How Modern Technologies Are Impacting War

Modern technologies are not merely refining existing military capabilities; they are fundamentally reshaping the landscape and character of warfare itself. This transformation is occurring at an unprecedented pace, demanding rapid adaptation from military forces and policymakers worldwide.1 Unlike historical periods where tactical changes often lagged behind technological breakthroughs, the current environment necessitates swift integration and strategic shifts to harness the potential of emerging tools.4

The impact of technology spans numerous domains, from the physical battlefield to the digital realm and outer space. Key areas undergoing profound change include the integration of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, the widespread deployment of drones, the intensification of cyber and electronic warfare, the increasing reliance on precision-guided munitions, and the critical role of advanced satellite communications.1 These developments introduce novel humanitarian, legal, and ethical challenges alongside new military opportunities.5

The current technological revolution suggests a shift that transcends simple improvements in weaponry or tactics. Drawing parallels to historical transformations from agrarian to industrial societies and their corresponding modes of conflict, the world appears to be entering a new "informational" wave of warfare.7 In this emerging era, control over data, information, and knowledge becomes a central objective, fundamentally altering the nature of conflict from previous eras focused on territorial or industrial dominance.7 This paradigm shift means technologies like cyber capabilities, AI, and advanced communications are not just tools within an existing framework, but are actively constructing a new one where information superiority is paramount.

Furthermore, the impact of modern military technologies is rarely confined to a single system. Instead, the effectiveness of one technology is often amplified or enabled by its integration with others.6 For instance, AI enhances autonomous systems, cyber operations are deeply intertwined with electronic warfare, and satellites provide critical connectivity for drones and intelligence gathering. This creates a complex, interdependent technological ecosystem on the battlefield.6 Mastering modern warfare requires not just acquiring advanced individual technologies but effectively integrating them into a cohesive, networked capability. This interdependence also implies that vulnerabilities in one area, such as a cyber intrusion, can have cascading effects across multiple interconnected systems, including electronic warfare, command and control, and autonomous platforms.

Key Technologies Reshaping Modern Warfare

Several distinct yet interconnected technologies are at the forefront of transforming military capabilities and the conduct of war.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Autonomous Systems

Artificial intelligence is increasingly integrated into various aspects of defense operations, moving beyond theoretical applications to practical deployment in areas such as managing logistics, analyzing vast datasets, supporting complex decision-making processes, and enabling autonomous systems.5 Global investment in military AI is significant, with projections indicating substantial market growth in the coming years.9 AI can enhance the performance of existing weapon systems, for example, by improving target recognition in precision warheads.6 It also plays a crucial role in human-machine teaming, providing decision-making tools or even acting as a decision-making engine itself.6

Autonomous systems represent a significant application of AI, allowing platforms to operate with reduced human interaction, for extended durations, and in environments too dangerous for human personnel.6 Unmanned vehicles, including aerial (UAVs), ground (UGVs), and sea-based (USVs and UUVs) platforms, are already widely used for reconnaissance, surveillance, logistics, and hazardous missions like mine clearance.6 A particularly significant and ethically complex development is the potential for Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS) that could select and engage targets without direct human intervention.6 The ethical and legal challenges posed by LAWS have prompted international discussion, including resolutions at the United Nations General Assembly.9

Drones (UAVs) and Unmanned Systems

Drones have rapidly evolved from niche tools to indispensable assets on the modern battlefield, revolutionizing military operations by offering cost-effective, flexible, and low-risk alternatives to traditional combat methods.15 Their utility spans a wide range of missions, including Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), precision strikes against specific targets, logistical support, and even applications in information warfare.15 A key advantage of drones is their ability to perform dangerous missions without risking human operators, which can influence public and political willingness to engage in military conflicts.15

The economic dimension of drone warfare is particularly impactful. Many drones are significantly cheaper to manufacture and maintain than manned aircraft or traditional munitions, partly because they utilize components mass-produced for commercial markets.17 This low cost, especially compared to the high cost of many counter-drone measures, creates a strategic and economic advantage for the operator.17 For instance, drones costing as little as $500 have demonstrated the capability to neutralize expensive military assets like tanks or artillery pieces worth millions.18 This cost disparity imposes a substantial financial burden on the defending side, even when drone missions are unsuccessful.17

