ABBREVIATIONS

ADF AustralianDefenceForce

Defence Departmentof Defence

EBO effects-basedoperations

FJOC FutureJointOperationsConcept

MDM MultidimensionalManoeuvre

NCW network-centricwarfare

FOREWORD

TheAustralianDefenceForcestandsindefenceof Australiaandournationalinterests.Ourworkisseriousanddifficult,andfartoooften,arduousanddangerous.Wearecalledupontoperformdiversechallengingtasksinfulfillingourmission–someveryclosetohomeandothersfurtherafield.Theworldinwhichweoperateiscomplexandunpredictable,andweshouldnotbelievethatourfuturewillbeanyeasier–intermsof therangeof missionsweperformortheoperationaltempoatwhichweoperate.

Wehavedemonstratedanenviableabilitytorespondtothesechallenges,andtheseeffortshavebeenablysupportedbythewiderDefenceorganisation.Wehaveperformedwithdistinctiononoperationsformanyyears,andthishassetaveryhighbarforfuturegenerationsof Servicemenandwomen.Toachieveongoingsuccess,however,weneedtolooktowardthefutureandidentifyhowwewanttofight–wecannotsimplyrelyonthepracticesof todaybeingsuccessfulinthechangingenvironmentof tomorrow.JointOperationsforthe21stCenturyprovidesuswithmyvisionforourfutureoperations.

MyvisionisonewheretheADFisabalanced,networkedanddeployableforce,staffedbydedicatedandprofessionalpeople,thatoperateswithinacultureof adaptabilityandexcelsatjointandcoalitionoperations.Thisdocumentdescribeshowwemightbestutilisethecapabilitiesof thisforcetorespondtothechallenges,theopportunitiesandtheuncertaintiesof thefutureinordertokeepourcountrysecure.JointOperationsforthe21stCenturypaintsapictureof ajointforceoperatingeffectivelyaspartof anintegratednationalresponsetoevents.Thisforcewillacttoreach,knowandexploitthefutureoperatingenvironment.

Thinkingabouthowwewillfightinthefutureisanimportantcomponentof ourworkthatinfluenceseverythingwedoinDefence.Istronglycommendthisdocumenttoyouasastartingpointforreflection.Moreworkremainstobedone,andIencourageyoualltoparticipateinanongoingdebateaboutthefutureof ourforce.

A.G.HOUSTONAOAFC

AirChief MarshalChief of theDefenceForceCanberraMay2007

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INTRODUCTION

THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE MISSION

Ourpurposeisveryclear:weareresponsibletotheGovernmentof Australiafortheprotectionof Australia,ourpeopleandournationalinterests,wheneverandwhereverthoseinterestslie.InundertakingthismissiontheAustralianDefenceForce(ADF)enabledbytheDefenceOrganisationmightactindependently,oritmightcontributetoabroadereffortof otherAustralianorinternationalcivilianagenciesormilitaryforces.

The21stcenturypromisesafuturewhoseshapeisuncertain,andwhosesecurityandprosperityarechallengedbydangersbothseenandunseen.Wemustunderstandthosedangers,anddevelopconceptsandstrategiestomeetthem,if wearetobuildonoursuccessestodayandpositionourselvesforongoingsuccesstomorrow.

Thefirstfewyearsof the21stcenturyhavedemonstratedthatdangerscantakemanyforms.Somedangersaretraditional,andrelatetostate-on-statetensionsoverterritory,resourcesorthebalanceanddistributionof power.Someareoldchallengesinnewguises,suchastheemergenceof newterroristgroupsandpandemicdiseases.Somechallengesareentirelynew,suchasclimatechangeandtheimpactsof globaldemography.Andsomearenaturaldangers,suchascyclones,earthquakesandtsunamis,tonamejustafew.

Whateverformthedangerstake,theuncertaintyof thefutureoperatingenvironmentrequiresustoconstantlychallengetheorthodoxy,toinnovatetosolveoldandnewchallenges,andtoespouseanddebateanewvisionfortheroleof theADFinthe21stcentury.

OUR MISSION IS TO DEFEND AUSTRALIA AND OUR NATIONAL

INTERESTS.

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THE CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCE’S VISION

Weneedtoexcelatjoint, interagency and coalition operationsbecausethisisourcorebusiness.Warfightingremainsthecorecompetencyof theADF.Thefutureforcemustbeabletowinconflictsandsecurethepeaceincomplexoperatingenvironments.

Allouroperationswillbejoint.WemuststrivetogobeyondoperatingjointlytooperatingintheseamlessmannerdescribedinForce2020.Thiswillmaximiseourcollectivewarfightingcapabilitiesandspecialisations.

Increasingly,thefutureforcewillconductoperationsinconjunctionwithinteragencyandcoalitionpartners.Wehaveastrongrecordof meetingthechallengesof interagencyandcoalitionoperations,bothasaleaderandasaparticipant.Thefuturewillpresentmorechallengesinthisregard.

Thecreationof aculturethatvaluesadaptabilitywillenablethefutureforcetoplanandconductoperationsinuncertain,volatile,complexandambiguoussettings,aswellasdemonstratetheabilitytoself-modifyandrespondtoeventsof fleetingtimesensitivity.

Thefutureforcemusthaveabalance incapabilitiestorespondtouncertaintyinourstrategiccircumstances.Wecannotaffordtoinvesttooheavilyinafew‘niche’capabilityareasonthepresumptionthatfutureoperationswillcorrespondtotoday’sassumptions.

Improvednetworkingwillenhanceourcapabilityadvantageoverpotentialadversaries.Inparticular,wemustexploitenhancedcommandandcontrolcapabilitiesandpromotemoreeffectivehumaninteractionwithintheDepartmentof Defence(Defence).TheNetworkCentricWarfareRoadmapaddressesthechallengesof buildingthisnetwork,particularlywithrespecttothehumandimension.

WeneedtobedeployablebecausedefendingandpromotingAustralia’snationalinterestsrequiresmorethanprovidingadefensivebarrierintheair–seagaptoournorth.Wemustbemoreengagedglobally,becauseAustralianinterestsareglobal.Wecanexpectthoseintereststoendure.

Weneedadedicated and professional workforcebecauseitisourpeoplethatgeneratetheunderlyingcapabilityadvantageandthe‘knowledgeedge’thatensurestheADFiscapableof gettingthejobdone.

My VISION IS FOR THE AUSTRALIAN

DEFENCE FORCE TO BE A BALANCED,

NETWORkED, AND DEpLOyABLE FORCE,

STAFFED By DEDICATED AND pROFESSIONAL

pEOpLE, THAT OpERATES WITHIN

A CULTURE OF ADApTABILITy AND

ExCELS AT jOINT, INTERAgENCy AND

COALITION OpERATIONS.

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jOINT OpERATIONS FOR THE 21ST CENTURy

Defence Planning Guidance Environment

Seamless Force

Force Application

Balanced ForceAttributes

Networked ForceAttributes

Deployable ForceAttributes

Force Deployment Force Protection Command & ControlForce Generationand Sustainment

Effects-Based Approach

Joint

Interagency

Coalition

Military StrategicAssumptions

Multidimensional ManoeuvreDefeat the adversary’s will to oppose us

Future Joint Operating Concept

Integrated with each other and:• supporting organisations• other agencies• community

Common and enhanced battlespaceawareness, applied to deliver

optimum combat effect.

