Technology is changing everything in terms of war

The immense progress made in missiles of all types in terms of range, power, and precision, as well as the integration of AI and drones, are causing a fundamental revolution in the field of armaments.

The era of drones emerged in conflicts involving Azerbaijan (supported by Israel and Turkey) and Armenia in 2023, followed by the war in Ukraine where they completely changed the battlefield from 2023 onwards, and finally clashes against Iran in 2025 and 2026.

The recent integration of AI is creating regions of coordinated machines that will operate in the future in relatively autonomous groups tracking, identifying, and neutralizing enemy forces if the latter have not undergone their own technological revolution.

Recent developments have rendered a large part of conventional arsenals obsolete and disrupted strategies and tactics that have been in place since World War II.

Military strategists must rethink everything and try to imagine where this evolution will lead, as it is only just beginning and what we know today is just a transitional period.

It is undeniable that this will pose many challenges for arms programs that span decades.

Past lessons are troubling. Massive investments in military projects that turned out to be failures have highlighted numerous inefficiencies, such as the case of the two British aircraft carriers presuming potential usefulness in a high-intensity conflict – while adversaries like Iran and China use affordable yet innovative technologies to challenge Western supremacy.

For example, Beijing has developed the technique of “drone swarms.” Innovations include micro-drones integrated with AI for infantry use, such as models carrying out reconnaissance or autonomous bombing missions.

Thus, the Jiutian SS-UAV system enables coordinated swarm attacks, surpassing many competitors in terms of quantity and intelligence.

In the field of electronic warfare, China tested swarms of 1,000 to 2,000 drones to generate electromagnetic interference, simulating disruptions to systems like Starlink over strategic areas.

Iran, on the other hand, has “democratized” aerial warfare with low-cost drones like the Shahed-136, disrupting Ukrainian efforts backed by NATO. Deployed by Russia to target infrastructures, these drones, costing around $20,000 each, enable mass production that overwhelms enemy defenses.

The United States responded by capturing and replicating some of these drones to develop their low-cost “Low-cost Uncrewed (Unmanned) Combat Attack System (LUCAS),” now operational in the Middle East.

Context: The article discusses the significant impact of AI and drones on modern warfare, particularly in changing conflict dynamics and military strategies.

Fact Check: The article highlights the use of drones in various conflicts, the integration of AI into military operations, and the strategic implications of technological advancements in armaments.