there are apparent differences between (say)  an artillery shell rigged up with a …

The Australian Army is not just facing an uncertain future operational environment, it is also in the midst of a fundamental rethink about its role in national security, its structure and how it operates on a day-to-day basis. With a Defence white paper due shortly, structural changes resulting from Plan Beersheba now taking effect, and the imminent application of First Principles Review recommendations, the newly published edition of the  Australian Army Journal  has a series of articles that have utility …

The Army Futures Team identifies emerging threats and opportunities in technology, encouraging and promoting professional discussion and debate about their potential implications for future land warfare. This month, we consider developments in emerging technologies (emtech) in our near region. Read on to learn more about some of the key regional agencies in emtech, how to identify the best place to build renewable energy infrastructure and antimalarial treatments. Stay tuned for our scan of home-grown …

The recently released  Defence White Paper  (DWP) captured a marked shift in the Australian Defence Force’s attitude toward International Engagement. This shift called for an increase in the number of Defence members with language qualifications, an increased tempo of engagement, and a re-alignment of those with whom Defence should engage. This direction carries significant weight - to meaningfully develop language skills, cultural awareness and regional familiarity requires at least a twelve-month …