Defeat an adversary’s strategyand resolve through:• National Effects Based Approach• Reach• Know• Exploit

Capability WarningAssumptions

Crisis WarningAssumptions

Network Enabled OperationsNetwork Centric Warfare

JointOperationsforthe21stCenturyprovidesaninsightintohowthefutureforcewilloperateanddescribesattributesneededbythisforcetoachieveitsmissionof protectingAustraliaandournationalinterests.Indoingso,itprovidesbroadguidanceforthedevelopmentandmaintenanceof theADF.

JointOperationsforthe21stCenturybuildsuponForce2020andreplacestheFutureWarfightingConcept,guidingprinciplesreleasedbypreviousChiefsof theDefenceForce.Itisthefirstiterationof theFutureJointOperatingConcept(FJOC),andprovidesanoverarchingconceptforthefutureoperationof theADFtobesupportedbyconceptsdescribingtheADF’soperationinthethreemajorcombatenvironments:theFutureMaritimeOperatingConcept,theFutureLandOperatingConcept,andtheFutureAirandSpaceOperatingConcept.

TheFJOCisacomponentof theStrategicPlanningFrameworkandisalignedwiththecurrentclassifiedDefencePlanningGuidance.

THE OpERATINg ENVIRONMENT

TheADFof todaydoesnotoperateinasingleenvironment;instead,wearedeployedfromurbanenvironmentstojungles,fromdesertstomountains.Weoperateinthemidstof populations,intheairspaceabovethemandfaroutatsea.Thiswillcontinuetobethecasewellintothefuture.

Fortheforeseeablefuture,armedforceremainsakeyfactorininternationalaffairs,andwecannotguaranteethatAustraliawillremainfreefromcrediblethreatinthelongterm.Whiletheinternationalsystemcanacttoconstraintheuseof force,wecannotdismissthepossibilityof majorconflictbetweenstates.

OtherthreatstoAustralia’sterritorialintegrity,sovereigntyandbroadernationalinterestscouldalsochallengeAustralia’ssecurityinawaythatrequirestheapplicationof militaryforce.Globalfactors(suchasterrorism,pandemicdisease,resourcedepletionandthesecurityimpactsof climatechange)andregionalfactors(suchasstatefragility,poorgovernanceandeconomicunderdevelopment)mayaffectAustralia’ssecurityinterests,bothdirectlyandindirectly.Thesethreatsmaybecompoundedbyfactorssuchastheimpactsof globalisation,theriseof newmilitarypowers,newlyemergingtechnologies,orthegrowthinothernon-traditionalchallenges.

LOOkINg TOWARDS 2030: THE AppLICATION OF MILITARy pOWER IN THE FUTURE STRATEgIC ENVIRONMENT

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�OUR MISSION IS TO DEFEND AUSTRALIA AND OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS.

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Singly,anyoneof thesethreatscoulddisruptthemilitarybalancebetweenstatesorpresentnonstateactorswithanopportunitytochallengestatepower.TogethertheyshapethenewsecurityenvironmentwithinwhichtheADFmustoperate.

TheAustralianApproachtoWarfarestressesthat:

ourwarfareconceptsreflectAustralia’sparticulargeographicenvironment,militaryandeconomicresourceconstraints,theopportunitiesofferedbytechnologicalchangeandinnovation,andtheprofessionalismandfightingspiritof ourdefenceforce.TheAustralianDefenceForceneedstobeawareof,andadaptto,changestothesefactors.Forcesmustbeabletoinnovateandimprovisetoovercomeobstacles,whetheroperational,logisticorhuman,andachievecoherenceacrossalllevelsof command.Australia’slimitedresourcesputapremiumonprofessionalskill,delegationandinitiative,andarobustcommand,control,communications,intelligence,surveillanceandreconnaissancesystemsoastomakedecisionsbetterandmorequicklythananadversary.

TheADFmustadapttothefutureoperatingenvironmentinordertomaintainandbuilditsuniqueandeffectiveapproachtowarfare.Understandingthefutureoperatingenvironmentisattheheartof thatchallenge.

Whilewarwillcontinuetoinvolvetheapplicationof organisedforceincombatenvironments,theconductof jointwarfarewillincludebothviolentandnon-violentapplicationsof militarypower.Increasingly,theADFmustbecapableof bothexecutingeffectivecombatoperationsandprovidingmilitarysupporttonationalresponsesinmorecomplexenvironments.In2030,theADFwillbeabletodothefollowing:

a. defendAustralianterritoryagainstcrediblethreatwithoutrelyingonthecombatforcesof othercountries,inkeepingwithlong-standingGovernmentpolicy

b. providejointforcestocontributeto,orlead,coalitionoperationsinAustralia’sneighbourhood

c. contributetocoalitionoperationsfurtheraway

d. supportUnitedNationsactivitiesandhonourotherlongstandingmultinationalcommitments

e. contributetocrisisresponseaspartof acoalitioneffortinhumanitarianassistanceanddisasterrelief

f. routinelyworkwithothergovernmentdepartmentstoprovideoptionstoGovernmenttoprotectandpromoteAustralianinterests

g. provideregionalsituationalawarenesstoaglobalcommitmentof militaryforce.

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Tocarryouttheseroles,theADFof 2030mustbeabletodeployforcesresponsivelyandrapidly,throughoutourregionandbeyond.ThatwillrequireameasuredandorderlytransitionfromaforceheavilyweightedtocounteringaconventionalthreatagainstAustralianterritorytoamoreadaptableandagileforcethatcanconductmid-tolow-intensityoperationsasreadilyasitcanhigh-intensityones.TheADFmustmovetodevelopahardened,networked,deployablejointforcethatischaracterisedbyadaptabilityandagilitytohandlethefullrangeof militaryoperationsacrossthefullspectrumof conflicts.

THE MILITARy CHALLENgE

Thecapabilitiesof ourfutureadversarieswilldeterminehowweoperatein2030.Inparticular,rapidratesof technologicalchangewithrespecttomilitarycapabilityandthealteringhumanorganisationof warfareposesubstantialmilitarychallengesforthefutureADF.

Therateof technologicalinnovationwillcontinuetoaccelerate,whichwillleadtoshorterlifecyclesof technologies.Opportunitieswillpresentthemselvesforless-developednationstoquicklyandintelligentlyinvestinnewtechnologicalfieldsinordertorapidlymatch,orleapfrog,theforcesof developednationssuchasAustralia.Inaddition,theglobaleconomyandtherapidlyreducingcostof technologywillincreasinglyenablenon-stateactorstoleveragetechnologyasaforcemultiplier.Particularly,theADFshouldbepreparedtofaceadversarieswhoutilisethefollowingcapabilities:

readilyavailable‘low-tech’capabilities,suchasinformalcommunicationstechnologiesthatarecheap,ubiquitousanddifficulttotrace,whichwillchallengeoureffortstocontrolthebattlespace

increasinglysecureandsophisticatednetworkedcommandandcontrolandintelligence,surveillanceandreconnaissancesystems,leveragingcommercialsatellitecapabilitiesandimprovedgeospatialinformation,whichwillenhancelethalityandprecision

increasinglyavailableconventionalplatformsthatenhancelethality,survivabilityanddeployability–theseincludesubmarines,advancedmulti-rolefighters,andmobilegroundforceswithbetterarmour,increasedfirepowerandbettertargetingsystems

increasinglyavailableAdvancedConventionalWeaponsand,potentially,Chemical,Biological,Radiological,Nuclear,andExplosive(CBRNE)weapons.

