RAA Liaison Letter 2024 - 2025 Edition

RAA Liaison Letter – 2024 / 2025 Edition 87 Upgrading the Army’s Fires Lethality Major Jason Kirkham Australian Army Journal Edition Volume 20 Number 2 H OW THE A USTRALIAN A RMY C AN H ARNESS THE F IREPOWER A DVANTAGES OF THE F OURTH I NDUSTRIAL R EVOLUTION Introduction Since 2011, the world has undergone a Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) which has heralded worldwide advances in artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and robotic technologies. 1 These disruptive technologies are gradually altering the character of warfare towards what AI entrepreneur Amir Husain describes as ‘hyper war’, where battles are waged entirely at machine speed. 2 The question of how 4IR technologies can advance indirect fires and targeting capabilities within the Australian Army is an important facet of this innovation. The incorporation of 4IR will have the greatest significance to two aspects of army capability. A heavy reliance on close air support during the Army’s more recent combat operations has diminished the perceived importance of artillery to the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Firstly, autonomous weapons can supplement the Army’s indirect firepower deficiencies as it readies itself for large-scale combat operations (LSCO). Secondly, AI can enhance the Army’s targeting capabilities by providing improved situational awareness, kill-chain responsiveness, and strike integration. Harnessing the potential of these advancements will, however, require Australia to resist the temptation to view 4IR as a panacea for all of the military challenges it may face in the 21st century. It will also require significant effort by the Army to effectively integrate such technologies into its inventory, including the implementation of appropriate control measures. This article is divided into three sections. The first section describes how 4IR technologies can help bridge the Army’s artillery firepower deficiencies as it readies for LSCO. The second section describes the aspects of targeting that can be significantly enhanced through the integration of 4IR programs. The final section discusses the political, ethical and procedural challenges currently impeding the integration of 4IR technologies. The Australian Army’s Firepower Deficiency As outlined in the 2023 Defence Strategic Review (DSR), the Australian Army once again faces a heightened probability of high-intensity conflict. 3 Should this risk be realised, it is likely that the Army will need to deliver greater concentrations of indirect fire than it can currently generate. Currently, the Army’s organic indirect fire support capability is based on 36 towed howitzers and a smattering of 81 mm mortar platoons. In LSCO terms, this represents a modest firepower complement. For comparison, the 8th Australian Division coordinated approximately 70 howitzers of various types during the battle for Singapore in 1941. 4 Similarly, the most effective Australian brigades in the Pacific battles of World War II were supported by two artillery regiments, with a third in reserve. 5 Even a high-intensity counter- insurgency operation, the company defence at Long Tan, involved over 30 guns firing a total of 3,400 rounds in 24 hours. 6 A heavy reliance on close air support during the Army’s more recent combat operations has diminished the perceived importance of artillery to the Australian Defence Force (ADF). However, should LSCO occur, the availability of Professional Papers