The future of the battlefield: Technology-driven predictions in the land domain

Abstract

The assertion that current and future available technologies are changing and will likely continue to change, as well as the nature of the operating environment, is undeniable. The more challenging task, however, is to identify the technologies that, if available to one side of a conflict, will provide a decisive advantage over a technologically weaker adversary, particularly the extent to which these technologies will affect the inherently conservative nature of land operations. Emerging technologies in current conflicts already indicate trends and predict the possible shape of the future “algorithmized” battlefield. This paper explores perspectives on the possible shape of the future battlefield over a two-decade horizon and articulates the challenges of employing a land component on a technology-saturated battlefield in a high-intensity conflict.