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Intermsof humanfactors,thesocialrevolutioninwarfarewillcontinuetogatherpace.Increasingly,landforceswilladopt‘SpecialForces’characteristics,withanemphasisonprecisionandstealth,andtherewillbenewdemandsonairforcestosupportsuchoperations.Neworganisationalstructures,doctrinesandconceptswillemergeasarmedforcesseektodefinetheirnewmissionsandroles.DemographictrendsinneighbouringcountriessuggestthatpotentialadversarieswillnotsufferfromthesamedifficultiesastheADFhasexperiencedinrecruitingandretainingsufficientpersonnel.

Theincreasinglethalityandprecisionwithincertainbattlespaces(particularlythoseprincipallysuitedformaritimeandairforceelements)meansthatweseektoreduceboththefootprintandthevulnerabilityof deployedforces.This‘emptying’of certainbattlespaceswillplacerelianceonunmannedsystemsandonforceprotectionmeasures.Atthesametime,theADFshouldexpecttobeinvolvedinalargernumberof low-intensityoperations,particularlystabilisationoperations,whichrequireademonstrablyvisiblepresenceontheground.ThistensionbetweenforcepresenceandforceprotectionwillbeaprincipalissuefortheADFintheforeseeablefuture.

THE NATIONAL CHALLENgE

Anenduringelementof theoperatingenvironmentistheADF’sneedtodefendAustraliawithoutrelyingonthecombatforcesof othercountries.However,ourdeepeninginterdependencewiththeforcesof ouralliesandtheglobalmilitary–industrialsystemmeansthatself-reliancewillincreasinglynotmeanself-sufficiency.TheADFwilloperatewithsupportfrommultipleglobalsources,intheformof enablingcapabilitiessuchasintelligence,surveillanceandreconnaissance,communicationsandthesupplyof essentialwarstocksandsustainment.

Asinmuchof thewesternworld,thepopulationinAustraliaisaging.TheADFof thefuturewillfaceincreasingcompetitioninrecruitinghigh-calibreyoungmenandwomen.

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ThereisanestablishedneedtoexpandtheADFfromitscurrentstrengthof approximately50,000toabout58,000people.Thiswillbeachallengingtask,aswillmaintainingtheforceatthatsizeintothefuture.MitigationstrategiesthatreducetheADF’sdependencyonalargebodyof youngpeoplewillneedtobeadopted.Thiswillrequiretheenhancementof humancapacitythroughtechnologicalinnovation.

ThegrowthintheAustralianeconomyoverthepastdecadehasallowedtheAustralianGovernmenttoinvestinDefenceatalevelnotseensincetheVietnamWar.Thecommoditiesboomthathas,inlargepart,fuelledthegrowthintheAustralianeconomycannotreasonablybeexpectedtocontinueindefinitely.Indevelopingthefutureforcewemustbeawareof therecurrentcostsassociatedwiththeoperationof complexcapabilitiesandincreasesinthenumberof personnel.

Australia’ssecurityisverymuchdependentoninternationalrelationships.Whetherwelookattheprimacyof theAustralia–UnitedStatesallianceoratAustralia’scontributiontoshapingtheregionalsecuritylandscapethroughdiplomacy,aidandDefenceengagement,wefindtheoutcomesforAustralia’ssecurityaresimilar.Theserelationshipsreducethelikelihoodof conflictoccurringinthefirstplace;intheeventthatconflictoccurs,theylimitthescopeandextentof adverseeffects.Australiawillneedtocontinuetoinvestheavilyindevelopingandmaintainingitsstrategicallyimportantinternationalrelationships,andDefencemustcontinuetoplayasignificantroleinthisendeavour.

Capabilitywarningtime(thetimebetweenacontingencyarisingandtheneedfortheADFtoproducearespondingcapabilityeventuating)andcrisiswarningtime(thetimebetweenAustralialearningthatacrisismightoccurandthatcrisistakingplace)arebothreducing.Evidencesuggeststhat,formostlikelycontingencies,futureadversarieswouldbeabletoacquirethecapabilityorcapacitytothreatenAustraliaorournationalinterestsbeforewecoulddevelopacapabilityedgetocounterthatthreat.Recenthistoryhasshownthatcrisescanarisewithverylittleornowarning,andthefutureislikelytobenobetter(andprobablyworse)inthisregard.

ThesefactorsmakeitvitalthatweincreaseintelligencecapabilitiestoprovidesufficientwarningtimetotheADFandcapabilitydevelopers.

Thebrevityof bothcapabilityandcrisiswarningtimealmostensuresthatwewilljointhefightinthefutureasa‘comeasyouare’force.

RESpONDINg TO UNCERTAINTy

WewillmanageriskbyensuringthattheADFisabalancedforcewiththerightcapabilitiestomeettheuncertaindemandsof thefutureandthestrategiestosustain,acquireorretirethesecapabilitiesatacceptablecostandinatimelymanner.

Capabilitieswillneedtobedevelopedsuchthatour:

Armyhassufficientagility,adaptability,combatweightandreadinesstosustaincombatoperationsacrossthespectrumof conflictinhighlevelsof operationaluncertainty

Navygeneratesforceprojectionandcontrol.Itiscapableof breakingoutof port,transitingacrossbluewater,throughchokepointsandestablishingcontrolinthelittoral

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Air Forcehasaqualitativeaircombatedge,antisubmarinewarfarecapabilitiesandsurvivablelong-rangestrike,supportedbysurveillanceandreconnaissance,intra-andinter-theatreairliftandcombatsupportelements

intelligencecapabilitiesretainaqualitativeedge.

Ourpursuitof jointforcecapabilitieswillsignificantlyimproveADFcapacity.Thesearesystem-widecapabilitiesthatareabletobindsingle-servicecapabilitiesandstructuresintoasynergisticwhole.ItisthesesingleServicecapabilitiesandstructuresthatlieattheheartof jointandintegratedforceeffectiveness.

ExpANDINg OUR ROLE

Afundamentalresponsibilityof theADFistopreventordefeatanyarmedattackonAustralia.Thefutureforcewillneedtobeabletodeterand,if necessary,defeatanypotentialadversaryseekingtolaunchattacksonAustralia,aswellastodenyoperationalfreedomtoanysuchadversary.Inparticular,theADFmustdevelopandmaintaintheabilityto:

understandthegeopoliticalandoperationalcontextandmaintainappropriatesituationalawareness

shape(anddeter)thechoicesof potentialadversariesseekingtodirectlyattackAustraliaoritsinterests

defeatanypotentialadversaryseekingtolaunchattacksonAustralia

denyoperationalfreedomtoanypotentialadversaryorsecuritythreatwithintheimmediateneighbourhood

quicklyanddecisivelyassistthecivilauthoritiesof Australiabyprovidingmilitaryassistance.

