Pan Directorate Activities

Future Manoeuvre Development Cell

so2fd.dgdd@gtnet.gov.uk

The FMDC (and the associated Future Manoeuvre Working Group (FMWG)) continue to build on the success of the Future Army Study Period (held Apr 04), and to consider key conceptual issues for the Land Component. The priority, remains to support the development of the Future Manoeuvre Sub-Concept (FMSC), which seeks to define how the Land Component will operate at formation level in the 2015 timeframe in order to inform key equipment procurement and structural decisions. Support is also being given to the Medium Weight Capability SRO, principally through the development and testing of concepts for Rapid Intervention.

News from the Branches

Concept Development and Experimentation (CDE)

concepts.dgdd@gtnet.gov.uk

The Concepts and Experimentation and Analysis (E&A) Branches have now merged into a single branch. The new title is Concept Development and Experimentation (CDE). The Branch now co-ordinates the Army’s concept development and E&A activities in order to support development of  the Army of Tomorrow.

Experimentation & Analysis

CDE is now the Directorate’s single focus for internal and external E&A policy and activities. Having secured endorsement for the experimentation paper, E&A is now assisting HQ LAND in the development of its experimentation implementation policy and also in assisting the joint community in the development of defence experimentation. Our key activities include assistance to the FMDC with its INTREPID series, which is supported by the MINERVA in-house wargame, supporting the WISE wargaming and finally it successfully ran FASP 04.

Concepts

The Future Land Operational Concept (FLOC) was endorsed by the Joint Doctrine and Concepts Board in Apr 04. Underpinning the FLOC, which is predominantly ‘analytical’, there are seven sub-concepts (SC), which tend towards the ‘applied’, taking account of recent Equipment Plan, Force Generation and Structures work. These also provide the conceptual underpinning for the ‘Balanced Force’ structure within the evolving Future Army Structure (FAS) work.  The main effort within Concepts continues to be focussed on the development of the FLOC.
The FMSC continues to be the highest priority within Concepts. It is structured in four parts and Part 1, The Fundamentals, provides the analytical context of future manoeuvre, describing emerging doctrinal themes as to how operations will be conducted in the 2015 to 2020 era. In parallel, it is intended that work on Parts 2 (Operations) and 3 (Organizations) continues with a view to their publication by mid 05.

Doctrine

so3cis.dgdd@gtnet.gov.uk

ADP 'Land Operations' latest version has been briefed to the Army Doctrine Committee. We expect publication in the New Year.
Edition 8 of the British Army Electronic Battle Box is now under development for publication in Jan 05.

International

so3inter.dgdd@gtnet.gov.uk

The International Branch current main issues are the implementation, from a UK perspective, of the ABCA Programme Plan for the period up to Apr 05 and contribution to the modernisation of the FINABEL organisation.
Army-to-Army Staff talks between UK/Netherlands and UK/Japan are also being planned.

Force Development

fd.dgdd@gtnet.gov.uk

The main areas of work for FD is the development of Army 2020 - part 1 of which was endorsed in 2003. Part 2 is due to be published around Easter next year.
The 'Army of Tomorrow' booklet is also being produced by FD branch and should appear shortly after Christmas; this publication aims to inform the wider Army and interested civilians how the Army is due to develop throughout the FAS era. It will appear on this site once endorsed.

Defence Studies

defs-armydir@defence.mod.uk