Army Field Manual I Warfighting Tactics - Part 1 The Fundamentals | 1-1

Chapter 1
Context for warfighting

Introduction
Context for warfighting
1-01. This chapter explains the challenges that warfighting
• Warfighting challenges
presents to UK forces and the methods by which we
• Military frameworks for
may meet them. The nature and character of conflict,
warfighting operations
the characteristics of the land domain, the concept of
land power and its attributes are covered in detail in
ADP Land Operations, Chapter 1.

Warfighting challenges1

No matter how clearly one thinks, it is impossible to anticipate precisely the

character of future conflict. The key is to not be so far off the mark that it becomes
impossible to adjust once that character is revealed.

Professor Sir Michael Howard

1-02. Introduction. The character of conflict suggests that conflicts will involve and be
influenced by civilians, rebels, proxies and local civic leaders as well as opposing military
forces. The battlefield is increasingly decentralised and complex, information is pervasive
and the enemy will use cyberspace and employ sophisticated information operations. UK
forces and allies must be adept in deep, close and rear operations; fighting at range to
preserve combat power and to shape the battle, and sustaining and protecting forces in
order to create the conditions for success in close operations. UK forces must be able to
operate within the physical, virtual and cognitive dimensions and face an enemy doing
likewise. Tactical cyber capabilities, commercially available unmanned aerial systems (UAS)
and social media now feature alongside massed rocket artillery, fourth generation aircraft
and main battle tanks in the enemy arsenal. The battle is undeniably multidimensional.2

1-03. It is highly unlikely that UK forces will conduct warfighting alone. Warfighting operations
with coalition, joint, inter-agency, intra-governmental and multinational (CJIIM)3 partners
will be the norm. Close operations at the lowest levels, alongside those partners, is the
expectation.

1 Section 1 is coherent with the Warfare Branch briefing note to CFA Training Context dated 28 Jul 2017.
The description is focused on the challenge of combat operations while remaining consistent with the
broader themes housed in ADP Land Operations, Chapter 1 and Global Strategic Trends (edition 5).
2 FM 3-0 Operations, Chapter 1-6, paragraph 1-23. The interrelationship of the air, land, maritime, space and the
information environment (including cyberspace) requires a cross-domain understanding of an operating environment.
3 Chapter 3, page 3-4 CJIIM and Chapter 6, Stability activities, describes further.