Page 44 - Australian Defence Mag Sep 2020

44 LAND WARFARE LAND 400 PHASE 3
SEPTEMBER 2020 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
COMBINED ARMS FIGHTING SYSTEM
The combination of the IFV’s protection, firepower, sensors and access to the Joint Force digital network would make it a significantly more powerful capability than its prede- cessor, and work was underway on evolving doctrine and concept of operations (CONOPS), the spokesperson stated.
As yet, little has emerged about the broader aspects of these tactics, notwithstanding Chief of Army Lieu- tenant-General Rick Burr’s vision of an Army in Motion operating in, and adaptably responding to, an environ- ment of what he terms Accelerated Warfare. See this month’s From the Source with Head of Land Capability
Major General Simon Stuart at the back of the magazine for more on this.
Challenges remain for the Army in devel- oping a force structure that will be flexible, deployable and effective for low-intensity peacekeeping or stabilisation operations whilst still maintaining a credible capability to engage in high-intensity warfare if called on to do so.
According to Defence, IFVs and CRVs once available for distribution to combat brigades “will be task-organised in com- bined arms constructs relevant to the as- signed mission”.
A CASG storyboard depicts IFVs, led by an Abrams M1AI main battle tank, advanc- ing towards an enemy-held objective whilst adversary forces are suppressed by friendly joint fires that include direct engagement by CRVs from a convenient overwatch position.
Engaging targets of opportunity whilst moving towards the objective, the IFVs drop dismounted combatants on the enemy’s for- ward positions after the termination of sup- pressive fire, then cover the last 300 metres to the objective in approximately 30 seconds.
Once there, the vehicles demonstrate their lethality, protection and high level of tactical mobility by fighting through the objective.
“DEFENCE’S AIM IS TO ACHIEVE A POSITION AT THE END OF THE RMA FROM WHICH
IT COULD READILY CONTRACT WITH EITHER OF THE SHORTLISTED TENDERERS.”
BELOW: The first Boxer combat reconnaissance vehicle delivered to Army at Enoggera Barracks, Queensland.
INDUSTRY INVESTMENT
Production of the Lynx will be centred on RDA’s $170 mil- lion Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence (MILVEHCOE) nearing completion at Ipswich southwest of Brisbane. This
© COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE