The United States is developing a tank system called the Future Combat System (FCS). It would have smart munitions, laser guns, and multi-purpose weapons. It would also have extended surveillance means. It would eventually be completely electronic and free from any logistics resupply chain. The FCS would perform the functions of all the military's arms rolled into one. Its use in the future military will require significant changes to doctrine, command and control, and inter-service relationships.
The future of warfare will include a mix of knowledge-based and industrial warfare
The technology world is changing at an astonishing rate in the 21st century. The tools of warfare have changed rapidly. These technologies are being used for a wide range of purposes, including guerilla attack and precision weaponry. State sponsorship, black-market weapons sales, and looting will continue to attract non-state armed actors to military weaponry. Commercial technologies will also be appropriated for destructive weapons. They could be used as crude weapons for mass destruction or incorporated in information-based weapons that can be used to create cyber and bio weapons.
As new technologies become more advanced and better, they can also be used against United States. Cyberspace has become an extremely powerful tool for terrorists as well as criminal groups. This possibility is alarming. Non-state actors have the ability to access these new technologies, allowing them to weaponize without being disapproved of by the public. Also, it is possible that military experiments will be conducted in areas like human enhancement.
The battlefield could be home to deadly autonomous weapons
Artificial intelligence has made it possible to develop fully autonomous lethal weapon systems that could completely eliminate human control of the deadly force. Medical professionals have long opposed the creation of lethal weapons. They advocate total bans on nuclear and chemical weapons. Non-governmental organizations also support a legal ban on autonomous weapons. The medical community has not been a major voice in the debate about autonomous weapons.
Some nations have already begun exploring the use of artificial intelligence in their weapons. They argue that such technology could help them better target enemy fighters, deactivate them when they are no longer on target, and reduce risks inherent in intensive attacks. Activists are calling for the United Nations' ban on lethal, autonomous weapons.
Cost of crewed alternatives to autonomous weapons
One of the biggest questions posed by autonomous weapons is their cost. Since they don't need human life, and can be mass manufactured, autonomous weapons should not be more expensive than manned. Defensive autonomous weapons should also be less expensive than offensive ones. Defensive autonomous weapons are less mobile than offensive weapons, making them more affordable. To impose higher costs on states that are attacking, defending countries may use more of these weapons.
Autonomous weapons could help combat the cost of human soldiers by reducing the number of soldiers needed. Fully autonomous weapons are still decades away but there are already precursors. Some militaries have begun to develop drone swarms that can target air defenses of enemy aircraft. These drones can easily overwhelm air defenses and ensure the safety of manned planes. However, autonomous weapons' net effect may depend on several factors like the importance of the application or the reliability and effectiveness of the system.
Proliferation threats from militarily relevant technological technologies
International security can be threatened by the proliferation of militarily relevant technology. The use of these technologies for offensive purposes has the potential to aggravate conflict and potentially cause an accidental nuclear accident. Many of these technologies were used in the creation of military systems such as unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles.
WMD proliferation poses a significant threat to the United States and to world peace and security. In addition to North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons, other nations have increasingly sophisticated ballistic missiles and continue to proliferate them to regional proxies and terrorist organizations. Russia and China are also rapidly expanding their arsenals and providing more advanced weapons to various regional partners.