Jason Kirkham is Royal Australian Artillery officer who has served at the School of Artillery, and 8/12 Medium Regiment. He is currently serving as a targeting officer at Headquarters 1st Division. He holds a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in History and English. He is currently completing a postgraduate Masters in War Studies … Jason …

Acting Head of Land Capability, BRIG Ian Langford, presents his views on combat operations in the contemporary high threat environment to this year's ADM Congress, Canberra 22 June 2022. It is my aim today to talk to you about our Army, but more specifically, land power as it relates to conduct of combat operations in a modern, high threat environment. This is to be expected, and as the Ukraine conflict is revealing, remains a relevant modality of warfare today. In addition to preparing for these types of …

Peter describes himself as a country kid who went to the city to get an education and fell into the IT industry.  Peter has worked in this profession for thirty years, predominantly in data and voice communications. For the last decade, Peter has specialised in trying to improve ICT services within Defence. He has a wife, two  kids, a small farm near Canberra, and a good life. … Peter …

The world is watching the events of the Russian invasion of Ukraine unfold with a mixture of disbelief, dread, horror and, amazingly, inspiration and hope. The Ukrainian’s defence of their country against a seemingly irresistible Russian force provides important insights for Australia if we were ever to face a similar catastrophic and tragic fate. Even as a civilian observer, there are many emerging lessons to observe from the conflict.  Of these, I have chosen just a few key areas to highlight in this …

The Army Robotics Expo (ARX) 2022 is part of the Chief of Army Symposium (CAS) 2022 Expo Series. ARX 2022 and is an opportunity to observe and demonstrate Australian industry Robotic and Autonomous Systems (RAS) technologies and concepts which align to potential capability as identified within the Army RAS Strategy.  ARX 2022 is open to CAS 2022 Exposition attendees on 11 August 2022, and will be open to all Army Futures Forum attendees at scheduled times on 11 August 2022. Visit the CAS 2022 site for more …

“To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.” George Washington Introduction The government’s recent political announcement to expand the Australian Defence Force by 20,000 personnel is welcomed. To be a significant ‘land power’ deterrent, the Army will need the capability to expand numbers quickly with trained soldiers.  Swiss history confirms the need for middle power nations to have a capable reserve force to mobilise in response to national security contingencies. The …

The Implications of the Precision Strike Revolution Introduction For several decades, the art of war has been in the midst of a revolution. The combination of pervasive sensors with long-range precision strike capabilities, that was first evident in the 1991 Gulf War, has spread globally. Once the Australian Army acquires HIMARS , it too will gain the ability to strike with precision and at distances which are currently beyond reach. Moreover, as the technology improves, the distance at which these weapons …

This Spotlight Brief  provides an introduction and context to the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. It discusses Ukraine’s strategic circumstances and provides an overview of the chain of events which led to it. The Brief aims to provide a wide audience with a basis of knowledge to better understand the relationship between Russia and Ukraine and why the conflict occurred.  … Spotlight Brief …

Signaller with NORFORCE from 2020, I am born and bred in Darwin, Northern Territory. My interests include offroading, camping, fishing, and hunting … Connor Cruickshank …

Four New Principles of War The Principles of War (POW) that we ascribe to have long been studied and advocated in military institutions.  Based on the post-World War One work of Major General J F C Fuller CB, CBE, DSO, their importance as a foundation for the conduct of warfare has been reaffirmed over the years.  Originally there were nine Principles, with the tenth being added subsequently (initially referred to as ‘Administration’, it is now known as ‘Sustainability’). The pace of technological advance …