The Chief of the General Staff (CGS), General Sir ‘Roly’ Walker, has set an ambitious target for the British Army: to double its fighting power within three years and triple it by the end of the decade. Achieving this goal comes with certain constraints. The Army is not expected to grow in size, receive a substantial increase in funding, or accomplish this simply by equipping every soldier with additional firepower. In any case, the role of the infantry is not primarily to kill but to seize and hold ground. The real killing power on the battlefield comes from joint fires provided by artillery, air support and maritime effectors.

To “Sense twice as far, decide in half the time, using half the people and deliver effects over double the distance with half as many munitions” (as General Walker put it) the Army, and indeed the other services, must focus on augmentation, automation, speed, and accuracy, all of which rely on data. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has set an ambitious goal of connecting half a million data nodes to enable seamless data sharing. To support this initiative, our Cyber Security Advisory Services offer tailored strategies ensuring secure and efficient data integration. This vision encompasses data from all levels of military operations, from strategic headquarters to foxholes, and includes barracks, training areas, and staff functions. It also extends to Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), Partners Across Government (PAG), Partners Across Industry (PAI), and allied forces.

Approximately two decades ago, a study in the United States predicted that a fully networked brigade headquarters would receive 250,000 data feeds per hour—far beyond the capacity of human staff to process or comprehend using conventional methods. This is where augmentation through artificial intelligence (AI) becomes critical. AI can process massive amounts of data, identify patterns, and conduct continuous Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB). This helps predict enemy actions, recommend intelligence-gathering priorities, and position friendly forces to outpace adversaries in decision-making cycles.

Automation, particularly through synthetic environments, can also play a transformative role. Continuous Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB) enables synthetic tools to generate and evaluate potential courses of action (COAs) for commanders, factoring in real-time data on ammunition, fuel, and equipment status. Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) will further enable predictive logistics, streamlining resupply and maintenance efforts. Once a COA is selected, synthetic environments can assist in planning, red-teaming, and rehearsing the operation.

The key to the Integrated Force will be fusing data from all five domains (Land, Sea, Air, Space and Cyber) at a pace of relevance to provide a more complete picture to commanders and an increased range of options which extend beyond any single domain. Achieving this vision depends on several critical assumptions. First, the integrated force must be developed swiftly. Second, data gaps in existing and legacy systems must be identified and addressed. Two immediate priorities for the land domain are equipping land platforms with HUMS and transitioning from digital terrain elevation data (DTED) to machine-readable terrain models.

Finally, it is paramount to break down barriers to ensure efficiency and speed. Lessons from Ukraine underscore the importance of rapid assembly, execution, and dispersal on the battlefield. Artillery systems must deploy, fire, and move within minutes. Future operations may prioritise the use of single guns firing precise, first-round impacts before relocating, increasing “magazine depth” and exposure to counter-battery fire.

In the next instalment of this series, we will explore how embracing emerging technologies and retiring outdated systems like Watchkeeper will help us achieve an integrated force. If your organisation is aiming to enhance its data capabilities to meet these objectives, contact us for expert guidance and solutions.

Explore the Full Series: Achieving an Integrated Force  

This blog is part of our four-part series examining the British Army’s journey towards an integrated force. Discover how innovation in technology, AI, automation, and data integration is shaping the future of defence.  If you haven’t explored the rest of the series, we encourage you to visit them and discover the full story behind the British Army’s transformation towards an Integrated Force:

1. Part 1: The role of data in achieving an Integrated Force

   How the British Army aims to triple its fighting power through data-driven solutions

2. Part 2: Embracing Emerging Technologies

   From goldfish bowls to oceans of innovation — enabling faster adoption of technology

3. Part 3: Revolutionising Defence Back-Office Operations

   Streamlining logistics, procurement, and readiness to meet modern challenges

4.  Part 4: Breaking Down Barriers to Efficiency

   A new approach to data, procurement, and integration for a more lethal Army