Technology is opening up whole new dimensions for warfare
That motor is having to speed up. Digital technology is moving at a faster rate than traditional military investment, often driven by the private sector, leadingto do things in new ways: more bottom-up, more plugged into outside networks and with a greater willingness to accept the risk of failure. “Experimentation is key,” says General Lanata.co-ordinated more than 20 experiments at Operation Trident Juncture last year. One tested in-field “additive manufacturing” for critical components.
The West used to assume that it could count on maintaining its technological superiority. Today that looks complacent. The Aspen Strategy Group, in a recent book, “Technology and National Security: Maintaining America’s Edge”, sees a “transformative era” ahead which could threaten America’s position as the world’s strongest military power.
Such technologies promise to compress the time available to deal with a crisis, which can put a 29-country alliance at a disadvantage.’s need for consensus is often seen as its Achilles heel. Advances in hypersonic weapons, moving at more than five times the speed of sound, will shorten response times further. Military types are fond of talking about responding at the “speed of relevance”; that speed will get ever faster.
Technology is also opening up whole new dimensions for warfare. One is space. Some of the alliance’s larger members—America, France, Britain—are thinking hard about it. President Trump recently launched a new space force. Oddly,NATO agreed that a cyber-attack could trigger an Article 5 response. It has recognised cyber as a separate domain for warfare, alongside land, sea and air. Last year it established an operations centre for cyber at Mons.has concentrated on cyber-defence. It is reckoned to have done a good job at protecting its own installations from cyber-attack. But many of the broader networks on which communications among the allies depend, as well as national military facilities, are more vulnerable.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
French minister expresses concern about long-term U.S. commitment to NATOFrench Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said on Monday that Europe was conce...
Read more »
NATO, EU condemn Russia's 2014 seizure of Crimea
Read more »
NATO members’ promise of spending 2% of their GDP on defence is proving hard to keepGermany is in the crosshairs for not spending enough on defence
Read more »
What NATO needs to do to live to its 100th birthdayIn many respects the alliance looks stronger than ever. Yet NATO is also deeply troubled
Read more »
Trump says strongly considering NATO membership for BrazilU.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he was strongly considering NATO membership for Brazil as he welcomed Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to the White House. 'We're going to look at that very very strongly in terms of - whether it's NATO or it's something having to do with
Read more »
Trump floats idea of Brazil becoming a NATO memberUS President Donald Trump hints at the possibility of Brazil joining the military alliance between American and European countries as he hosted the far-right President Jair Bolsonaro for security talks at the White House.
Read more »
Analysis | Trump misunderstands NATO so badly, he thinks Brazil could be part of it“I also intend to designate Brazil as a major non-NATO ally, or even possibly — if you start thinking about it — maybe a NATO ally,' Trump said.
Read more »
NATO members increase defense spending for fourth year in row following Trump pressureBut the modest increases were unlikely to shield the alliance from the White House’s ire.
Read more »
NATO report says only 7 members are meeting defense spending targetsDespite many European countries boosting their defense budgets, only seven of the 29 NATO allies are currently reaching the recommended spending target of 2% of gross domestic product, according to NATO's annual report, which was published Thursday.
Read more »