The next war will look much, much different

 

"Wars and rumors of wars. I guess as a species we are kind of stuck with that for a while longer. It is in our nature to be warriors. Have been since the jump. Maybe someday we can be like the peace-loving people that Gene Roddenberry envisioned in Star Trek. Maybe someday, but not today. And probably not tomorrow."

Last evening, I watched a classic movie made in1965. In Harm's Way, starring John Wayne and Kirk Douglas, was a good old Navy movie about Pearl Harbor and beyond during World War II. Watching it, I was reminded on how far along we (mankind) have come in warfighting since that eventful war. I will go as far to say that any new war (of a global nature) which could be fought tomorrow, would look nothing like the wars fought yesterday. 

Current wars rely on stealth and speed. "Shoot the archer" is making sure you see the enemy before he sees you. Our stealth has gotten so good, so refined, a full-sized bomber looks as small as an insect on radar screens. But those days might be coming to an end, where new types of radars can defeat even the best stealth technologies. But that is tomorrow's problem. As we saw from Iran, today's B-2 bombers made quick work of Iran's defenses.

What then, will the new tag line be in wars going forward? More stealth might not be the answer, so what then? "Standoff" will be the new strategy. The ability to fire weapons from over a thousand miles away from the target, have the weapon fly at hypersonic speed, and bristle with AI, so even a moving target can be followed and hit. Meanwhile, the platform used to fire these hypersonic missiles, would be far, far away from the action.

Keep in mind, this type of war would only work in a non-nuclear exchange. Should nukes enter the picture, all bets will be off. But should a new war stay non-nuclear, what about our aircraft carriers? Would they still be of use? Maybe not. Our bombers? Could they still be used? Again, maybe not.

One artist's rendering showed transport jets releasing pallets of missiles (Rapid Dragon) which launched shortly after leaving the plane and then would head towards a long distant target(s). Again, all of these missiles would be loaded with AI, so they would be absolutely, fire and forget.

Any planes which would be used closer up to the enemy would be Loyal Wingman type drones. We are reaching a point where we will have autonomic planes, subs, ships, and tanks. How far away is that? Closer than you think. AI, once more mature, will turn our battlefields into something which looks more like a video game. This is one very important reason why the United States is so determined to stay way ahead of China in AI. 

Wars and rumors of wars. I guess as a species we are kind of stuck with that for a while longer. It is in our nature to be warriors. Have been since the jump. Maybe someday we can be like the peace-loving people that Gene Roddenberry envisioned in Star Trek. Maybe someday, but not today. And probably not tomorrow.