The integration of AI is further enhancing drone capabilities, notably through the development of drone swarms.6 These involve multiple unmanned vehicles operating collaboratively, often leveraging AI for coordinated tactics and target adjustment.6 Swarms can overwhelm traditional air defense systems through sheer numbers, presenting a significant challenge for countermeasures.17 Major military powers are heavily investing in this technology.17 Beyond the air, underwater drones are also emerging as game-changers, revolutionizing naval warfare.19

Cyber Warfare and Electronic Warfare (EW)

Cyber warfare and electronic warfare (EW) operate in the digital realm and the electromagnetic spectrum (EMS), respectively, and are increasingly intertwined at the operational level of modern conflict.7 EW involves using electromagnetic energy to control the EMS or attack the enemy, encompassing techniques like jamming communications, disrupting navigation systems (such as GPS), interfering with radar, and potentially employing directed energy weapons.21 Cyber warfare, on the other hand, utilizes electronic and information systems tools to disrupt or degrade enemy networks and systems while simultaneously protecting friendly ones.7

The advent of cyber capabilities has significantly enhanced EW operations. Increased global interconnectedness allows for the transmission and processing of vast amounts of data at unprecedented speeds, overcoming traditional limitations imposed by the physics of electromagnetic wave propagation.11 This enables near real-time global situational awareness for strategic leadership.11 Cyber and EW share operational functions; for example, EW's Electronic Support (ES) for collecting information parallels cyber's use of spyware, and EW's Electronic Attack (EA) mirrors cyber's use of viruses for interference.11

These capabilities pose significant risks, particularly to critical infrastructure, which is increasingly vulnerable due to the integration of physical and digital components.20 Attacks targeting energy grids, financial systems, or communication networks can inflict widespread damage and societal disruption beyond the scope of traditional physical attacks.20 Furthermore, cyber and EW attacks can have a psychological toll on military operators and disrupt critical emergency services, intensifying the human cost of conflict.27

Precision-Guided Munitions (PGMs)

Precision-guided munitions (PGMs) represent a major advancement in weaponry, utilizing various guidance systems such as GPS, laser, infrared, radar, and Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) to steer weapons towards their intended targets with high accuracy.6 A primary benefit of PGMs is their ability to significantly reduce collateral damage and minimize civilian casualties compared to unguided weapons.28 This increased precision makes them particularly effective against fortified or mobile targets and often allows military forces to achieve desired effects with fewer munitions.28

While PGMs offer enhanced accuracy and efficiency, their reliance on advanced technologies like GPS makes them vulnerable to electronic warfare and cyberattacks, which can disrupt guidance signals and compromise their effectiveness.26 Despite having higher development and production costs than traditional "dumb bombs," the increased effectiveness and reduced need for multiple strikes can lead to cost savings in the long run.29

Satellite Communications and Connectivity

Satellite communications provide essential, reliable, secure, and global connectivity for modern military operations, particularly vital in remote or austere environments where terrestrial networks are unavailable or compromised.12 Satellites are crucial for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), enabling the real-time transfer of critical data, images, and full-motion video from operational areas to command centers anywhere in the world, thereby enhancing information superiority.12

They also play a critical role in Command and Control (C2), maintaining resilient and secure communication links with dispersed forces across land, sea, and air.33 Satellite systems support "Comms-On-The-Move," ensuring continuous contact with mobile assets like vehicles and drones, and "Theatre Backhaul," connecting forward operating areas to distant command centers, effectively overcoming distance limitations.12 However, these vital satellite systems are themselves potential targets for cyber and EW attacks, highlighting a key vulnerability in modern, networked military operations.7

Transforming Strategy and Operations

These key technologies are not just changing the tools of war; they are fundamentally altering military strategy, tactics, and operational execution.

