Darwin’s ‘littoral’ brigade to benefit from Army Innovation Day 2024

Soldiers from Darwin’s ‘littoral’ brigade will wait and see if industry experts and academics can bolster their ability in combat, with one commander declaring an emphasis in “getting capability into the hands of soldiers faster”.

Soldiers from Darwin's 8/12 Regiment conduct littoral training on Dundee Beach, Northern Territory.

Industry experts and academics will be pitching innovative ideas on how to make Darwin’s soldiers more dangerous to the enemy after the army made a nationwide call out for specialist opinion, with one senior commander declaring an urgency in “getting capability into the hands of soldiers faster”.

On Thursday, the Australian Army announced Army Innovation Day 2024, which would aim to encourage the development of cutting edge technology to solve the most complex challenges posed to soldiers on operations.

In announcing the event, the army confirmed 2024’s challenge statement would be ‘optimising the soldier for littoral operations’ ahead of the September event.

In a military context, ‘littoral’ refers to the ability of a warfighting force to influence or support the land from sea, or the sea from land.

Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart attending a previous Army Innovation Day. Picture: Department of Defence.

Following the release of the 2023 Defence Strategic Review, Darwin’s 1st Brigade was directed to become the army’s lone littoral capability, with the army’s other combat brigades to maintain distinct roles.

Major General Richard Vagg said the emphasis on littoral capability was aimed to rapidly up-gun soldiers.

“There is emphasis on getting capability into the hands soldiers faster.”

Since AID’s inception in 2014, 51 contracts have been awarded to Defence industry.

This year, the two topics expected to pique the interest of Darwin’s warfighters are pitches that involve manoeuvre vessels and long-range fires – both of which the DSR cited as “immediate investment priorities”.

Darwin’s 1st Brigade have already adapted its new littoral identity. Picture: 1st Brigade Facebook.

Units in Darwin have already commenced their transformation to become littoral-specific brigades, with soldiers often partaking in training exercises along the coastline in addition to the bush of Mount Bundey Training Area.

Major General Vagg said soldiers required the capabilities to resist an enemy from targeting Australia.

“As a part of an integrated, focused force, the Australian Army must be capable of deterring a potential adversary from projecting force against Australia and make a credible contribution to the broader strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific,” Major General Vagg said.

“Our soldiers make army a formidable fighting force and are our most valuable asset.”

Army Innovation Day 2024 will take place in Melbourne in September.

The focus on Australia’s northern military presence follows Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy’s comments earlier this month in which he pledged “the lion’s share” of Defence funding would flow to the Territory.