Strategic Analysis is conducted by the Australian Army Research Centre for the purpose of identifying opportunities for Future Landpower. Strategic Analysis consists of Strategic Assessments highlighting key trends and challenges to the Army in order to inform force design, structure and posture decisions and Spotlight Briefs providing a periodically released curated overview of issues relevant to Australian Landpower. … Strategic …

Shaping the Canadian Corps 1914-1918 By Kenneth Radley Helion , Warwick, 2018, 424pp 9781912174737 - Paperback Reviewed by BRIG Chris Roberts AM, CSC (Retd.)   Following on from his excellent study of the 1st Canadian Division during the Great War ( We Lead, Others Follow ) Kenneth Radley’s Get Tough, Stay Tough: Shaping the Canadian Corps 1914-1918 considers the Canadian performance on the Western Front through a slightly different lens.  In his first book, Radley analysed why the 1st Canadian Division …

By KW Mitchinson Helion , Solihull, 2017, 290pp, c 20 b/w photos, 8pp colour maps 9781911512547 - Hardback Reviewed by BRIG Chris Roberts AM, CSC (Retd.)   In this comprehensive and very informative account, Mitchinson delivers a pragmatic and balanced study of a solid, yet unremarkable 48th (South Midland) Division that had its origins in the creation of the Territorial Force (TF) in 1908. Mitchinson has written extensively on the TF, and this book meets his previous high standards of research, based …

Over the past 100 years, the manner in which the infantry battalion is employed has undergone revolutionary change— something that is not always appreciated by those who regard the infantry as the unskilled labour force of the battlefield. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. This paper discusses the implications of the transition from relatively unskilled mass industrial-age infantry to the information-age specialists who dominate the modern battlespace. Oddly, these changes have not been …

The content in this article is an extract of  Spotlight Brief 6/21 . Defence Innovation and the 4th Industrial Revolution in Russia Journal of Strategic Studies – Dec 2020 Katarzyna Zysk’s article grapples with two key questions. Firstly, what strategies has Russia adopted in order to pursue breakthrough technologies and stimulate defence innovation? Secondly, what ramifications will Russia’s technological advancements have for strategic competition? Russia has systematically focussed on new potentially …

   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 …

Introduction Tomorrow’s protracted battles will occur in complex terrain where casualties are maximised and engagements drawn out for as long as possible. This Land Power Forum Post describes the concept of protracted battle in the context of supporting military theory and its effects on land power. It will demonstrate why battles are becoming longer and larger fights occur in complex terrain. These protracted battles are the domain of semi-national forces who behave with a mix of characteristics, …

The Quantum Technology Challenge 2022 Demonstration Day will be held in conjunction with the Army Innovation Day and Chief of Army’s Symposium on 11 August at the Adelaide Convention Centre. The Challenge sees teams competing to show how quantum technologies can solve important Army problems and deliver unprecedented capabilities. The Challenge themes are: Locating electromagnetic emitters in the battlespace:  Can quantum sensors detect, locate and identify electromagnetic emitters with greater precision, …

The Battle of Minden, 1759, and its Place in the Seven Years War By Ewan Carmichael Helion , Warwick, 2021, 265pp 9780733637292 - Paperback 9780733637308 - eBook Reviewed by BRIG Chris Roberts AM, CSC (Retd.) The Battle of Minden is noted for the extraordinary performance of a single British infantry brigade, a feat still celebrated by six successor infantry regiments and two Royal Artillery batteries of the British Army. In recounting this remarkable battle, and its place in the Seven Years War …

Duncan Foster is an Infantry Officer.  At various times during his career, he has served in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment. He is a graduate of the Royal Military College Duntroon, the Capability and Technology Management College and the Australian Command and Staff College. … Duncan …