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However,theAustralianGovernmentreliesontheADFtoperformabroaderrolethanconventionalwarfightingindefenceof Australia’snationalinterests.Inadditiontothisfundamentalrole,theaspirationfortheADFistobeabletocontributetothesecurityof theregion.WewillachievethisthroughourleadershiproleintheSouthWestPacificandourcloseworkingpartnershipswiththenationsof SouthEastAsia.Wewillalsoseektobuildgreatersecuritypartnershipsandcooperationwiththenationsof theAsiaPacific.Finallywewillmaketangibleandconsequentialcontributionstothesecurityof theinternationalenvironmentmorebroadly.

Theseaspirationsarenotconstrainednecessarilybygeographiclimit,butwillreflectournationalinterestsinrelationtotheprevailingcircumstances.Forexample,closetohomeAustraliawillbecomemoreengagedinensuringsecurity.Asthelargestandmostprosperouscountryintheregion,Australiahasaresponsibilitytouseoursizeandcapabilitytohelpourneighboursdealwithinternalinsecurityandexternalthreats.WemustexpectthatinthefutureAustraliawillconductstabilisationoperations(suchasthoseintheSolomonIslandsandEastTimor)moreregularlythaninthepast.

Historydemonstratesthatstabilisingnationsisnotachievedquickly,andthatstabilisationoperationsrequireaconsiderablecommitmentacrossallelementsof nationaland/orinternationalpower.Theserangefrommilitarysecurityandlawandordertodevelopmentassistanceandgovernancearrangements,andwillhavemulti-agency,multi-jurisdictionalandmultinationalaspects.

Furtherabroad,Australiawillcontinuetobeasignificantcontributortomultinationalsecurityarrangements.Whetherinaleadershiproleorasamajorcontributortocoalitionactivities,Australiawillsupportaregionalsecurityenvironmentthatpromoteseconomicandpoliticalstability.StatesinSouthEastAsiawillcontinuetolooktoAustraliatohelpthembuildcapacitytomeettheirownsecurityneedsandtoassisttheminrespondingtoeventsbeyondtheirindividualabilities.Australia’semphasiswillbeoncounter-terrorismandcounter-proliferation,maritimeandbordersecurity,theprofessionalisationof securityservicesandimprovednationalandinternationalgovernancemechanisms.Moreglobally,Australiawillcontinuetoworkwithfriendsandalliestoimprovestrategicstability,enhanceconfidenceanddeveloptransparencyandtrust.Australiacouldexpecttomakeasignificantcontributiontosuchefforts,withinthescopeof oursizeandresources.

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1 TheADFwillbebalanced,networkedanddeployable.(Pictured:arapiddeploymentcompanyfromTownsvilledeploysinsupportof theRAMSImissioninresponsetoarapidlyevolvingsituation,2004.)

2 TheADFof thefuturewillcontinuetooperateincomplexenvironmentsacrossarangeof activities.(Pictured:ADFonpatrolinDiliaspartof OPASTUTE2007.)

THE FUTURE jOINT OpERATINg CONCEpT

THE NATIONAL EFFECTS-BASED AppROACH

Anationaleffects-basedapproachunderliesAustralia’scurrentapproachtosecurity,andwillbethebasisof defenceoperationsfortheforeseeablefuture.Itinvolvestakingawhole-of-nationviewof securitytofindthemostappropriatetooltoachievenationalobjectives.Toolsmaybedrawnfromtheelementsof nationalpower,andprovidediplomatic,economic,informationalandmilitaryoptions.Indecidingwhichtooltoapply,theGovernmentislikelytoconsidertheAustralianinterestsinvolved,thepreferredwaytoaffecttheadversary’swill,andthegoalsandcapabilitiesof ourcoalitionpartners.Therefore,Defencewillnotbetheonlyagency,andsometimeswillnotbetheleadingagency,fordealingwithsecurityproblemsinthefuture.

Thenationaleffects-basedapproachviewsournationandourenemyasoperatinginaglobalsystemwhichhaspolitical,economic,militaryandsocialdimensions,whereactionsinonedimension(e.g.theeconomic)canhaverippleeffectsinotherdomains(e.g.themilitary).Thinkingabouttheworldinthiswayallowsustoconsiderouractionsbothintermsof theirimmediateimpact,andintermsof their‘lowerorder’orconsequenteffects.Weneedtounderstandtheadversarywellenoughtoseethecostsandbenefitsof aparticularcoursefromtheirperspective,andnotthinkof theirperspectiveasamirrorof ourown.ContributionsfromotherAustralianagenciesandcoalitionpartnerswillhelpustoachievethisunderstanding.

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Thenationaleffects-basedapproachisappliedthrougheffects-basedoperations(EBO).EBOisdefinedastheapplicationof militaryandnon-militarycapabilitiestorealisespecificanddesiredstrategicandoperationaloutcomesinpeace,tension,conflictandpost-conflictsituations.Fromthemilitaryperspective,EBOismorethanjusttargetinganddestroyinganadversary’scapacitytofight,althoughitincludestheseaspectsof warfare.ItisimportanttounderstandthatEBOismoreaboutawayof thinkingandplanning,andthereforeabouttrainingourpeople,thanabouttechnologyalone.

NETWORk-CENTRIC WARFARE

TheADFhasembracedtheimplementationof network-centricwarfare(NCW)asakeyenablerof thefutureforce,asdetailedintheNetworkCentricWarfareRoadmap2007.Network-centricitywillhelpustolinkADF,Australianandcoalitionsensors,engagementsystemsanddecision-makersintoaneffectiveandresponsivewhole.NCWseekstoprovidethefutureforcewiththeabilitytogeneratetempo,precisionandcombatpowerthroughsharedsituationalawareness,clearprocedures,andtheinformationconnectivityneededtosynchroniseouractionstomeetthecommander’sintent.

Therealchallengewillbeinextendingthenetworktootheragenciesinthenationaleffects-basedapproach.Networksthatextendtoagenciesoutsideof theADFandDefencewillneedtobetailoredtoallowthemtoperformtheirrolesandtasksrelativetothecontingency.Onemethodmightbetodistributeabaselinecapabilitythatcanbeexpandedrapidlytomeetchangingcircumstances.

An integrated force

ThroughNCW,theADFwillcontinuethetransitionfromajointconstructtoanintegratedforce.Thecreationof HeadquartersJointOperationsCommandatBungendore,NewSouthWales,hassetthebenchmarkforintegration.Thebenefitsof havinganintegratedjointforcearenumerous,andwillcriticallyincludeimprovedintelligence,surveillanceandreconnaissancedata.

Itwillresultinenhanced,integratedcommandandcontrolstructuresthatenabletheforcestobeemployedinamorecoherentandeffectivemanner.

Aswebecomeanintegratedforce,wemustdosoinamannerthatdoesnotweakenthegreatstrengththatcomesfromourprofessionalmastery.Professionalmasteryrequiresacertaincriticalmassintermsof experience,educationandtrainingwherebyagroupof individualscanexhibitalevelof masteryinexcessof thesumof theindividuals’mastery.

