Technology, tactics and tenacity were key ingredients for the 3rd Brigade's final assault, executed through a blanket of smoke and heavy fire, during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025.
Battle Group Kapyong, led by the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), took the opportunity to rehearse armoured fighting tactics and coordinate armoured attachments as they prepare to introduce Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV).
Commanding Officer 3RAR Lieutenant Colonel Dan Ellis said the battalion was in a period of transformation as they prepared to receive the new vehicles.
"This was our first real hit-out to show what we're made of as Australia's heaviest and largest call sign," Lieutenant Colonel Ellis said.
The battalion also tested emerging technology for the first time in a field environment, supported by attachments from the 1st Armoured Regiment's Combat Experimentation Group.
"We've been able to train and rehearse our trauma system, how we fight with armoured vehicles and we've also had experimental emerging technology embedded - including unmanned vehicles with remote weapon stations, and first-person-view drones," Lieutenant Colonel Ellis said.
"Across difficult terrain we've been able to test how we would fight with that technology, which can reduce the risk to people, meaning we don't have to put our soldiers in harm's way."
'Our ambition and our potential is to be the world's most lethal armoured brigade.'
Lieutenant Colonel Ellis explained why it was important to rehearse armoured tactics and test new technology even before the full suite of vehicles and equipment arrived.
"We must be ready to use the Redbacks from the moment they arrive. We cannot waste time," he said.
"We've been looking at how we're going to adapt to our new structure as the Armoured Brigade, how we're going to fight together with armoured engineers, M1A2 tanks and the new Land 400 Redback vehicles."
As they move to become the Australian Army's only armoured infantry battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Ellis said he was impressed with how the soldiers had adapted to a new style of fighting and embraced new technology, showing a collective understanding of the modern battle space.
"This exercise has reinforced 3RAR's role change into Australia's Armoured Infantry Battle Group, and everyone's got stuck in," he said.
With a focus on heavy firepower, protection and mobility, Commander of the 3rd Brigade, Brigadier Ben McLennan, said that training as an armoured brigade would create an unmatched advantage.
"Our ambition and our potential is to be the world's most lethal armoured brigade," Brigadier McLennan said.
"Once we have received all of these cutting-edge platforms, our competitive advantage will elevate exponentially, enabling us to realise 3rd Brigade's potential as the world's most lethal armoured brigade."
While vehicles might not fatigue, humans can, but Lieutenant Colonel Ellis said that although the soldiers had been doing it tough for weeks, they were just getting started and there was no lack of resilience - living up to their namesake 'Old Faithful'.
"This was the toughest part of the exercise; it was a real challenge, but we finished on a high and we could keep going - easily," he said.
