The world is entering its next era of warfare

Since the dawn of time, technological advancements have reshaped society’s daily lives.

They’ve also reshaped warfare. And this era is not built different.

Let’s break it down:

• Cheap, abundant drones – worth as little as $500 – are destroying far more expensive systems like artillery pieces, tanks, or ships worth millions of dollars, both on the battlefields of Ukraine and in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen.
• Global militaries are increasingly focused on integrating AI systems into their operations, seeing an opportunity to enhance situational awareness, optimize decision-making, and provide a competitive edge.
• Directed-energy weapons that can destroy electronic systems like drones from long range are beginning to enter the US military’s hands, following years and billions of dollars spent in development.
• Nuclear arsenals across the globe have consistently grown in size and technological capabilities in recent years. At the same time, transparency surrounding those arsenals – especially in non-US-allied countries like China, Russia, and North Korea – has shrunk.

The US military is also facing a potentially existential threat from within. Fewer and fewer young Americans are signing up for the military, with armed service branches lowering their recruiting goals in recent years – then also largely failing to meet those reduced objectives. Even the branches who are meeting their goals say they’re finding it difficult to attract the dwindling number of young folks who meet the military’s physical, mental, and moral standards.

👀 Looking ahead… Analysts say a new military space race will likely intensify in the coming years, as the US, China, Russia, and other major powers compete for dominance in satellite surveillance and communications, space exploration, and colonizing the Moon and Mars.