The modern battlefield is evolving rapidly. New dimensions of warfare are emerging – but there also constants in the character of war. ⬇️

Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has an excellent series of articles focusing on War and the Modern Battlefield, synthesising lessons of the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East. Today we will focus on the God of War – Artillery and the CSIS article ‘The enduring role of Fires on the Modern Battlefield’:

“Artillery has long been known as the ‘king of battle,’ and for good reason. In virtually every major land conflict for centuries, artillery and missilery have accounted for the vast majority of casualties. Instead of becoming less relevant, the future of warfare will likely be characterized by an increased demand signal for offensive and defensive fires.”

The proliferation of drones in Ukraine in particular have led to some misguided assessments that artillery would be replaced. What CSIS paints is a picture of modern warfare that takes an ‘all of the above’ approach – increasing demand and utilisation of drones, conventional artillery, offensive missiles and air and missile defence. Where weather, terrain or defensive countermeasures render one effector impotent, warfighters reach for the next.

If you haven’t already, check out Beaten Zone Venture Partners‘s first US investment Tiberus Aerospace. Tiberus amongst other things is developing solutions such as a precision ramjet munition launched from in service NATO standard 155mm artillery such as Australia’s M777. The arsenal of democracy will need smart solutions like this to amplify and augment proven brilliant but basic munitions with prudent precision. Battlefield economics will be crucial in a long war – effective will best exquisite.

A good portion of the CSIS article focuses on the demand that is being place on Air and Missile Defence systems. Remember this is an area that the Defence Strategic Review highlighted as a weakness in the Australian Defence Force and integrated Air and Missile Defence should feature heavily in our next National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Plan:

“Defensive fires have also assumed a newfound salience and reputation. Over the past four years, nearly every Air and Missile Defence system the United States or Israel operates has had successful engagements against missiles fired in anger, especially in Ukraine, the Red Sea, and in the defense of Israel. Only the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, the system designed to intercept ICBMs, has not been operationally employed.”

Plenty to consider – Australia will need to choose which consumables of combat we need as sovereign capabilities and or manufactured onshore. Where an ally supplies our arsenal we will need to determine the size of our war stocks.

Food for thought as always and a link to the CSIS article is in the comments.

📷 via Department of Defence – CPL Adam Abela capturing the mighty 8/12 Regt RAA.