Fixed, Mobile and On-the-Move: The Practical Difference
Soldier and Tank
by CPTs Gavin Berke, USA and Iain Herring, USA
Land Warfare Paper 168, June 2025
In Brief
Army leaders must know the difference between fixed, mobile and on-the-move system configurations to equip Soldiers with capabilities that enable freedom of maneuver.
On-the-move systems remain underdeveloped across the force, creating a critical protection and survivability gap for maneuvering units—particularly those operating near or beyond the forward line of own troops.
Leaders must build counter-unmanned aerial systems employment around layered defense-in-depth principles, integrating each configuration’s unique advantages and limitations to control tempo and terrain and to match threats.
Understanding system configurations will help prevent leaders from overestimating maneuver and protection capabilities and underpreparing for modern aerial threats.
Advanced emerging threats from near-peer adversaries must prompt leaders to leverage modular technology like artificial intelligence to rapidly flex specific designated equipment and Soldiers.
Introduction
On 6 June 1944, Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, marking the decline of Axis control in Europe. Operation Overlord’s success relied on precise coordination of the largest amphibious fleet ever assembled and the misjudgment of defense capabilities by the Axis powers.
The Atlantic Wall was the defense network envisioned by the Axis powers to prevent Allied forces from gaining a foothold on mainland Europe.[ii] Axis leaders overestimated their defensive capabilities, which turned into a vulnerability the Allies would exploit. This historical lesson underscores a fundamental truth in warfare: Misjudging one’s own capabilities can lead to devastating vulnerabilities.
https://www.ausa.org/publications/land-warfare-paper/fixed-mobile-and-on-the-move
