Output Three: Army Capabilities

Capability Performance Information

Performance Targets

Special Forces Operations

The Special Forces operations capability contributes to the strategic tasks of defending Australia, securing our immediate neighbourhood, supporting wider interests and supporting peacetime national tasks. They achieve these tasks by providing forces to conduct non-combatant evacuation and special recovery operations, conduct counter-terrorism and consequence management operations and support conventional land manoeuvre operations. The Special Forces operations capability is maintained at a high readiness.

Performance Targets	Performance
Quality:
Achieve levels of preparedness directed by the Chief of the Defence Force for military response options with a warning time of less than 12 months.	Achieved. The Special Forces operations capability was able to support all preparedness requirements directed by the Chief of the Defence Force for military response options. Three separate task forces were deployed consecutively to Afghanistan. Each was based on a Special Air Service Regiment squadron, combat support and combat service support units. A similar task force, which included a commando platoon, was deployed to Iraq. The Special Forces operations capability maintained two Tactical Assault Groups for the conduct of domestic counter-terrorist operations. These units included the Tactical Assault Group East resident within 4^th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (Commando), and Tactical Assault Group West resident within the Special Air Service Regiment. 4^th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (Commando) continued the development of the commando capability role while providing a parachute capability during the deployment of 3^rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment to East Timor and its subsequent reconstitution.
Achieve a level of training that maintains core skills and professional standards across all warfare areas.	Substantially Achieved. A number of training activities and exercises were not conducted as a result of commitments to operations or the requirement to develop new capabilities.
Quantity:
Special Operations Group, comprising: a headquarters; a Special Air Service Regiment; a commando battalion; a Reserve commando battalion; an incident response regiment (moved from the Combat Support Sub-output in May 2003); and 2 signals squadrons.	Achieved. The Special Forces operations capability had the personnel and equipment holdings necessary to complete the likely tasks required of it.

Mechanised Operations

The mechanised operations capability contributes to the strategic tasks of supporting wider interests, defending Australia, securing our immediate neighbourhood and supporting peacetime national tasks. The capability provides light mechanised and light armoured forces to enhance combat power and weight for more demanding contingencies utilising the effects of surprise, offensive action and concentration of force in order to disrupt or destroy enemy forces' plans, cohesion and morale. It achieves this through engaging with the enemy in close combat enabled by protection and integral firepower.

The mechanised operations capability provides forces, which are maintained at high to medium readiness. These forces can be deployed in combined arms teams from company to battalion size. These combined arms teams are drawn from armoured units, mechanised infantry, medium artillery, combat engineers, army aviation and various combat support units. This capability is derived mainly from the 1^st Brigade, which is based in Darwin.

Performance Targets	Performance
Quality:
Achieve levels of preparedness directed by the Chief of the Defence Force for military response options with a warning time of less than 12 months.	Partially Achieved. The mechanised operations capability was unable to support all allocated preparedness requirements directed by the Chief of the Defence Force for military response options. Deficiencies in equipment, in some types of ammunition and personnel in key trades affected preparedness levels for some directed military response options. A reduced, yet credible, level of capability was available for all of the military response options. Equipment and personnel deficiencies are being addressed, including the acquisition of upgraded ASLAVs, an upgrade of the M113 and personnel retention and remediation initiatives, while ammunition deficiencies are being resolved. The mechanised operations capability provided 5^th/7^th Battalion Royal Australian Regiments, along with a company of Army Reserve personnel, in support of operations in East Timor. The capability also provided personnel as the transit security element to border protection operations in the apprehension of illegal immigrants.
Achieve a level of training that maintains core skills and professional standards across all warfare areas.	Partially Achieved. Personnel deficiencies in a number of key trades and a lack of some types of ammunition affected the achievement of some core skills.
Quantity:
1^st Brigade, comprising: a headquarters; an armoured regiment; a reconnaissance regiment; mechanised infantry battalion; and combat and logistic support units.	Substantially Achieved. The mechanised operations capability had deficiencies in personnel and equipment holdings that affected its capacity to complete the likely tasks required of it.

Light Infantry Operations

The light infantry operations capability contributes to the strategic tasks of securing our immediate neighbourhood and defending Australia. The capability provides light, air-mobile forces available for immediate deployment and is supported by specialist components drawn from aviation, fire support and logistic units. This capability is based on the 3^rd Brigade, which is located in Townsville.

