“And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth…” JRR Tolkein The early 2000s saw a marked increase in the expeditionary employment of UK amphibious forces. For the UK, like the fellowship of the ring, ‘some things that should have not been forgotten were lost’. Chief among these was experience of doing expeditionary and amphibious logistics. Supporting expeditionary operations at strategic distance from the home base is challenging and Australia’s …

What are the forces shaping the operating environment since 9/11? In an era of constant competition, can it be argued that the character of war is ever changing? What challenges do those two questions pose for contemporary military forces and other national security providers? Colonel Ian Langford’s presentation offers some thought provoking insights on this complex issue. … Emerging Security Challenges in a Post-9/11 Operating …

The Fourth Industrial Revolution will drive major changes in the character of war. It is creating a family of small, smart, and cheap weapons that will provide even small states with capabilities that until recently were the preserve of major powers. These developments will require major changes in operational concepts, as well as service organisations, training, and equipment. … The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Changing Character of …

Studies examining mental disorder and terrorist involvement have a convoluted history. Early studies were correctly debunked on methodological grounds, but the existing consensus, that mental disorder never plays a role in terrorism, is likely to be false when we consider the complexity and diversity of the problem. Instead, there are likely to be a range of mental disorders across the arc of terrorist involvement. This work addresses the current discord in the understanding of the potential role of …

The first Army Quantum Technology Challenge (QTC 2021) saw teams of Australia’s world-leading quantum scientists and engineers show how quantum technologies can conceptually deliver Army unprecedented capabilities, including: Making the ground transparent: imaging what is hidden subterranean Resupplying troops in battle quickly, safely and efficiently: optimisation of large-scale resupply by squads of autonomous uncrewed ground vehicles. Denying the enemy secure communications: countermeasures quantum …

Director of Terrorism Studies at Charles Sturt University, Levi West, reflects on the current and future state of the terrorist threat landscape, and the successes of 19 years of international counter terrorism. As the threat landscape becomes increasingly diverse, dynamic, and complex, ensuring that we remain appropriately calibrated to respond to threats presented by non-state, proxy, and other irregular actors must remain at the forefront of our strategic thinking. Levi provided an assessment of the …

Dr Hunt discussing disinformation in the COVID-19 pandemic. … Disinformation in the COVID-19 pandemic …

LTCOL Mark O'Neill presents  on the topic of Australia and irregular warfare in the Indo-Pacific century. … Living with Giants and Liliputians …

CAPT Marcus Doherty explains Quantum Technology, the global and Australian strategic imperatives and discusses a framework for Australian Army technology. … Quantum Technology - An introduction and the strategic imperative …

Major Andrew Maher presents the Hizbollah Case Study to combine other presentations and writings on the topic. … Hizbollah Case Study …