An integrated response

Asnoted,Defencemaynotalwaysbetheleadagencyfordealingwithsecuritychallenges.Anintegrated,multi-agencyresponsecapabilitywillbeakeytosuccessinthefuturestrategicenvironment.TheADFandDefencewillworkincooperationwithothergovernmentandnon-governmentagencies(whereappropriate)todevelopthecapabilityforanintegratedmulti-agencyresponsecapability.Thiscapabilitywillcapitaliseonthesuccessfulcooperativeeffortsdemonstratedduringpreviousoperationsatthetacticalandoperationallevels.

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Afirststepinthisprocesswillbetheinclusionof agencieswithrecurringandmajorrolesinresponseoperations,suchastheAustralianFederalPoliceandtheDepartmentof ForeignAffairsandTrade.Representativesof suchorganisationswillbeinvolvednotasliaisonofficersbutasintegratedpartsof theplanningandoperationsstaff.

MULTIDIMENSIONAL MANOEUVRE

InFutureWarfightingConcept2003theADFadoptedMultidimensionalManoeuvre(MDM)asitsapproachtofuturewarfare.MDMseekstonegatetheadversary’sstrategythroughtheintelligentandcreativeapplicationof aneffects-basedapproachagainstanadversary’scriticalvulnerabilities.Itusesanindirectapproachtodefeattheadversary’swilltoopposeus.MDMbecomesrealitythroughtheapplicationof tailoredstrategicresponsestoachievethedesiredeffects.Afundamentalof MDMistheabilitytoemployNCWandoperateinjointtaskforce,interagencyand/orcoalitionarrangementstoconducteffectiveoperations.

Currentdefenceoperatingguidancedrawsonastrategicframeworkthathastwocomponents:pervasiveandongoingactivities,andfocusedstrategicresponseoptions.Theobjectivestheseresponsesseektoachieveareaccomplishedbydesigningoperationstofocusonspecificandachievableeffects,andintegratingjointwarfightingfunctions(force application, force deployment, force protection, force generation and sustainment, command and control and knowledge dominance).Effectswilloccursequentiallyand/orsimultaneouslybasedontheconditionsandthedesiredendstatethatthemilitarystrategyarticulatesforanyresponseoption.

Creating a dilemma

MDMrequirestheabilitytocreateadilemmaforanadversary.Thistaskrequiresadeepunderstandingof theadversary,theenvironmentandthecapabilityof ourownforces.Italsorequiresanunderstandingof howtheadversaryviewstheirgoalsandourcapabilities.ThisisachievedthroughnetassessmentatthestrategiclevelandJointIntelligencePreparationof theBattlespaceattheoperationallevel.Theseprocessesinvolvethereciprocalexchangeof informationbetweendifferentlevelsof command,acrossgovernmentagenciesandwithourcoalitionpartners.Securecommunicationnetworkswillprovideuswithasignificantadvantage,especiallybyallowingpeoplelocatedindifferentareastocollaborateinrealtime.

TheinsightsdevelopedthroughstrategicassessmentandJointIntelligencePreparationof theBattlespaceareusedtodecideonthecourseof actionthroughajointplanningprocessinvolvingotheragenciesand,possibly,coalitionpartners.

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Potentialcoursesof actionareevaluated,whereverpossible,withsimulationsandwargamingtotesttheplanandidentifyanynegativeconsequencesof theactionsornewopportunities.Theprocesstakesintoaccountthepotentialactionsof othergovernmentdepartmentsoragencies,sincemilitaryoptionsalonewillseldomachievetherequiredeffect.

MDMincludesnon-militaryandmilitaryoptionswhichareappliedtoachievecomplementaryeffects.Theaimistodevelopmultipleoperationsthatcombinetopresenttheadversarywithadilemmathattheycannotresolve.Forexample,inamilitarycontext,deceivingtheadversarysothattheydispersescarceresourcestoprotectassetswhichonedoesnotneedtostriketoachieveone’saimcancreateadilemma.Inawidercontext,threateningthepersonalwealthof anadversary’sleaderscanalsocreateadilemmabyforcingtheleaderstochoosebetweenprivateinterestsandpoliticalgoals.NCWwillinformandenabletheforceof thefuturetopursuemultipleoperationseffectively.

Warfighting

WemustdevelopMDMintoawarfightingdoctrinethatgivesthefutureADFanadvantageoverpotentialadversaries,whileensuringthatweremaininteroperablewithourcoalitionpartners.Developingabetterunderstandingof howthejointwarfightingfunctionswillchangethewaywefightisanimportantpartof thistask.Wewillusethejointwarfightingfunctionstounifyourforceoperationaldesignefforttomeetfutureneeds.

Thefollowingjointwarfightingfunctionscompriseasimplemodelthatdescribeswhatfuturemilitaryforceswillhavetodoinordertobeeffective.Thesefunctionsaremutuallysupportiveandthereissomeoverlap.

Inthefuture,force applicationwillapplylethalforcebothinclosecombatandfromstandoff ranges.Precisionanddiscriminationwillrequiremorethanjustguidedweapons.Achievingdiscriminatingeffectswillrequireareliablewaytolocateandidentifyhostile,friendlyandneutralforces;theabilitytoconductpreciseengagementsatrangesvaryingfromclosetoextendeddistances;andtheabilitytocontroltheextentof damage.Additionally,asnon-lethalforceoptionsbecomemorereadilyavailableandeffectivelyutilised,theywillprovideawiderrangeof optionstotheforcecommander.

Force deploymentistheabilitymovetheforcefromitshomebasestotheplaceswhereitcangeneratetherequiredeffects.Forceswillbedeployedsuchthattheyarriveintheareaof operationsreadytoengageinimmediatecombatif required.

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Futurejointtaskforceswillbestructuredandformedsothatforceelementscancombinetoprotecteachothertomaintainthecommander’sfreedomof action.Thegroupingof unitsintobalancedorganisations,andtechniquessuchasearlywarning,deception,camouflage,dispersionandstealth,contributetoforce protection.Forceprotectionisimportantforallphasesof anoperation:startingwithprotectivesecurityinhomebases,intransittoandfromtheareaof operations,andonoperationsthemselves.

Force generation and sustainmentwillreducethefutureforce’svulnerabilitiesandincreaseitsmobility,byensuringtheabilitytoreachbacktothesustainmentbaseandaccessfocusedsustainmentforthemajorityof logisticrequirements.Onlycriticallogisticsrequirementswillbepositionedforward.Futureforceswillaimtooperateefficientlywithreducedpersonnelandlogisticoverheads.Forcegenerationwillapplytotheabilitytoemployavailableforcesratherthanrelyonmobilisation.

Thefutureforce’scommand and controlsystemwillexercisemissioncommandthroughanetwork-centricapproach.Technicalimprovementswillhelpcommunicationsanddecisionmaking,andtheabilitytomakesoundandintuitivejudgmentsinambiguoussituationswillbeahighlyvaluedqualityforallmembersof thefutureforce.JointInteragencyTaskForceheadquarterswillbecapableof commandingassignedAustralianandcoalitionforces.