Increased Speed and Decision Cycles

Modern technologies, particularly the convergence of enhanced ISR capabilities (drones, satellites, electronic support measures), rapid data transfer (enabled by cyber and satellite communications), and AI-assisted analysis, dramatically accelerate the military decision-making cycle.7 Digitalization and improved information systems allow for faster collection, analysis, and dissemination of battlefield data.7 Near real-time intelligence from sources like drones and satellites, processed by AI, provides commanders with expedited situational awareness, enabling faster and more informed decisions.8 Cyber-enabled data transfer overcomes geographical distance barriers, facilitating global situational awareness and quicker responses.11 This shift means that the traditional "tyranny of distance" is increasingly being superseded by the "tyranny of time," where the speed of decision and action becomes a critical factor in gaining advantage.11 Military forces that can process information and operate within a faster decision cycle than their adversaries gain a significant competitive edge.

Enhanced Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR)

ISR capabilities have been profoundly transformed by modern technology. Drones and unmanned systems provide persistent surveillance over target areas without putting human operators at risk.8 Satellite technology offers global ISR capabilities, enabling the collection of data, images, and video from remote and denied areas.12 The sheer volume of data collected by these platforms is immense, and AI and machine learning are essential for analyzing this data rapidly to provide real-time, actionable insights to decision-makers.8 Electronic Support (ES) measures complement these capabilities by intercepting and analyzing enemy electronic emissions to gather intelligence on their capabilities and intentions.21

Precision Targeting and Reduced Collateral Damage

Precision-guided munitions allow military forces to strike targets with high accuracy, significantly minimizing unintended harm to civilians and infrastructure, a key objective in modern conflict.28 Real-time ISR data from drones and satellites, combined with AI analysis, improves target identification and discrimination, ensuring that only legitimate military objectives are engaged.8 This increased precision makes it easier for military forces to adhere to the principles of distinction and proportionality under International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which require distinguishing between combatants and civilians and ensuring that anticipated civilian harm is not excessive compared to the military advantage gained.22

However, the capability for highly precise, low-collateral-damage strikes presents a complex ethical dilemma. While PGMs improve adherence to the rules governing conduct within a war (jus in bello), the very capability to conduct strikes with minimal anticipated friendly or civilian casualties might lower the political and moral threshold for initiating military action in the first place (jus ad bellum).32 A "perfect" precision capability, by reducing the perceived human cost of conflict, could potentially make war seem less undesirable, shifting the focus from avoiding war to avoiding casualties, and potentially making military intervention a more frequent option.32

Remote Warfare and Reduced Risk to Personnel

Technologies such as drones, autonomous systems, and satellite communications enable military actions to be conducted from a considerable distance, reducing the necessity for human presence in high-risk combat zones.8 This shift towards remote warfare significantly minimizes the risk to friendly soldiers, a factor that can influence public and political willingness to engage in military interventions by lowering the anticipated human cost.17

Changing Command and Control (C2)

The digitalization of the battlefield and the introduction of network-centric capabilities are challenging traditional hierarchical command structures.7 The information age favors more decentralized and horizontal command models, better suited to processing and acting upon rapidly changing information.7 AI-based decision support systems are becoming tools for commanders, assisting in processing vast amounts of data and aiding in complex decision-making.6 Satellite communications are critical for maintaining reliable C2 links across geographically dispersed forces.33 However, the increasing reliance on AI and remote systems also raises questions about maintaining meaningful human control over critical decisions and the potential for excessive micromanagement of forces on the ground.14

The Economic Dimension: Cost-Effectiveness and Asymmetric Advantages

Modern technologies have introduced a significant economic dimension to warfare. Drones, in particular, offer a substantially lower-cost alternative to traditional manned aircraft and expensive munitions for many tasks, making airpower and precision strike capabilities more accessible.17 This cost-effectiveness allows smaller or less-resourced forces to acquire and deploy capabilities that were previously the exclusive domain of wealthier militaries, effectively leveling the playing field.18

Furthermore, the stark cost disparity between deploying cheap drones and the expensive countermeasures required to intercept them creates a new form of economic attrition.17 Even unsuccessful drone missions can impose a substantial financial burden on the defender, draining resources.17 This economic advantage favors the attacker and is driving a shift in military investment priorities away from solely focusing on traditional, expensive platforms towards more agile, versatile, and often software-defined capabilities.9 This reshaping of defense budgets and procurement reflects the understanding that future conflicts may be won not just by superior numbers of traditional assets, but by mastering the digital and electromagnetic domains and leveraging cost-effective, adaptable systems.

