Conflict Evolution Discussion: The Impact of Emerging Technologies on Modern Warfare
In a recent episode of the Irregular Warfare Podcast, guest Lieutenant General Xavier T. Brunson, commanding general of the US Army's I Corps, and retired Australian Army major general Mick Ryan, author of the book War Transformed, discussed the preparation of forces for future large-scale combat operations.
Hosted by Ben Jebb and Adam Darnley-Stuart, the podcast episode delved into the influence of emerging technologies on the direction and magnitude of changes in warfare. The image accompanying the article, by Steven Stover, US Army, is related to the podcast episode.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced cyber capabilities are expected to significantly enhance decision-making speed, precision targeting, autonomous systems operations, and situational awareness in large-scale combat operations. These technologies will likely shift the military balance by enabling faster information processing, enabling predictive analytics to anticipate enemy movements, and improving electronic warfare and cyber defense/offense.
AI-enabled systems such as drones, robotic vehicles, and automated cyber defense platforms may reduce human risk and increase operational reach and complexity. Cyber capabilities will be crucial in disrupting enemy communications, command and control, and critical infrastructure, thus shaping the battlefield alongside kinetic forces.
Both Lieutenant General Brunson and retired Major General Ryan, as senior military leaders with expertise in irregular and future warfare, have emphasized that these emerging technologies require doctrinal evolution, ethical considerations, and robust integration strategies to maximize military effectiveness without unintended consequences.
The full episode can be listened to below, offering detailed, direct insights into their discussion. The Irregular Warfare Podcast can be subscribed to on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
The technologies discussed in the episode include artificial intelligence and advanced cyber capabilities. The podcast episode is about the impact of emerging technologies on future combat operations and the preparation of forces for such events. If you're interested in more military analysis on this topic, we recommend checking the official podcast site or reputable military analysis sources for the exact episode transcript or summary.
In the discussion, artificial intelligence and advanced cyber capabilities are identified as technologies that will significantly impact future combat operations, enhancing decision-making, targeting, and situational awareness, while also reshaping the military balance through faster information processing, predictive analytics, and improved electronic warfare and cyber defense/offense. These technologies are expected to reduce human risk and increase operational reach and complexity in large-scale combat operations.
As senior military leaders focusing on future warfare, Lieutenant General Brunson and retired Major General Ryan emphasized the need for doctrinal evolution, ethical considerations, and robust integration strategies to maximize military effectiveness without unintended consequences in the era of technology-driven warfare.
