No matter how much surveillance technology improves, you never have enough information. Yet commanders must act before it is too late to succeed.
The commander of Ukraine’s 82nd Air Assault Brigade which participated in Ukraine's August 2024 offensive into Russia's Kursk province faced a surprise after his troops advanced into Russia:
Voloshyn said Ukrainian intelligence had vastly underestimated the number of Russian troops in Kursk and probably “wouldn’t have even gone forward if we had known.”
You never have enough information to make plans. And you never will. Yet a good commander takes what he has and makes decisions without waiting for all gaps in knowledge to be filled and to verify all that he thinks he knows.
Because an enemy with sufficient information that acts quickly and is able to adapt as new information comes in will stagger your forces. And make obsolete all the precious information you were collecting, poring over, and pondering to formulate the perfect plan considering all possible problems. Don't forget the staff officers who support the commander:
To win in large-scale combat, divisions require agile battle rhythms that support informative and collaborative running estimates to empower decision-makers to make timely and risk-informed decisions that maximize the effects of all elements of combat power at the decisive place and time.
So fingers crossed on learning the right lessons:
NATO allies are expanding efforts to connect their technology and weapon systems, standardize data processes and induce more flexibility in combat formations to prepare for future conflicts[.]
NOTE: TDR Winter War of 2022 coverage continues here.
NOTE: You may also like to read my posts on Substack, at The Dignified Rant: Evolved. Go ahead and subscribe to it. You know you want to.
NOTE: Photo from the article.
