Lieutenant General Martin Dorfer is the operational commander of the Austrian Armed Forces and at the same time Commander of the Land Forces and Special Operations Forces. He spoke to Militär Aktuell about current priorities and the ongoing specialization of the brigades. He also explains what role he sees the militia playing in the future and how he envisions a soldier of the future.
Lieutenant General, a lot is currently changing in the armed forces. What
is happening in your area in particular?
We currently have two major thrusts to cover in the armed forces. On the one hand, we have to refocus operational command on deployment and create the necessary standing structures for this, because in the event of a deployment, the armed forces have to be led across all branches of the armed forces. The aim must be to ensure that we, as the Armed Forces Command, are once again capable of rapid leadership in the peacekeeping organization when a conflict arises. Work on this point is already well advanced.
And the second point?
This involves restoring the operational readiness of land forces and special operations forces. We now have the great opportunity to rethink military national defense from the ground up. This is of course a huge challenge, but one that we are happy to accept. My goal is to have operational armed forces capable of defending Austria against any attack by 2032 as part of the reconstruction plan.
Is there an area that is a priority for you?
Definitely the staff! We must take clear, sustainable measures to protect and strengthen existing personnel. And we need to train the core skills more intensively again and bind the basic military service personnel to us for six months. These six months are the basis for everything else and cannot be replaced by anything else in the country as a whole. What I mean by this is that basic military service, what Austrian citizens learn, contributes significantly to strengthening the resilience of society and thus to Austria’s ability to defend itself.
“We now have the great opportunity to rethink military national defense from the ground up. This is of course a huge challenge, but one that we are happy to accept.”
Generalleutnant Martin Dorfer
What does this mean in concrete terms for the training and deployment of conscripts?
Above all, this means that conscripts can no longer be sent on migration assistance missions before the end of their sixth month of training. However, this also means that we need to attract as many potential conscripts as possible – and this requires an appreciative approach. This also includes modern personal clothing, equipment and weapons to ensure survivability. Of course I am happy about every new large weapon system, but if the foundation is missing – i.e. the personnel – then even the best weapon systems are of no use to us. We have to think in terms of capabilities. Another important point is a modern infrastructure. We must accommodate our young men and women in an appreciative manner. These are decisive motivating factors, especially for recruits. We also need workshop and warehouse capacity to store and maintain modern vehicles. In my view, this is a greater challenge than the procurement of these systems themselves.
Do you see room for improvement in the training of personnel, especially officers and non-commissioned officers?
There is always room for improvement. But one of our great strengths as an armed force is precisely this area. Commanders are faced with the conflicting priorities of “mindset-initiative-technology”. Our principle of “leadership by mission” sets us apart from many other armed forces, and this is one of our great strengths, especially in the context of foreign missions.
You mentioned new weapons systems, several of which have recently been contracted, ranging from new C-390M transport aircraft(-> Embraer starts building the first C-390M for the Austrian Armed Forces) to new Black Hawk helicopters(-> The Austrian Armed Forces are buying 12 new UH-60 Black Hawks). For the land forces, the upgrades to the Leopard main battle tanks and Ulan infantry fighting vehicles(-> Mech-Paket für das Bundesheer) and the more than 200 Pandur Evolution ordered are likely to be of particular importance, aren’t they?
Yes, and the procurement of the new Pandur Evolution is not only a huge undertaking in terms of protection and mobility, but also in terms of networking the systems. The spectrum of variants ranges from the protected armored personnel carrier to the armored medical and command and control vehicle to drone and air defense as well as grenade launcher and steep-fire platforms. All in all, this means a completely new level of quality for the Austrian Armed Forces. In addition, the first combat drones will be delivered this year – up to 250 of them. The digitalization of the armed forces and the use of artificial intelligence are also becoming increasingly important and will continue to occupy us intensively in the future.
Tarnen mit Gummi: Warum tragen Russlands Kampfjets Autoreifen?
The planned modernization and sharper specialization of the brigades will certainly keep you busy. Can you give us a brief update on this?
