The Bayonet is Obsolete: The case for change in extremely close quarters combat
“The bayonet is obsolete.” And with those four words, I had kicked a hornet’s nest. At a recent infantry lethality workshop, I caused a bit of a stir. The event…
Light Strike Revisited: From Concept to Contemporary Relevance – Think Defence 2026 (2)
The Light Strike series started with a practical question. How can the British Army generate a useful combat effect, at acceptable cost in people and material, against a peer opponent?…
Light Strike Revisited: From Concept to Contemporary Relevance – Think Defence 2026 (1)
As we reach the end of the series, two questions remain. Is 11 Brigade heading towards a credible Light Strike formation, and if not, what might a practical alternative look…
Light Strike Revisited: From Concept to Contemporary Relevance – 11 Brigade
The British Army’s 11 Brigade is currently transitioning into a specialised tactical recce-strike role, often described as the Army’s first ‘drone brigade’. After a period as the Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB), it was re-designated in November 2024 as a combat-focused unit within the Land Special Operations Force. In its previous role, 11 Brigade, it […]
Light Strike Revisited: From Concept to Contemporary Relevance – TD’s 2018 Concept
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the British Army, alongside NATO partners, explored airmobile forces as an operational reserve. 24 Airmobile Brigade formed the British core of the Multi-National…
Light Strike Revisited: From Concept to Contemporary Relevance – 24 Airmobile Brigade
Continuing the Light Strike concept series, this post focuses on the introduction and strategic context of the Cold War era 24 Air Mobile Brigade. 6 Airmobile Brigade and the Transition…
Light Strike Revisited: From Concept to Contemporary Relevance – An Introduction
For well over a decade, I have returned periodically to the theme of 'Light Strike', a mobile, agile, and firepower-focused approach to force design that sits between traditional light infantry…