POISED FOR CHALLENGES AHEAD: THE FUTURE OF THE ARMY IN WESTERN AUSTEALIA

By BRIG Brett Chaloner,

Commander, 13th Brigade, Australian Army

On 10 October 2021, the 10th Light Horse Regiment conducted a ceremonial parade commemorating the re-raising of the Regiment at Langley Park, Perth in Western Australia. This date marks the 107th anniversary of the raising of the Regiment in 1914. © Department of Defence. Photographer: SFT Gary Dixon.

The Royal Western Australia Regiment (RWAR) marking its 61st anniversary. The Governor of Western Australia, the Hon Kim Beazley AC, was received on parade with a royal salute from the regiment prior to a Service of Remembrance at St George’s Cathedral Perth. © Department of Defence. Photographer: LSIS Richard Cordell.

Despite the cut-through of technology and the information age, geography still matters. Physical distance impacts our ability to engage, influence, understand and respond. The Malaysia Airlines MH370 tragedy and the search that ensued was a stark reminder that the Indian Ocean - with an area of over 70m square kilometres - remains a vast and uncovered space. When combined with 12,500km of West Australian coastline and a 3500km gap between Perth and Canberra, one quickly realises the complexity and concurrency for a small defence force that needs be in more places, doing more things, more of the time.

The army and Defence in WA are poised to re-posture and restructure to ensure they are ready to address the challenges highlighted in the . The combined Australian Defence Force presence in WA is around 5600 full and part-time personnel. Over 4000 are resident in the greater Perth area. The army’s presence is anchored in three organisations: 13th Brigade, the Pilbara Regiment and the Special Air Service Regiment and the army is focused on ensuring these forces are optimised to support ADF operations in WA, its approaches, and the Indo–Pacific region. The army’s renewed focus on WA is grounded in the Defence strategic update direction to enhance our investment and engagement in the Indian Ocean region. The recent announcement of the AUKUS agreement highlights the importance of basing, maintenance and training areas for our partners and allies as well. The ADF in WA harnesses the best of the full and part-time workforce spread across the state. It ensures the ADF has an immediate response option available in WA no matter the situation: fires, cyclones, COVID-19 or territorial challenges. West coast forces are best positioned to establish and maintain enduring relationships with fellow Indian Ocean rim neighbours. Creating both muscle memory and networks based on personal and organisational relationships has proven successful over time. With a preponderance of Australia’s most valuable natural resources, WA has attracted large business enterprises that are connected, mutually supporting, and technologically dynamic. WA’s population of 2.5m is relatively small given the size of the state. Accordingly, there is much cross-over in workforce and, at times, competition for talent. Seeking to cooperate for mutual advantage, the army is now leading engagement on behalf of Defence in terms of collaborating more persistently with state government, industry and academia.

To address the challenges of geography, and ensure the Australian Government has more effective response options in the region, the army is establishing the framework for an enduring Joint Task Group headquarters based on 13th Brigade. This measure will increase the 13th Brigade’s capacity as part of a national approach. This includes ensuring that frequently needed army capabilities are ready to support responses to crisis or natural disasters as well as being proficient in core warfighting roles. In October the 13th Brigade will re-raise the 10th Light Horse Regiment on its 107th birthday as part of this broader initiative. Throughout 2021, the 16th Battalion, Royal West Australian Regiment, has diversified its focus to littoral operations. In time, the unit will reinforce a larger army amphibious capability. Similarly, a growing pool of WA-based engineers provide specialist depth and capacity to the whole force. The Special Air Service Regiment continues to be ready to deploy anywhere in the world to perform critical missions. In August 2021, the Chief of Army announced changes to ensure the units command and control is appropriate for the increasing demands placed on it. North of Perth, the Pilbara Regiment and NORFORCE continue to provide an ‘always on’ surveillance effect that

Celebrating its official re-establishment as a Regiment on 10 October 2021. Troopers from the 10th Light Horse Regiment participated in a ceremonial march at Langley Park, City of Perth. © WA DEFENCE REVIEW. Photographer: Eddy Lidya.