The fighter command is continuing to expand its special capabilities. The modernization programme at the 4th mechanized infantry brigade with the Leopard main battle tank is going well and we are also making good progress with the service life extension of the Ulan infantry fighting vehicle. In the future, an Ulan Evolution is planned to replace the ageing Ulan. This would represent a further increase in the combat effectiveness of the mechanized troops. At the 3rd Jäger Brigade, the “Pandur Brigade”, procurement of the aforementioned Pandur Evolution is currently underway – until 2032. This brigade will then also be the core of our international reaction forces within the framework of the EU. And in the 6th Mountain Brigade, we will continue to focus on combat in alpine terrain and invest in mobility and protection, but also in reconnaissance and effectiveness.
The most obvious change is the new orientation of the 7th Jägerbrigade, which has been given a new badge and a new beret in addition to the name affix “Jagdkampf”. What is the objective?
In my view, the 7th Jägerbrigade/Jagdkampf is the lighthouse project of the “Mission Forward” and also the answer to future threats. As you rightly say, we have given the brigade a new identity, with a new beret, new insignia and the “Jagdkampf” banner. Much more important, however, is the new mindset and the new orientation: the “Seventh” is the only “light” brigade in the Armed Forces and we are currently making it highly mobile, sustainable and with a focus on reconnaissance with a lot of technology. The aim is for the brigade to be able to monitor and control large areas in future and act as a military force on the ground and from the air, identifying and ultimately fighting enemies.
So we are talking about a highly mobile and mission-oriented unit with special capabilities?
That is precisely the vision. The first new techniques and systems required for this are slowly being introduced. This is an incentive for the squad and the recruits, and our aim must be for the recruits to want to join the “Seventh” when they are called up because they know that they will receive interesting training and will be supported and then challenged there.
The defense budget has increased enormously in recent years. Is there a danger of falling into a kind of spending spree or overdoing it in certain areas because there is suddenly money available?
The danger definitely exists. When I was Cabinet Chief of Staff, the defense budget was only 0.56 percent of GDP – today it is already over one percent with the aim of increasing it to two percent by 2032. That is a considerable sum, and of course there is a risk of focusing too much on many new systems and neglecting the real foundation – personnel. But that would be a mistake, because personnel is the decisive factor: without well-trained and motivated soldiers, even the best equipment is useless. That is why I believe it is more expedient to do without an additional system for the time being if in doubt, but to strengthen the personnel basis and to further develop the armed forces, and thus also the militia, step by step in a sustainable manner and ultimately to be able to provide the Republic with operational capabilities.
“we are continuously improving!”
Generalleutnant Martin Dorfer
At the beginning, you mentioned your goal of forming a deployable armed forces by 2032. In view of current security policy developments: Do we have that much time?
Not in principle, no. I agree with the assessments of our military analysts. Nevertheless, we are sticking to our development plan, because it remains crucial to do our homework year after year in order to continuously improve. Austria – and Europe as a whole – is well advised to position itself in such a way that it can ensure its own security. This also includes positioning itself credibly and visibly. Exercises such as the “Schutzschild 24” last year or the annual airspace security operation “Daedalus” (-> “Daedalus 25” successfully completed) are essential to demonstrate our capabilities and achieve a deterrent effect. We need to do the right things right again to be credible as an armed force.
“Schutzschild 24” was the biggest exercise in recent years. Gave
were there any findings that particularly surprised you?
The exercise basically went very well. However, we discovered that many skills that used to be taken for granted first need to be learned again – from individual behavior and combat techniques to tactics, including practicing on a large scale in open terrain. This confirms my insistence on starting with basic military service and cadet training, as this is where the essential basis is created.
For the first time, the militia was also involved with military missions.
Yes, classic military missions in the brigade network, and in some areas we deliberately pushed them to their limits in order to test their actual capabilities. In general, the focus was on gaining valuable practical experience and internalizing the right procedures. We were also able to learn important lessons at an operational level.
For example?
