With drones buzzing overhead and uncrewed vehicles scrabbling over the harsh desert terrain, Australian soldiers were given a glimpse of the future during Project Convergence - Capstone 5 (PCC5).
About 140 Australian personnel gathered at the US Army National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, with counterparts from the US, UK, New Zealand, Canada and France integrating emerging technologies into a joint multinational force.
Head of Land Capability Major General Richard Vagg, said the "experimental event" would be of continual benefit to the Australian Army.
"It's a key pillar to our modernisation efforts," Major General Vagg said.
"Not only does it give us the opportunity to experiment with emerging technology, which is nested with our modernisation plans in Australia, it allows us to integrate with our key coalition partners."
Contingent Commander Colonel David Lipschitz, of 9th Brigade, said military technologies were tested on PCC5, in addition to integration with coalition partners, collaboration to achieve key outcomes, and observation of the latest emerging technologies for modern warfare.
"The aim here is that we are ready; that we've not only trained with the technology but also trained with our coalition partners," Colonel Lipschitz said.
"We need to know how the technology works when we are integrated with our partners, and how to achieve a decisive outcome during operations."
'We're getting one soldier to do something that previously took many soldiers.'
Major Ben Peterson, of 1st Armoured Regiment, said Australians were working alongside the UK Robotics and Autonomous Systems Battlegroup from the 2nd Royal Yorkshire Regiment.
He said hyper-teaming was one of the key technologies being experimented with during PCC5, which tested human-machine integration in a field environment.
"We're getting one soldier to do something that previously took many soldiers. For example, a single controller using multiple uncrewed ground and aerial systems at once," Major Peterson said.
While some of the experiments taking place during PCC5 were overt, there were also covert technologies being put to the test in the Californian desert, such as a new radio system that has the potential to reshape the battlefield.
Captain Wayne Mulhall, of Electronic Warfare - Army Headquarters, was part of the team responsible for putting the Australian-designed and built TrapRadio through its paces.
"TrapRadio supports Australian soldiers through force protection and also the ability to create a dilemma through the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning," Captain Mulhall said.
"TrapRadio is able to generate a deception to support commanders, mimicking high-value targets, which creates a dilemma for adversary operators."
'What we've identified in this activity is that it enables partner nations to demand resources that aren't within their own systems, but within their neighbouring force and the neighbouring partner nations.'
Away from the frontline, logisticians were testing a prototype system that would allow partner nations to track supplies, such as ammunition, fuel or food, to assist each other to overcome shortfalls.
Captain Shane Allen, of 17th Sustainment Brigade, said the digitalised joint modular intermodal logistics systems used electronic tags to track items through a computer network, no matter where they were and which force they belonged to.
"We had a Nepalese driver in a UK vehicle, with an Australian CROP [container rolling off platform system] inside a French ISO 20ft container," Captain Allen said, describing the multinational logistics integration on PCC5.
"What we've identified in this activity is that it enables partner nations to demand resources that aren't within their own systems, but within their neighbouring force and the neighbouring partner nations, creating a shorter timeline of resupply that is beneficial for the entire mission and coalition."
Australian Army Land Network Integration Centre, in conjunction with the US Army Futures Command, ensured tactical compatibility through operational data integration was explored to validate ability to operate as a combined joint force.
The success rate of fire missions on PCC5 also demonstrated Australia's land-based long-range fires capability, a key component in contributing to a strategy of denial as outlined in the National Defence Strategy.
PCC5 also continued to develop strong ties between personnel on the ground, who are using new and emerging technology and Australian Defence industry partners who are creating and developing the equipment.
This is an important step for Defence in developing greater self-reliance in preparation for future missions.
