Future Warfare and Emerging Military Technologies: An Analysis of US Defence Modernisation

Abstract

Analysing United States’ defence modernisation plans and strategies about Autonomous Weapon Systems (AWS), Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2), space militarisation, hypersonic vehicles and digital engineering and data architecture, the paper discusses what impact such Emerging Military Technologies (EMTs) will have on variables such as speed, lethality, decision-making and nuclear Command and Control (C2) structures in future warfare. The paper emphasises that technological advancements have made war very swift. This, in turn, has increased its lethality leaving decision-makers with compressed response time. The study finds that of the various EMTs under study, digital engineering and data architecture are likely to have the gravest impact on the character and conduct of future wars.