Performance Targets	Performance
Quality:
Achieve levels of preparedness directed by the Chief of the Defence Force for military response options with a warning time of less than 12 months.	Achieved. The light infantry capability met levels of preparedness directed by the Chief of the Defence Force for military response options. Some preparedness tasks were assigned to other outputs due to the limitations imposed by the commitment to operations in East Timor.
Achieve a level of training that maintains core skills and professional standards across all warfare areas.	Substantially Achieved. Most training requirements were met. Some air-mobility training activities were curtailed due to reduced Black Hawk helicopter support as a result of airframe cracking, a shortage of flying instructors and commitments in East Timor.
Quantity:
3^rd Brigade, comprising: a headquarters; armoured mobility for 2 infantry companies; 2 infantry battalions; and combat and logistic support units.	Achieved. Personnel and equipment availability for units in this sub-output were sufficient to meet preparedness levels.
The Parachute Battalion Group, comprising: a parachute infantry battalion; and combat and logistic support units.	Achieved. Personnel and equipment availability for units in this sub-output were sufficient to meet preparedness levels.

Army Aviation Operations

The Army aviation operations capability contributes primarily to the strategic task of defending Australia, securing our immediate neighbourhood, supporting wider interests and supporting peacetime national tasks. The capability provides aircraft, which are maintained at high readiness, for mobility through tactical troop lift, aerial fire support, command and liaison, and reconnaissance operations. The capability is drawn from aviation units based in the north of Australia.

The capability is based on two aviation regiments consisting mainly of rotary-wing Kiowa, Iroquois, Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters, and fixed-wing King Air and Twin Otter aircraft. The Kiowa helicopters will be replaced progressively by two squadrons of armed reconnaissance helicopters commencing from December 2004. Iroquois helicopters are planned to be replaced with additional troop-lift helicopters in 2007.

Performance Targets	Performance
Quality:
Achieve levels of preparedness directed by the Chief of the Defence Force for military response options with a warning time of less than 12 months.	Achieved. The army aviation operations capability met all levels of preparedness directed by CDF for military response options. Due to limitations imposed by the commitment to operations in East Timor, some directed military response options required a concerted effort to sustain this capability, particularly in the area of personnel.
Achieve a level of training that maintains core skills and professional standards across all warfare areas.	Substantially Achieved. Concurrent activities, such as the deployment of Kiowa and Black Hawk helicopter units to East Timor, affected the achievement of all training requirements. Training activities for light infantry operations were not fully supported. Flight training hours required to qualify pilots were scheduled against anticipated recruitment of pilot trainees. Insufficient recruitment of pilot trainees and a higher failure rate at the ADF Basic Flying Training School saw hours, particularly those of the Black Hawk, not being achieved. Initiatives to increase trainee numbers have been implemented.
Quantity:	Substantially Achieved. The aviation operations capability had the personnel, aircraft and equipment holdings necessary to complete the tasks required of it. While a significant level of support to ADF operational commitments was achieved, some training activities were not fully supported and the rate of effort was constrained by pilot shortages for some aircraft and cracking in some Black Hawk airframes.
36 Black Hawk - 8,600 flying hours	36 Black Hawk - 6,765 hours achieved (79 per cent). While the airframe cracking situation improved during the year, flying hours were also reduced by an abnormally high separation rate for Black Hawk pilot instructors, a 20 per cent pilot shortfall and a lower than required number of trainees entering the Army. A modification program continues for the rectification of cracking and a variety of initiatives have been implemented to address the personnel issues.
1 Black Hawk Simulator - 2,275 hours	1 Black Hawk Simulator - 1,259 hours achieved (55 per cent). The underachievement was due to a shortage of pilots.
42 Kiowa - 12,848 flying hours	42 Kiowa - 13,003 hours achieved (101 per cent). The target was exceeded due to the Black Hawk underfly.
6 Chinook - 1,270 flying hours	6 Chinook - 1,364 hours achieved (107 per cent). The overachievement reflected the commitment to operations in the Middle East.
25 Iroquois - 5,055 flying hours	25 Iroquois - 4,579 hours achieved (91 per cent). In order to sustain Black Hawk commitments, pilots were cross-trained from Iroquois. Flying hours were also affected by a shortage of maintenance supervisors.
3 King Air - 2,000 flying hours	3 King Air - 2,094 hours achieved (105 per cent). The overachievement was partly to offset the Twin Otter underachievement.
2 Twin Otter - 1,200 flying hours	2 Twin Otter - 951 hours achieved (79 per cent). The result reflected fluctuating aircraft availability due to the age of the fleet. Availability is being intensively managed until the current contract expires in March 2005.