Toachieveknowledge dominancethefutureforcewilluseNCWasameansof organisingtheforceusingmoderninformationtechnologytolinksensors,decisionmakersandweaponsystemsinordertohelppeopleworkmoreeffectively.Thisallowsforacommonandenhancedbattlespaceawarenessthatfacilitatestheabilitytodeliveroptimumcombateffects.Knowledgedominanceissupportedthroughsuperiorinformationcapabilities,whichinturnrequireasecureinfrastructurethatsupportsthecollectionanddistributionof analysedinformationtofriendlyforces.Toachieveknowledgedominance,thefutureforcewillberequiredtoidentify,prioritiseandutilisetheinformationsuperiorityitachieves.

joint Operations Concept

ThejointoperationalconceptunderlyingMDMcanbedescribedintermsof theabilitytoreach,knowandexploit1.

Reach.Australia’sfutureforcewilleffectivelyaccess,coordinateandemployessentialcapabilitiesbothinsideandoutsidetheoperationalareainordertoachieveournationalstrategicobjectives.Reachdescribesthefutureforce’sabilitytooperateinmultipledimensionsandacrossthephysical,virtualandhumandomainsinordertounderstandandshapetheenvironment;deter,defeatanddenytheadversary;andprovidemilitaryassistanceinsupportof ournationalinterests.Reachisbestaccomplishedaspartof anintegratedwhole-of-governmentapproachacrossthespectrumof military,diplomatic,economicandinformationalactions.

know.Thefutureforcewillbuildandsustainsufficientknowledgewithinandacrossnationalandinternationalsourcestoallowittoidentifyrequiredactionsand,importantly,assesstheeffectsof itsactions.Wewillunderstandourselvesandourcapabilities,thoseof ouradversaries,aswellasouroperatingenvironment,whichwillenableustobetter

1Thiswayof describingthejointoperationalconcepthasbeenadaptedfromthefundamentaljointactionsdescribedinUnitedStatesDepartmentof Defence,J–7JointExperimentation,TransformationandConceptsDivision,CapstoneConceptforJointOperations,WashingtonDC,August2005.

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employandintegrateourjointandmulti-agencyactionsinordertocreatedecisiveeffects.Informationisatthebaseof knowledgedominance,andknowingrequiresthatthefutureforceisabletoutiliseandintegrateinformationfromstrategic,operationalandtacticalsources,bothmilitaryandcivilian.However,informationmustbeturnedintoknowledgethatistimely,relevantandaccurate.Thisknowledgemustbeacquired,prioritised,refinedandsharedvertically(strategic,operationalandtacticallevels)andhorizontally(withinthejointforceandaspartof multi-agencyandmultinationalefforts).

Exploit.Thefutureforcewillintegrateitsjointcapabilitieswithotherelementsof nationalpowerinordertoachieveeffectsinsupportof ournationalstrategicobjectives.Effectsaretheoutcomesof theactionstakentochangeunacceptableconditions,behaviours,ortocreatefreedomof actiontoachievedesiredobjectives.Theforcewillidentify,createandexploiteffectsthroughacquiringknowledgeandestablishingreach.Toexploitourcapabilitytoproduceeffectsinthefutureenvironment,thefutureforcewillcontinuallyassessitseffectsandadjustitsactionsinordertotakeintoaccounttheiterativeoperationof ourmilitary,diplomatic,economicandinformationalactionsthataretakenaspartof ourwhole-of-governmentapproach.

producing effects

TheADF’sabilitytoproduceeffectsrequirescapability.Twoof thekeycomponentsof capabilityaretheuseof jointtaskforcesandpreparedness.

Task-organisedjoint task forces,drawnfromtheforcestructurethatexistsatthetime,willgeneratetheeffectsidentifiedascrucialtoachievingobjectives.Ourfutureforcesmightneedtoconductawiderangeof warfightingandotheroperationssimultaneously.Therefore,thejointtaskforcemustbeabletobeadaptedwithoutcompromisinganyof itsfunctions.Inthefuture,wemayseeadvantagesincreatinginterdepartmentalorinteragencycoordinatinggroupsattheoperationallevel,eithertemporarilyorpermanently,toensurethatourwhole-of-nationeffectsareproperlysynchronised.

preparednessrequiresthattheforcepaysbalancedattentiontothefundamentalinputstocapabilitywhileallocatingresourcesbasedonstrategicpriorities.2Preparednessalsoconsidershowtobalanceotherneeds,includingconductingconcurrentactionswithinthesamecampaign,suchasprotectingimportantbasesandinfrastructure,andreactingtonewcriseselsewhere.

Whilenotpartof ourcapability,contributionsfromallies and coalition partnersarelikelyprovidevaluableassistanceinoperations.TheADFwillbepreparedtofightalongsideAustralia’salliesandcoalitionpartnersusingMDM.Wemayberequiredtoleadcoalitionsundersomecircumstances.Consequently,MDMwillbedevelopedwithdueconsiderationof ourallies’warfightingconcepts,aswellasthoseof ourpotentialcoalitionpartners.

Ourwhole-of-nationapproach,focusoneffects,anddesiretoincludecoalitionpartnersateverystagewillinfluencethewayweplantoachieveourfuturestrategicobjectives.Forexample,theideathatinformationisimportanttooperationsisnotnew,butthewayweuseNCWtoincreaseoursituationalawarenessandabilitytoapplytherighteffectisnew.

2Thefundamentalinputstocapabilityincludepersonnel,collectivetraining,organisation,majorsystems,supplies,facilities,support,andcommandandmanagement.

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Similarly,theconceptof creatingadilemmaforanadversaryisfamiliartous.However,generatingsituationsthatleadtoadilemmaforanadversarywillrequireadifferentapproachtoselectingoptionsandamoreversatileforce–onethatcanconductmorethanoneoperationatatime,andproduceeffectsondifferentcriticalvulnerabilitiesatornearthesametime.

Applying Multidimensional Manoeuvre

ThefollowingsectionssetoutthepracticalissuesthatthefutureforcewillhavetoconsiderinapplyingMDMeffectively.

Tempoplacesouractionwithinacompetitivecyclerelativetoouradversary.Whiledevelopingafastertempothanouradversariesisgenerallydesirableinaconventional

conflict,havingaslowertempomaybemoreeffectiveinanon-linearandnon-contiguousbattlespace.Therefore,ouraimmustbetoachieveanoptimaltempothatallowsustogainandthenmaintaintheadvantage.Improvingthecommander’ssituationalawarenessiscriticaltocontrollingtempo,whichmakesanetwork-centricapproachimportant.

Agility,whichistheabilitytochangefromonetypeof activitytoanotherintimetobeeffective,isinherentintheideaof tempo.Thequalityof agility–asacharacteristicof ourforcestructure,planningandtraining–willbeimportantinfutureoperations.Wecannotexpecttostartfromapositionof advantageinaconflict,sotheabilitytoadaptinordertoregaintheinitiativewillbeessential.

