Thread by @LOS_Fisher

NEW - The Army aims to become a force of “boots and bots” with soldiers fielding teams of robots on the battlefield, the service chief has said today.

Gen Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, said human-machine teaming should be “commonplace” in the force by 2025

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CGS said that in conflict Armoured Fighting Vehicles should become "motherships – commanding teams of robots & thereby generating a new form of combat mass.

"They will be supported by longer range and more powerful artillery... firing on targets identified by swarms of drones"

First robotic vehicles will be in the hands of 2 Para this month.

Training is also to be overhauled. "We will create – & train against – a multi-domain ‘enemy’ force, to fight in all domains against our troops, and in doing so ensure that our training acts as a war laboratory"

CGS said the army's "priorities will include growing our Special Operations and Intelligence capability".

Counter-intelligence, info ops & unconventional warfare also name-checked as growth areas.

Army must be "fit for the demands of the digital age: more lethal, more agile".

Soldiers will also be deployed abroad more often in future, as army enhances its “persistent presence around the world”, CGS said.

Deployments will provide "lily pads" to support allies, deter adversaries, secure economic interests, & give UK more strategic choice and influence.