Ground-Based Air Defence

The ground-based air defence capability contributes primarily to the strategic task of supporting wider interests in more demanding contingencies and defending Australia. The capability is versatile and able to defend airspace in conjunction with other land and joint elements. The capability provides weapon systems that can be deployed on land or on board ships, to protect high-value targets from air attack. Forces are provided by 16^th Air Defence Regiment, based in South Australia, which maintains a ground-based air defence system consisting of RBS70 shoulder-launched missile systems and Rapier missile systems.

Performance Targets	Performance
Quality:
Achieve levels of preparedness directed by the Chief of the Defence Force for military response options with a warning time of less than 12 months.	Substantially Achieved. The ground-based air defence capability met most levels of preparedness as directed by the Chief of the Defence Force for military response options. Personnel deficiencies and ground-based air defence ammunition deficiencies affected levels of preparedness and sustainment for all military response options. Ammunition requirements have been addressed but, due to long procurement timelines, delivery will take several years. Personnel shortages are being rectified through recruiting programs. Elements of the capability were deployed to support the RAN on operations in the Middle East.
Achieve a level of training that maintains core skills and professional standards across all warfare areas.	Substantially Achieved. Most training activities were achieved. Some training activities were not undertaken due to operational deployments.
Quantity:
16^th Air Defence Regiment	Partially Achieved. While the ground-based air defence capability had insufficient personnel and ammunition sustainability stocks to fully achieve all capability requirements, a significantly reduced but credible capability existed.

Combat Support Operations

The combat support operations capability contributes to supporting combat forces in the range of strategic environments in which they may be deployed. The capability supports combat operations through the provision of surveillance, intelligence, engineering, topographical, electronic warfare, communications and military police units. This capability is drawn from combat support units based throughout Australia. Small elements of the capability are held at high readiness to support the high readiness units in other sub-outputs.

Performance Targets	Performance
Quality:
Achieve levels of preparedness directed by the Chief of the Defence Force for military response options with a warning time of less than 12 months.	Substantially Achieved. The combat support operations capability met most preparedness tasks as directed by the Chief of the Defence Force for military response options. Limitations due to some equipment and personnel deficiencies in key trades affected some preparedness tasks. The deficiencies in equipment and personnel are being addressed. The capability provided significant support to forces deployed on operations throughout the year in all theatres. A construction squadron provided significant support to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission/Army Community Assistance Program through the construction of facilities for remote indigenous communities in north-west Western Australia.
Achieve a level of training that maintains core skills and professional standards across all warfare areas.	Substantially Achieved. Concurrent operations and personnel deficiencies, such as critical trade deficiencies, affected the achievement of some training requirements.
Quantity:
a construction regiment comprising: 2 construction squadrons, a construction engineer works section, a topographical survey squadron, a surveillance and target acquisition battery; a signals regiment; a signals squadron; an intelligence battalion; a military police battalion; and a combat training centre (live).	Substantially Achieved. The combat support operations capability had sufficient personnel and equipment to provide a reduced, yet credible capability.

Regional Surveillance

The regional surveillance operations capability contributes to the strategic task of defending Australia by providing forces to patrol the north of Australia in support of the national surveillance effort. The capability is maintained through the employment of Army Reserve personnel drawn from the local communities and the indigenous population and consists of three regionally-based battalion-sized units known as Regional Force Surveillance Units.

Performance Targets	Performance
Quality:
Achieve levels of preparedness directed by the Chief of the Defence Force for military response options with a warning time of less than 12 months.	Achieved. All levels of preparedness directed by the Chief of the Defence Force for military response options were achieved. The three regional force surveillance units provided support to border protection operations in support of Operation Cranberry.
Achieve a level of training that maintains core skills and professional standards across all warfare areas.	Achieved. All training activities were achieved.
Quantity:
Three regional force surveillance units.	Achieved. The regional surveillance operations capability has the personnel and equipment holdings necessary to complete the likely tasks required of it.

