The Future Combat System (FCS), a U.S. tank system, is being developed. It would come equipped with smart weapons, laser cannons and multi-purpose rockets. It would also include extended surveillance. Ultimately, it would be fully digital and independent of the logistics resupply chain. The FCS would be able to perform all of the military's functions in one. Its use in future military operations will require significant modifications to doctrine, command control and inter-service relationships.
Future of warfare is a mixture of industrial age and information-based warfare
Technology is moving at an amazing pace in this century. The tools of warfare have changed rapidly. These technologies will be useful for many purposes as they advance, including guerilla warfare and precision weaponry. Non-state armies will continue to be attracted by military weaponry via state sponsorship, black market arms sales, or looting. For destructive weapons, commercial technologies may also be used. 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.
New technologies are constantly evolving and could be used against the United States. Cyberspace has become a powerful tool for terrorists and 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. It is also possible that military experimentation will take place in areas such as human enhancement.
Lethal autonomous weapons could roam the battlefield
Artificial intelligence opens the way to fully autonomous, lethal weapons that could totally eliminate human control. The medical community has long been against the development or use of lethal arms. They support total bans upon chemical and nuclear weapons. Nongovernmental organizations, however, have called for a legally binding ban. The debate over autonomous weapons has not been led by the medical profession.
Some nations have already begun exploring the use of artificial intelligence in their weapons. They claim that this technology can help them target enemy fighters better, deactivate them when not on target, and reduce the risk inherent in intensive attack. Activists call for the United Nations (UN) to ban lethal and autonomous weapons.
Cost of crewed alternatives for autonomous weapons
One of the biggest questions posed by autonomous weapons is their cost. Because they do not require human life and can be mass produced, autonomous weapons should be less costly than manned ones. Moreover, the cost of defensive autonomous weapons should be lower than those of offensive ones. Defensive autonomous weapons are less mobile than offensive weapons, making them more affordable. Additionally, defense states might use these weapons more frequently to impose higher cost on attacking countries.
An autonomous weapon could be used to reduce the number of soldiers required, thereby reducing the cost of human troops. While fully autonomous weapons remain decades away, there is already a variety of precursors that are similar to them. Some militaries have begun to develop drone swarms that can target air defenses of enemy aircraft. These drones are inexpensive and can overwhelm air defences, thus ensuring safety for manned aircraft. The net effect of autonomous weapons can depend on many factors such as the importance of the application and its reliability.
Proliferation threats of militarily relevant technologies
International security could be at risk from the proliferation of military-relevant technologies. These technologies could be used to provoke conflict or cause an accidental nuclear accident. These technologies were also used to develop military systems like missiles and unmanned aerial vehicle.
WMD proliferation presents a significant threat for the United States as well as to international 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 developing rapidly their arsenals and increasingly provide advanced weapons for various partners.