Hardening the MP - Royal Australian Corps of Military Police

AN ESSAY ON

HARDENING THE MILITARY POLICE

The Hardening the Army (HTA) concept has seen the commencement of many new projects and the acquisition of many new pieces of equipment. As a result of all these changes one questions has to be asked. Where does the Military Police fit into the new hardened Army? This essay will look at one area where MP are lacking and look at one possible solution.

There is a requirement for the Military Police to update its mobility platform. The on going changes under the Hardening the Army (HTA) project will render the MP as ineffective if we are not able to keep up. The HTA project came to the fore during 2003. Lt-Gen Leahy describes HTA as a suite of measures that will enhance our firepower, protected mobility, situational awareness and ability to orchestrate our effects [1] . This project forms the catalyst for developments such as the Infantry Mobility Vehicle (IMV), Abrams MBT and upgraded M113A3. It has to be asked what impact has the HTA project had on MP? A quick look at the current MP mobility platform makes it very clear that there has been very little if any impact on MP.

The current MP mobility platform is the LR110 and trailer [2] . Although an effective 4WD vehicle, a protected, networked, mobility platform it is not. The LR110 lacks the speed and off road capability to keep up with and support A vehicles, it has no cupola or organic means of defending itself and unless an FFR variant does not possess any ability to form part of a networked Battle group. The LR110 is also an aging vehicle. The majority of the fleet is approximately 13 years old with nearly 100000km on their odometers [3] . The vehicles do not provide any ability to communicate on the move and establishing a mobile CP in support of step up operations takes approximately 30mins. MP are included in the C2 BOS so without effective communications and the ability to rapidly and effective adapt to a fluid battle space we will become ineffective very quickly [4] .

A look at current operations shows that personnel deployed in rear areas are no longer safe. The 3 block war concept [5] and the complex operating environment, with its risk of regular, irregular or insurgent forces acting throughout the theatre, implies increased risk to what would have been traditionally classified as rear areas. As the elements tasked with maintaining C2 for commanders and primarily being located in the so called rear areas MP are high value targets for irregular forces in order to disrupt command and control [6] . MP are also tasked with the handling of PW in the AO. Once a PW comes under control of MP it becomes our responsible to adequately protect and care for that person [7] . Transporting PW in a LRFFR does not provide any protection for occupants. With the acceptance of the asymmetric threat [8] being in the rear areas can longer count as a force protection measure. This increased threat means MP require a new mobility platform to improve crew protection

With all of these factors in mind it is evident that MP require a new vehicle platform. The new platform will need to be able to be incorporated into the networked Army as well as provide adequate crew protection and firepower whilst also providing MP with the ability to continue to perform our tasks effectively and fulfil our mission to the LCOMD. Without going into an depth analysis of all available vehicle platforms a brief look at current deployments may provide an answer. The latest deployment of the AMTG-1 group to the Al Muthanna province has incorporated the deployment of the Bushmaster IMV vehicle. This vehicle although designed for motorised infantry operations is being used to provide protected mobility to AMTG logistic elements. The range of tasks the IMV has been utilised for in Al Muthanna includes convoy escort and VCPs; [9] both of these tasks fall under the four MP functions. If these vehicles are currently being used on operations and are effectively performing these tasks the IMV will be worthy of consideration for a new MP vehicle platform.

The IMV is a 4x4-wheeled armoured vehicle designed to provide organic protected mobility for an infantry section (9 pers). It has a governed speed of 100 km/h and a range of 600km. The IMV also provides protection from mine blasts and 7.62mm ball rounds. The IMV can be fitted with either a 7.62mm MAG 58 or a 5.56mm F89. The IMV also comes in 6 variants the two most suitable for MP being the Troop vehicle and the Command vehicle. A driver can operate the vehicle with no need for a crew commander or supervisor to be present [10] . Although one of many options the IMV due to its currently operational usage and specifications is an option for a new MP vehicle platform.

It is evident that MP requires a new vehicle platform if we are to remain an effective C2 asset within the future battlespace. The Bushmaster IMV provides one of many options. Further discussion and evaluation is needed to identify the most appropriate platform however the need to find a LR110 replacement is of utmost importance.