Logistic Support

The logistic support capability provides supply, transport, repair, maintenance, health and other logistic functions to support combat operations across the spectrum of conflict from high intensity conflict to civil emergencies. The capability is drawn from the Logistic Support Force which is a brigade-sized organisation comprising regular and reserve units collocated throughout Australia. The Logistic Support Force is capable of sustaining a brigade deployed on operations for extended periods while concurrently supporting an independent battalion group.

Performance Targets	Performance
Quality:
Achieve levels of preparedness directed by the Chief of the Defence Force for military response options with a warning time of less than 12 months.	Substantially Achieved. The logistic support capability was capable of achieving most Chief of the Defence Force directed military response options, but personnel deficiencies in critical trades and limited reserve stocks adversely affected the sub-output.
Achieve a level of training that maintains core skills and professional standards across all warfare areas.	Substantially Achieved. Concurrent operations and personnel deficiencies in a number of key trades affected the achievement of all training requirements.
Quantity:
Logistic Support Force and its integral logistic support units including: a headquarters and headquarters force support group; a construction regiment; 2 signals squadrons; 3 force support battalions; 3 ships army detachments; 3 health support battalions; a recovery company; a petroleum company; a psychology unit; and a deployed forces support unit.	Substantially Achieved. The logistic support capability had insufficient personnel and equipment to achieve the likely tasks required of it. However, a reduced, yet credible level of capability was maintained.

Motorised Infantry Operations

The motorised infantry operations capability contributes to the strategic tasks of defending Australia and securing our immediate neighbourhood. The capability complements the 1^st and 3^rd Brigades by providing a range of highly mobile forces to conduct land manoeuvre operations utilising surprise, offensive action and concentration of force in order to disrupt or destroy enemy forces' plans, cohesion and morale. The capability is maintained at medium readiness. The capability is derived mainly from the 7^th Brigade, an integrated formation, based in Brisbane.

Performance Targets	Performance
Quality:
Achieve levels of preparedness directed by the Chief of the Defence Force for military response options with a warning time of less than 12 months.	Partially Achieved. The motorised infantry operations capability was not capable of achieving all Chief of the Defence Force directed military response options due to equipment deficiencies, personnel deficiencies in key trades and sustainability issues. Personnel and equipment deficiencies are being addressed through ADF recruiting and retention programs.
Achieve a level of training that maintains core skills and professional standards across all warfare areas.	Partially Achieved. Most training activities were successfully conducted. Some collective training activities were reduced in scope due to deficiencies in equipment, personnel and some types of ammunition.
Quantity:
7^th Brigade, comprising: a headquarters; a reconnaissance regiment; 2 motorised battalions; and combat and logistic support units.	Substantially Achieved. Regular units within the motorised infantry operations capability achieved the required staffing levels, providing a credible level of preparedness. Partially Achieved. Reserve units within the motorised infantry operations capability achieved lower than expected recruiting targets which affected staffing levels for the capability.

Protective Operations

The protective operations capability contributes to the strategic tasks of defending Australia and contributing to regional security by providing reinforcements for deployed regular units and a mobilisation base for subsequent rotations in the event of protracted operations. The capability is drawn from the reserve formations based across Australia. These forces possess core skills attained through unit training to enable them to reinforce existing units that are maintained at varying degrees of readiness. These forces are currently being trained to assist in the event of a domestic security incident.

Performance Targets	Performance
Quality:
Achieve levels of preparedness directed by the Chief of the Defence Force for military response options with a warning time of less than 12 months.	Partially Achieved. The protective operations capability was unable to achieve most CDF directed military response options due to deficiencies in equipment and personnel in key trades. Personnel deficiencies are being addressed through ADF recruiting and retention programs, while initiatives such as the Ready Response Force will address the readiness of these units.
Achieve a level of training that maintains core skills and professional standards across all warfare areas.	Partially Achieved. Most training activities were successfully conducted. Some collective training activities were reduced in scope due to deficiencies in equipment, personnel and some types of ammunition.
Quantity:
4^th, 5^th, 8^th, 9^th, 11^th and 13^th Brigades, each comprising: a headquarters; 2 or 3 infantry battalions; an armoured reconnaissance unit; and combat and logistic support units.	Partially Achieved. While personnel availability for units was at sub-optimal levels, personnel from the capability still provided a reinforcement and rotation base within the combat force component of the Army.