Theimpactof theforceisincreasedwhenanumberof differenteffectsarecreatedontheadversary’ssystemattherighttimesandrightplaces.Simultaneity aimstocreateoneormoredilemmasthatpreventtheadversaryfromreactingintimetobeeffective.Thepossessionof differentoptionsforcreatingeffects,aswellasthesynchronisationof militaryandnon-militaryeffectstowardsaunifiedaim,willhelptoachievesimultaneity.

Reach Know Exploit

Raise Train Sustain

Strategic Response

Multidimensional Manoeuvre

Effects

Joint Functions

Joint Task Forces

Net Assessment

Principles

Preparedness

Operational ArtMission CommandManage Risk

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Aconventionalmilitaryforcecanfight asymmetrically,whichdemandsthatwetailorouroperationssothatwedonothavetofightlikewithlike,orcanavoidbattleonunfavourableterms.Thismayincludedissimilarity,wherebyweapplyforcesinawaythattheadversaryisnotexpecting,andovermatching at decisive points,wherebywecreatemoreorgreatereffectsthantheadversarycancounter.Wecanachieveeffectiveasymmetryagainstmostadversariesbyusingourconventionalforcestoapplycoercionordirectpressureinunconventionalways.Inthefuture,fightingasymmetricallymayinvolveusinglethalandnon-lethalforce,actinginconcertwithotherelementsof nationalpower,oractingagainstcriticalvulnerabilitiesthatarenotusuallythefocusof militaryoperations.Increasingly,theseeffectswillbeproducedfrombothkineticandnon-kineticweapons.

Deception and surprisearepartsof anasymmetricattitudethatrefusestoacceptconflictontheadversary’sterms.Surpriseiscreatedwhentheadversaryisunabletoreacteffectivelytoourinitiativesintime.Deceptioniscreatedbymeasuresthatmisleadtheadversary.Inthefuture,synchronisedsurpriseanddeceptionwillbeintegraltooureffortstogenerateshockandthuscreatedesiredeffects.

TofulfilitsrolebothwithinAustraliaandbeyond,thefutureADFmustbecapableof deploying and sustaining forcesovergreatdistances.Manyareaswherewewilloperatewillberemotefrommodernservices–somewillhavebeendevastatedbyconflict.Whilewemightrelyonsupportfromcoalitionpartnersorhostnationswhenwearedeployedfurtheraway,wewillneedtobemoreself-sufficientforoperationsclosertohome.Regardlessof thelocation,ADFtaskforceswillbepreparedsothattheycanbedeployedintimetobeeffectiveandinformationsthatallowthemtofightimmediatelyonarrival.Effectivesustainmentwillbebasedonusingavailablenational,internationalorhostnationsupporttoensurethattheforcecanremaininthebattlespacefortherequiredtime.

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3 TheADFwillcontinuetoworkcloselywiththeAFPandotheragenciesaspartof itsmovetowardafullyintegratednationaleffectsbasedapproach.(Pictured:TheRANescortsAFPpersonnelaspartof theRAMSImissionintheSolomonIslands,2003.)

4 TheADFwillcontinuetointegrateadvancedmannedandunmannedtechnologiesaspartof itsjointeffortsinwarfighting.(Pictured:atestof aMarinerdemonstratorUAVoperatingwithArmidaleclasspatrolboat,2006.)

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�THE FUTURE FORCE

pROFESSIONAL MASTERy

TheimportancetheADFplacesonprofessionalmasteryisbasedonourunderstandingof thechaosof war,andtherecognitionthatmoraleandintellectarecentraltowarfightingeffectiveness.Professionalmasteryaimstogetbeyondequipmentandforcestructurestoensurethatthepeopleinthefutureforcewillbeplacedtocopewithnewchallengesandconflicts.

Ourdoctrine,educationandtrainingsystemsarecentraltodevelopingprofessionalmastery,astheypromotetheindividual’sanalyticalandintuitiveskills,createtrustandbuildteams.Inadditiontotrainingtheforcetobemoreproficient,wemustdevelopmentaltoughnessandstrengthof characterwithinourmembers.Consequently,leadersatalllevelswillneedtotakeapersonalinterestinguidingtheirpeopletowardsprofessionalmasteryandensuringthatpeopleareselectedfortherightjobs.

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Thefollowingelementsof professionalmasteryaredevelopmentalimperatives:

Operational artisatthecentreof ourthinkingontheconductof war3.Operationalartistheskilfulemploymentof militaryforcestoattainstrategicgoalsthroughthedesign,organisation,sequencinganddirectionof campaignsandmajoroperations.Ittranslatesstrategyintooperationaland,ultimately,tacticalaction.Systems thinkingisausefulcomplementtotheoperationalart,becauseitencouragesthedevelopmentof understandingaboutboththeadversaryandourselvesassystemsthatinteractbothtogetherandwithinbroadersystems.Systemsthinkingalsohelpsustoseehowactivitiessuchasshapingthebattlespacecancreateopportunitiesforuslaterinthecampaign.

Developinganabilitytoidentifyandmanage riskallowsourpeopletofunctioninsituationsof extremeambiguitywhileunderstandingthepotentialimplicationsof situationalchanges.Thisattitudeneedstobedevelopedintraining,byinculcatingprocessesincludingsafetyandriskmanagement,andcarriedthroughintooperations.

Commandersexploitthebenefitsof missioncommand,whichisadecentralisedcommandphilosophythatfocusesonachievingintent.Inthefuture,thiswilloccurwithinaninformationenvironmentthatofferssignificantlygreatersituationalawarenessthanhasbeenexperiencedintherecentpast.Professionalmasteryinvolvesrecognisingthefactthatinformationcanbebothaboonandaburdeninhierarchicalorganisations.Thefutureforcewillemphasisetheneedtoprovideanappropriatelevelof detailtotherightpersonattherighttimetoenablemissioncommand.

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ATTRIBUTES OF THE FUTURE FORCE

ThefollowingsectionsdescribetheattributesthatwilldefinetheADFof thefuture.

Balanced–Thefutureforcemustpossessanappropriatemixof capabilitiesinordertomounttherangeof operationsenvisaged.Theforcemusthavethecapabilitytoconductmultipleresponsesandnotrelyon‘niche’capability.

Networked–Thefutureforcewillneedassuredaccesstootheragency,coalitionandopensourceinformationcapabilities.Theabilitytooperateeffectivelywillbecontingentontheintegratedforces’networksanddecision-makinginfrastructures,earlywarningsystems,communications,environmentalmonitoringandpositionaldata.Adversariesmayexploitanyvulnerabilityinthenation’snetworktounderminecohesionandeffectiveness.

3OurcurrentapproachtooperationalartisdescribedintheAustralianDefenceDoctrinePublicationseries,especiallyADDP3–Operations.

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Deployable–Inthefuture,theADFwillneedtooperateatadistancefromestablishedbasesinAustralia,eitherindependentlyorwithcoalitionforces.ThismightrangefromdeploymentswithinAustraliaincludingitsterritories,todeploymentswithregionalorglobalreach.Forceelementswillneedtobeconfiguredandpreparedforshort-noticedeploymentsthatcanbesustainedwithlimitedinfrastructuresupport.Thiswillrequireeitheracapabilitytoliftforcesintothecontingencyareaorbasingrightsclosetothecontingencyarea.Aforced-entrycapabilitywillalsobecriticaltoourabilitytorespondtopossiblecontingencies.

