The Force 2035 Seminar drives progress toward the transparent battlefield

Group photo of the attendees

The Spanish Army held, from 18 to 20 November, at the Military Social Action Rest Residence ‘La Cortadura’ (Cádiz), the Force 2035 Seminar, focused this year on preparing units for the transparent battlefield, with the participation of more than 50 representatives from the Army Staff (EME), commanders, and units.

Organized by the Future Force 2035 Center of the Plans Division of the Army Staff (EME), the seminar has been held since 2023 to analyze the state of Force 2035. On this occasion, the actions carried out in 2024 to advance the transformation of the Force were reviewed, taking into account the main progress in technology and readiness. The main challenges that the new Force design must face in the short and medium term for its implementation were also projected.

During the Seminar, participants analyzed how preparing units for the transparent battlefield affects acquisitions, especially differential capabilities—those that are key for operating in this battlefield or in the so-called ‘robotic strip,’ where UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems), C-UAS (counter-drone systems), electronic warfare, interceptors, and effectors will enable combat missions with these robotic means and new technologies, while preserving the lives of combatants on the frontmost lines-.

The most important conclusions for the transformation of the Force revolve around three key ideas. First, raising awareness among personnel in units and headquarters about the employment of new means and how the characteristics of the current battlefield affect them. Second, implementing a process that allows the acquisition of differential capabilities over the next 2–3 years—aligning with the new acquisition process established by NATO in the ‘Rapid Adoption Action Plan’ concept to acquire emerging technologies within a maximum of 24 months from their identification—and, finally, promoting the Experimental Theoretical Table of the Legion Brigade (Experimental Brigade) as a vehicle to drive the transformation of the rest of the Army’s units.