Battlefield 2030

"On the ground, we don't have to wait until 2030 to be wowed. We already have rudimentary Directed Energy (DE) weapons ready to go. From lasers down to microwaves, they are ready." 

Picture yourself as 14 years old. What you really want to do with your life, is go into the military when you are 21 years old. That is only 7 years away. It is now the year 2023, and in seven years it will be 2030. Sounds like a plan man. You will be 21 years old, and ready to plan your new career in the United States military. But what will the military be like in 2030? Hint: nothing like it is like today.

First off - aircraft. They will look like something out of Star Wars. The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter will be a sixth-generation marvel. It will bristle with AI as well as state of the art weapons. Some weapons will be missiles, some guns, and others will be Directed Energy (DE) weapons (such as lasers). Flying alongside the NGAD planes will be unmanned Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). Currently the plans are to build 200 NGAD planes with 1,000 CCA unmanned aircraft. The NGAD and CCA aircraft will work together like a hand in a glove.

On the ground, we don't have to wait until 2030 to be wowed. We already have rudimentary Directed Energy (DE) weapons ready to go. From lasers down to microwaves, they are ready. However, that is just the beginning. By 2030, we should have an entire spectrum of DE to use in battle. When this happens, the face of battle will change forever. 

I won't even get into the autonomous battle soldier. That would be using robots as soldiers. Right now, some robotics are being used to help soldiers with their battle loads. To train robotic soldiers to kill, might be a bridge too far. Why? They will function with AI. This bridge might be one that some will be hesitant to cross. But we will have the technology by 2030. As will our enemies.

A brave new world awaits our military.  The face of war will change. It will be faster and deadlier. But it is what it is. The technology is almost here. Eisenhower warned us about the Military-Industrial Complex. If IKE could see it now! Lockheed (my former teammate), Raytheon, Boeing, General Dynamics, Northrop, BAE (my old stopping grounds) - they are going (excuse the pun) - great guns. 

In the next seven years, much will happen. And that is with only us - you should see what the Israelis have in the bag. If you love change, you will be happy. If you fear change, buckle up.