The Army and the New Paradigm of Ground Combat: Lessons from Ukraine’s Failed 2023 Counteroffensive
[Modern War Institute, 18.02.2025, Bryan J. Bonnema, Moises Jimenez]
As reconnaissance UAS somewhat dissolved the fog of war, kill chains shortened and strike UAS now pose a constant danger in the Russian-Ukrainian war, offensive operations are likely to come at a higher cost. This report from West Point analyses the causes for why the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive failed. It highlights how the offensive-defensive balance has shifted towards defence and the difficulty this creates for liberating occupied territory. The comprehensive report further notes how crucial initiative and calculated risk-taking are on the tactical level. However, it also cautions that while low-level initiative should be welcomed, it is nevertheless crucial to effectively coordinate those actions for full effect.
Y – Kommunikation
[Das Magazin der Bundeswehr, April 2024]
In dieser Ausgabe thematisiert das Bundeswehrmagazin Y die Kommunikation innerhalb der Armee aus verschiedenen Blickwinkeln. Es steht darin geschrieben von vernetzter Kriegsführung, Informationskriegen, strategischer Kommunikation, und wie in der Bundeswehr Nachrichten überbracht werden, wenn alle elektronischen Kanäle versagen.
Link: https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/publikationen/y-magazin-der-bundeswehr
It’s Time to Overhaul Information Transfer in Army Training
[War on The Rocks, 06.02.2025, Daniel Vasquez]
This article highlights how advancements in technology and an increasingly complex battlefield necessitate that lessons learned on the battlefield can quickly be dispersed within the armed forces and that effective solutions can be implemented quickly. At the same time, it notes how bureaucratic processes slow down the development and implementation of the needed adaptation to the situation on the ground. Whilst the report was written with a focus on the U.S. Armed Forces, any large organisations (including the Swiss Armed Forces) are challenged by the slower processes and inefficiencies resulting from bureaucratic procedures. The author Vasquez suggests that through integrating the services of commercial entities, military processes can become more dynamic and hence more effective. Moreover, the knowledge and experience of veterans of active wars (such as the Russian-Ukrainian war), could be employed to improve military training, processes and structures.
Link: https://warontherocks.com/2025/02/its-time-to-overhaul-information-transfer-in-army-training/
The Weaponisation of Toys and Implications for the Air Force
[Air and Space Power Centre, September 2024, Ryan Hodson]
In this report of the Australian Air Force, Hodson makes several observations on how drones will affect the aerial domain. He states how UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) have moved beyond simply being a carrier for grenades and supplies and are increasingly becoming ammunition themselves. Moreover, he mentions that because of the UAS’ speed, defenders against a drone attack only have minutes from launch until a potential impact. The time between sensors noticing the drone’s launch and communicating it to effectors who then neutralise it, can therefore only be a few minutes.
Link: https://airpower.airforce.gov.au/blog/weaponisation-toys-and-implications-air-force
Managing Chaos in a Disordered World
[PRISM, June 2024, National Defense University]
This issue of the U.S.-American PRISM journal focuses on strategic questions such as how the future strategic environment might look like and which role the cyber and space domains will play in it, as well as how Special Forces can help to achieve deterrence.
Link: https://ndupress.ndu.edu/PRISM/
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