Integrated and Interoperable–TheADFmustcontinuethetransitiontoaforcewithfullyintegratedservicesthatisinteroperablewithotheragenciesof thegovernmentanditscoalitionpartnersandallies.Legacysystemsshould,totheextentpossible,bemadetofunctionintheintegratedenvironmentuntilreplaced.Asthedegreeof integrationandsynchronisationisincreased,newtrainingandsystemswillneedtobeestablished.Militarycapabilitiesshouldbedesignedtobeinteroperablefromconception,notasanafterthoughtinthedevelopmentprocess.

Survivable and Robust –Eachelementof thefutureforcemustbeabletoprotectitself againsttherangeof existingandevolvingthreats.Timelyinvestmentinlowersignatures,protection,countermeasuresandredundancytomatchlikelythreatswillberequired.

Ready and Responsive–ThefutureADFmustobserve,anticipateandbepreparedtoserveAustralia’sglobalinterestinanevolvingstrategicandgeopoliticalsituation.

Agile and Versatile –ThefutureADFmustbeabletorespondrapidlytoadiverserangeof missionsandtasks.Thiswillrequireversatileforcesthataretailoredandscalablefordeployment.Theywillneedanability,theextentof whichwillbedictatedbyforcestructure,tore-form,reconstitute,regroupandre-engage,especiallyduringperiodsof concurrentoperations.

precise and Discriminating–Thegoalforfutureoperationsistoachievepreciseeffects,withminimumplanningandresponsetime,fromadistanceif required.ForthefutureADF,precisionmustbenotlimitedtothemereapplicationof kineticforce,butalsoincorporatedintoexecutinginformationoperationsandminimisingunintendedconsequences.Whiletraditionaltechnologywillinitiallyprovidethepotentialtoimproveprecision,emergenttechnologymustbeusedtosupportwidespreadcross-platformresponsesthatensuremaximumflexibilityanddiscrimination.Enhanceddiscriminationcapabilitieswillpermithigh-valuetargetstobestruckwithgreatercertainty.

Lethal and Non-lethal–TheADFmustincreaseitscapabilitytoproducedesiredeffectsthroughtheconsideredandcoordinateduseof bothlethalandnon-lethalmethods,usingbothkineticandnon-kineticmeans.Theseeffectswillbeenhancedbyleveragingtechnologyadvanceswhichimproveprecisionanddiscrimination,andbyemployingawhole-of-nationapproach.

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persistent and poised–Persistenceensuresthatthejointforcehastherequiredenduranceatalllevelstogenerateanddeployforcesforlongperiods,whilepoiseensuresthatcriticalfightingelementsarewithinrangeof apotentialtargetarea.Persistenceincorporatesforceprotection,logistics,infrastructuredevelopmentandsustainingthecapacityof ourpeopletoworkandfight.Thepersistenceof thefutureADFmaynecessitateagreaterlevelof forcedispersal,leadingtoarequirementtogenerateeffectsfromdispersedlocationswhileatthesametimebeingpoisedtoprojectforceatshortnotice.Poiseisachievedthrougheitherexpandingdeployabilityorsecuringbasingrightsclosetolikelycontingencyareas.

Sustainable–Theincreasingmobility,tempoandchangeabilityof futureforceoperationswillrequireanadaptive,modular,network-enabledlogisticsystemoperatinginacontiguousandnon-contiguousmissionspace.

Capable of Concurrency–Thefutureforcemustbeabletoconductoperationsinmorethanonelocationsimultaneously.TheDefencePlanningGuidanceprovidesguidanceonthenumberandnatureof deployedoperationsacrossthemaritime,land,airandspaceenvironments.Themajorcapabilitiesunderpinningtheseoperationswillbetheeffectiveuseof informationtocommandandcontrolforces,theabilitytoconductstrikeoperations,andtheabilitytogenerateandsustainmilitaryforces.

Legal and Ethical–InaccordancewithADFcorevalues,theADFoperateswithintheAustralianlegalframeworkandtheinternationalLawof ArmedConflict.ThefutureADFmustcontinuetotakeprideinoperatingwithinanethicalframework,derivedfromastrongwarfightingtradition.

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5 ADFoperationswillbeintegratedacrossalldimensionsof timeandspace.(Pictured:anAustraliansoldierreleasesanUnmannedAerialVehicleaspartof theADF’seffortsinOPCATALYST,Iraq,2007.)

6 TheADFwillcontinuetooperateaspartof internationaleffortstopromoteregionalsecurity.(Pictured:theADFassiststheUNtodistributeballotpapersinthefirstroundof electionsfortheEastTimoresepresidencyaspartof OPASTUTE,2007.)

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� Thefirstfewyearsof the21stcenturyhavedemonstratedthatthechallengeswefaceinthestrategicenvironmenttakemanyforms.Somearetraditional,andrelatetostate-on-statetensionsoverterritory,resourcesorthebalanceanddistributionof power.Someareoldchallengesinnewguises,suchastheemergenceof newterroristgroupsandpotentiallypandemicdiseases.Somearenaturaldangers,suchascyclones,earthquakes,andtsunamis.Theuncertaintyof thefutureoperatingenvironmentrequiresustodevelopnewsolutionstooldandnewchallenges.

TheChief of theDefenceForcehassetoutaclearvisionforthefutureADF.JointOperationsforthe21stCenturyprovidesaFutureJointOperatingConcept(asacomponentof theStrategicPlanningFramework).ThisistheoverarchingconceptthatalignstheforcetotheChief of theDefenceForce’svision.Accordingtothisconcept,capabilitieswillbedevelopedensurethatourArmyhassufficientagility,adaptability,combatweightandreadinesstosustaincombatoperationsacrossthespectrumof conflict;ourNavygeneratesforceprojectionandcontrol,andiscapableof breakingoutof port,transitingacrossbluewater,throughchokepointsandof establishingcontrolinthelittoral;ourAirForcehasaqualitativeaircombatedge,antisubmarinewarfarecapabilitiesandsurvivablelong-rangestrike,supportedbysurveillanceandreconnaissance,intra-andinter-theatreairliftandcombatsupportelements;andourintelligencecapabilitiesretainaqualitativeedge.

CONCLUSION

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Thetwocomponentsof ourmilitarystrategy–pervasiveandongoingactivities,andfocusedresponseoptions–willbeachievedbyapplyingMDMunderanationaleffects-basedapproach.MDMcreateseffectsthroughoperationaldesignsthatfocuslinesof operationonspecificandachievableobjectives,applyingtheprinciplesof NCWandintegratingjointwarfightingfunctions.Theunderlyingconceptof MDMoperationscanbedescribedas‘reach,knowandexploit’.TheADF’sabilitytoproduceeffectsandachieveobjectivesthroughMDMwillbederivedfromthecombinationof jointtaskforcesandpreparedness,complementedbythehumanelementof professionalmasteryandotherattributes.

ThefutureADFwillcontinuethetransitiontobecomingseamlessforce,inwhichtheserviceswillbefullyintegratedandinteroperablewithotheragenciesof thegovernmentandwithcoalitionpartnersandallies.