It was particularly impressive that, despite the long break, the expertise is still there – and that we have exceeded our own expectations with the application of operational procedures. Now we need to take this momentum with us, because we don’t have a complete standing command, just a nucleus that has to grow quickly in the event of a crisis.
Is this standing command the point you meant at the beginning with leadership ability?
Exactly. As already mentioned, in peacetime we only have a nucleus that has to grow in the event of a crisis – not a fully operational standing force. This is a clear weakness, because the current risk picture (-> Risk picture 2025: “Europe is already at war”) clearly shows that there are hardly any reaction and warning times left. From a military perspective, it would therefore be essential to rely on efficient standing structures even in peacetime – but this is currently only possible to a limited extent. We are therefore working on setting up an operational command for military emergencies to ensure that the armed forces can be commanded. However, we have a clear idea of how we need to further develop and sustainably strengthen this area, including by involving the militia and the Styrian fighter battalion.
What role do you see for the militia inthe future?
The basis of an operational armed force is a militia that is constantly practising. In future, the militia must be equivalent to the cadre – there must not be an army of two classes. That is why we are currently restructuring the militia units and specializing them within the brigades so that a militia fighter battalion corresponds to a standing fighter battalion in terms of its structure and capabilities. This represents a considerable challenge for the militia, as it requires a qualitative build-up of capabilities, which is naturally costly. A central component of this development is the increased joint exercise activity of militia and cadre with equivalent missions …
… as was recently the case with “Schutzschild 24”?
Exactly. Without such an adjustment, we would always need a lead time to form and train the militia in an emergency – but we don’t have that time. Openness in discourse is also required here. If politicians and the state invest 16 billion euros in the armed forces, then they must also function – and this is only possible if the militia is an integral part of an efficient overall structure. We will have to rethink the militia in order to end up with operational armed forces for the defense of our homeland.
“If politicians and the state invest 16 billion euros in the armed forces, then they must also function – and this is only possible if the militia is an integral part of an efficient overall structure.”
Generalleutnant Martin Dorfer
Let’s stay in the future. What changes do you see in store for individual soldiers?
The way we are structured today, we take too long to make decisions. Smaller, more flexible and the use of artificial intelligence are the keywords here. This year, we are introducing a new management information system and the new battle management system SitaWare (-> Interview with Sven Trusch, Managing Director of SitaWare manufacturer Systematic), which goes in this direction. It’s about networked operations management from the command staff in the ministry down to the squad. Nevertheless, we must not neglect our basics, such as our excellent training and leadership culture.
Networked operational command also plays an important role in the “soldier of the future”.
Right. It starts with a smart gadget on the wrist that is equipped with a radio and digital map and makes it possible to transmit a situation picture in real time. This networking extends right up to the operational level. One particularly exciting aspect is the ability to monitor soldiers’ vital functions – a project is currently underway to this end. These technologies open up completely new possibilities both in training and in operations. One decisive advantage is that the operational readiness of the troops remains transparent at all times. This makes it possible to clearly identify which soldiers are resilient enough for new missions and where specific support is needed.
With the war in Ukraine(-> current news from the Ukraine war), drones have “flown” to the center of attention. What conclusions do you draw from this?
The battlefield has become transparent and has an impact not only on tactics, reconnaissance and effects, but also on awareness and mentality. Drones are now a central component of modern warfare – and as with many weapons systems, there is the classic game of action and reaction. Examples of this are the electronic countermeasures or the huge protective nets that both parties to the conflict in Ukraine are using to secure their logistics routes – something that was unthinkable just a few years ago. However, experience from Ukraine also shows that the choice of terrain plays a decisive role in defense and in the fight against drones.
In what way?
For example, we can use our home advantage in Austria; our topography offers us significantly better opportunities than in the open plains of Ukraine, which in some cases only offer cover through windbreaks. Another development is that drones are increasingly being used to combat other drones. This shows that they will be an indispensable part of any armed force in the future – in offensive, defensive and stabilizing missions. And this must of course be taken into account in our further operational planning. The planning is already underway! The armed forces are on the right track!
Here you can find more articles about the Austrian Armed Forces.
