The top US general has warned of a frightening future on the battlefield, predicting that soldiers must constantly be on the move, dispersed, and nearly invisible in order to survive. According to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, this is the most fundamental shift in warfare throughout all of recorded history. His insight was shared during a podcast interview with Foreign Affairs, which aired on Tuesday.
The technology driving this shift is nothing short of remarkable. Advances in long-range precision munitions, hypersonic weapons, the ability to sense and track environments, and the integration of unmanned robotic systems are allowing countries to gain a significant advantage in military operations. Whichever country can utilize these technologies in the most effective way will be successful in future wars.
According to Milley, this new operating environment will be ‘extraordinarily more lethal’ than ever before. This means troops will have to be vigilant, as they can be clearly seen by powerful devices such as drones, infrared sensors, and thermal imaging systems. To survive the onslaught of technology, Milley suggested troops become “invisible,” either through technology or by ‘basic cover and concealment.’
In order to adapt to the ever-changing battleground, the US must transform its military. This means 70% of the navy, air force, and army forces will still function in a similar manner as today, but a third of the force will need to evolve in order to stay ahead of Russia and China.
The US military has been experimenting in various ways with robotic and unmanned systems to aid in operations, such as implementing drones and developing AI-driven fighter jets. As the war in Ukraine is demonstrating, unmanned drones are becoming commonplace across the trenches and across the world, indicating the deadly presence of technology in this new era of warfare.
The company mentioned in this article is Foreign Affairs, a media organization that seeks to provide its audience with expert insights by covering current affairs and global policy. Foreign Affairs podcasts feature a wide range of topics, featuring scholars, politicians and leading figures in the industry.
The person mentioned in this article is Gen. Mark Milley. He is an American military leader and the current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who is renowned for his expertise in military matters. Gen. Milley is highly respected among US military personnel and has a long and distinguished career that began over three decades ago.
