Special Report: Australia fields Littoral Manoeuvre Group to support denial operations

The Australian Army's new Littoral Manoeuvre Group is intended to bolster the service's long-range fires and littoral combat capabilities. (Commonwealth of Australia)

Australia is introducing a littoral manoeuvre capability into the Australian Defence Force (ADF), centred on the newly established Littoral Manoeuvre Group (LMG). The formation is intended to operate in contested maritime environments, enabling the deployment and sustainment of land-based strike capabilities across complex littoral terrain in support of joint operations.

In an interview with Janes , Brigadier Colin Bassett, Director General of Platforms in the Australian Army's Land Capability Division, said the LMG is an army-led capability designed to move land-based combat assets into contested littoral environments as part of Australia's broader strategy of denial. He added that the LMG integrates platforms across a joint system, including naval, air, cyber, and space capabilities, to create conditions for deployment.

The Australian Army formally recognised the LMG at a ceremonial parade at Gallipoli Barracks in Brisbane in late March. At the time, the country's Department of Defence (DoD) said the group is intended to bolster the Australian Army's ability to manoeuvre, deploy, and support land forces across coastal and island regions.

This requirement was initially outlined in Australia's 2024 National Defence Strategy (NDS), which called for a broader army force structure optimised for littoral manoeuvre to operate in contested coastal environments and support long-range strike and joint fires.