13th Brigade 16th Battalion, RWAR 11th/28th Battalion, RWAR

13 CSSBC OMBAT SUPPORT SERVICE S

13 Combat Service Support Battalion

13 FIELD SQUADRON

R OYAL AUSTRALIAN ENGINEER S

10th Light Horse 3 Light Battery, 9 Regiment, RAA 109th Signal Squadron, RAS 13 Field Squadron, RAE

is connected to federal, state and local stakeholders, including the national intelligence community, Australian Border Force, law enforcement agencies, and Indigenous groups. Their efforts are coordinated by the recently established Regional Force Surveillance Group (RFSG) and form a critical part of our national defence architecture.

This year, army recognised four decades of service with these units, operating in remote and challenging conditions. The occasion was marked by the presentation of Colours to the Pilbara Regiment in October. New equipment, watercraft and a revised approach to their employment will ensure the capability can continue to meet the challenges of the years ahead. The ADF and, by extension, the army will always be stretched in overcoming the inherent problem of a small force being responsible for an incredibly large area. However, through a rebalance of the force, and the re-imagination of its force structure and relationships to sovereign and regional partners, it will make a stronger contribution to Australia’s strategic objectives of ‘shape, deter and respond’. The challenge is now focused on accelerating organisational change to ensure west coast forces are ready to address emerging contingencies.

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By Valerie Latimour, Contributing Defence Writer

The prototype OKA was created by founder Mike Walker, with a brief of maximum flexibility, reliability and cost efficiency. The vehicle itself was a huge success, with satisfied customers in mining and tourism endorsing its reliability, fuel-efficiency and comfort. The company was, however, faced with technical difficulties and the challenges of manufacturing in Australia, but now the brand is experiencing a revival under the leadership of Managing Director, Dean Robinson. With over 16 years in the Royal Australian Armoured Corps, Dean also has over three decades of experience in running a large-scale construction company.

In 2012, when it seemed that OKA would go overseas, the parts and IP for the first two models were purchased by a new company, OKA Parts Australia. This was the beginning of Dean’s resurrection of OKA as an Australian institution. The company began remanufacturing OKA trucks, as well as repairing and selling parts.

In March 2017, Dean launched OKA All Terrain Vehicles, and purchased OKA from then-owner Reymer Pty Ltd. Dean has collated extensive information on OKA’s history, purchased all IP and equipment originally owned by the company, and plans to re-acquire niche markets where gaps in capability can be filled by OKA’s unique strengths.

The OKA is an Australian-designed and manufactured vehicle, embodying safety, reliability, durability and strength. With its ladder chassis and interchangeable body modules, units can be designed to customers’ precise specifications, providing exactly the all-terrain vehicle platform their circumstances require. The OKA has a reputation for go-anywhere performance, and for being a strong vehicle that delivers a smooth ride for driver and occupants. The integral cab structure meets the highest standards in the world for roll-over and falling object protection.

The OKA has amazing manoeuvrability. Its narrow wheel track allows the vehicle to traverse narrow paths where many larger ATVs will not fit. The narrow and short wheelbase means that the OKA will fit down any track a LandCruiser will. The OKA’s point of difference is its unique suspension system, with leaf springs which allow for a smooth ride, while achieving articulation without any twisting of the cab. The OKA boasts a huge carrying capacity, with the four-wheel drive delivering up to 7t Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM), having a 3t payload. OKA have also manufactured an 11t GVM six-wheel drive with a 5t carrying capacity. Currently, all OKA vehicles are powered by electronic diesel engines, incorporating Euro 5 emissions control technology to enhance performance and fuel efficiency while minimising their environmental impact. The company is researching renewable and sustainable solution to power future vehicles. Both electric motors and hydrogen fuel cells are being investigated, each having their pros and cons. OKA has a positive history with the armed forces. In 1995 four OKAs, fitted with a range of speciality army equipment, were delivered to Puckapunyal for a one year trial. Purpose-built OKA trucks were also supplied to the RAAF as fire-fighting appliances. This is a niche that the OKA is well suited for, given its ability to traverse the rough ground around military airstrips and fight fires in the bush. Dean is passionate about developing sovereign capabilities, turning his considerable business experience to the building of a new, WA-based OKA production company. Since the demise of the Holden and Toyota factories in 2017, no one is making new vehicles in Australia. Dean has put in the hard work to achieve the required certification to meet the standards of ADR compliance. OKA is now poised to make an impact on the ATV market in Australia and internationally.

The OKA team consists of multiskilled and experienced technicians. © WA DEFENCE REVIEW.