The Future Combat System (FCS) is a new tank system developed by the United States. It would come equipped with smart weapons, laser cannons and multi-purpose rockets. It would also have extended surveillance means. It would ultimately be digitally independent of the logistics chain. The FCS would perform the functions of all the military's arms rolled into one. The future military will need significant changes in doctrine, command and control, inter-service relationships, and other aspects.
Future warfare will combine industrial age and knowledge-based warfare
Technology is developing at an amazing rate in this century. The tools for warfare are constantly evolving, from AI, robotics, nano and bio-technologies to computing and process. As these technologies advance, they may be used for a variety of purposes, including guerilla attacks and the use of precision weaponry. State sponsorship, black-market weapons sales, and looting will continue to attract non-state armed actors to military weaponry. Commercial technologies will also be appropriated for destructive weapons. Some could be used as crude weapon of mass destruction while others may be used to build cyber- and bio-women.
As new technologies develop and become more advanced, they may also be used against the United States. Cyberspace has become an extremely powerful tool for terrorists as well as criminal groups. This is a frightening possibility. This allows non-state actors to gain access to these technologies and allow them to weaponize their weapons without the need for public approval. Military experimentation can also take place in areas such human enhancement.
Autonomous lethal weapons could roam the battlefield
Artificial intelligence has opened the door to fully autonomous lethal weapons that would completely remove human control over deadly force. The medical community has long advocated against the development of lethal weapons, advocating total bans on chemical and nuclear weapons, and non-governmental organizations have called for a legally binding ban on autonomous weapons. The debate on autonomous arms has been debatable, however, the medical community is not a leading voice.
Some nations have already begun exploring the use of artificial intelligence in their weapons. These nations argue that artificial intelligence could be used to better target enemy fighters and deactivate them when they're not on target. It also reduces the risks associated with intensive attacks. Activists call for the United Nations (UN) to ban lethal and autonomous weapons.
Cost of crewed weapons as an alternative to autonomous weapons
One of the biggest questions posed by autonomous weapons is their cost. They are less expensive than manned weapons because they don't require human life and can easily be mass-produced. Defensive autonomous weapons should also be less expensive than offensive ones. Defensive autonomous weapons are less mobile than offensive weapons, making them more affordable. In order to impose greater costs on an attacking state, the defending state may also use these weapons in greater numbers.
Autonomous weapons could help combat the cost of human soldiers by reducing the number of soldiers needed. While fully autonomous weapons remain decades away, there is already a variety of precursors that are similar to them. Some militaries are even developing drone swarms for the purpose of attacking enemy air defences. These drones are cheap and can overwhelm air defenses, ensuring the safety of manned aircraft. However, autonomous weapons' net effect may depend on several factors like the importance of the application or the reliability and effectiveness of the system.
Proliferation threats from militarily relevant technological technologies
The proliferation of militarily relevant technologies can pose a threat to international security. These technologies could be used to provoke conflict or cause an accidental nuclear accident. Many of these technologies are used in military systems development, such as missiles.
WMD proliferation is a serious threat to the United States, world peace and security, and the United Nations. Apart from North Korea's pursuits of nuclear weapons and other nations possessing more advanced ballistic missiles, they continue to distribute them to regional proxies as well as terrorist organizations. Russia and China are rapidly developing their arsenals, and provide advanced weapons to each other in different regions.