Ethical, Legal, and Humanitarian Challenges

The integration of modern technologies into warfare introduces complex ethical, legal, and humanitarian challenges that require careful consideration and robust governance.

Attribution of Responsibility and Accountability

One of the most significant challenges concerns attributing responsibility for actions taken by AI systems and autonomous weapons, particularly in cases of unintended harm or potential war crimes.13 International law traditionally holds individuals accountable for such crimes, but the distributed nature of AI system development, the complex interactions within autonomous systems, and their unpredictable behavior make it difficult to trace the chain of decisions and actions back to a responsible human agent.13 The lack of intentionality in AI actions further complicates the attribution of moral responsibility.13 Developing new ethical frameworks and legal interpretations is necessary to ensure justified and fair responsibility attribution for actions performed by AI systems in military contexts.13

Bias and Discrimination in AI Systems

AI systems are susceptible to biases present in the data they are trained on, which can be unintentionally carried over or even amplified.14 In military applications, this can lead to discriminatory outcomes, such as automated target recognition systems misclassifying individuals or groups as legitimate targets based on biased data.14 Reports suggest that biased data labeling and interpretation have contributed to instances of targeting based on affiliations, highlighting the real-world impact of this ethical challenge.14

Maintaining Meaningful Human Control

The increasing automation and reliance on AI-based decision support systems (DSS) raise concerns about maintaining meaningful human control over critical decisions, especially those involving the use of force.13 Automation bias, the human tendency to over-rely on automated systems, can lead operators to uncritically accept system suggestions, potentially overlooking errors or following faulty advice.14 The accelerated pace of operations enabled by AI can create pressure that hinders human verification and intervention, further eroding control.14 Fundamental questions arise regarding whether AI systems can be effectively shut down when mistakes occur and if military personnel are adequately trained to recognize and respond to AI errors.13 The challenge lies in determining the appropriate level of human oversight and intervention in systems that can operate at speeds and complexities beyond human capacity.

Impact on Human Dignity and Military Virtues

The use of AI-based DSS, particularly for tasks like calculating attrition rates or estimating casualties, raises ethical concerns about dehumanizing individuals by reducing them to statistics in an algorithm's cost-benefit analysis.14 This approach risks obscuring the moral significance of choices involving human lives.14 Furthermore, over-reliance on AI and automation risks deskilling command staff and soldiers by reducing the cognitive load involved in planning and decision-making.14 This loss of proficiency can be critical during system failures and risks eroding traditional military virtues like courage, responsibility, duty, and the capacity for moral judgment, which are rooted in human agency and require constant practice.14 The potential for AI-enabled micromanagement could also erode soldier autonomy, potentially leading to a scenario where individuals feel they are "only following orders" without critically engaging with the system's outputs.14

The increasing integration of AI and autonomous systems, coupled with phenomena like automation bias and deskilling, poses a risk to the moral agency of human combatants and commanders.13 As technology takes over more cognitive functions and decision-making tasks, it could become harder for humans to exercise independent moral judgment or feel personally responsible for the outcomes, even if they are technically still "in the loop".14 This potential erosion of moral agency represents a profound ethical shift in the conduct of warfare.

Compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL)

Applying existing International Humanitarian Law (IHL) to new technologies like autonomous weapons and cyber operations is a complex undertaking.5 While precision-guided munitions improve adherence to jus in bello principles such as distinction and proportionality by minimizing collateral damage 22, defining what constitutes an "attack" in the context of electronic warfare or cyber operations is challenging and determines which legal rules apply.22 The increasing integration of civilian infrastructure and actors into the digital and electromagnetic domains blurs the lines between military and civilian, raising difficult questions about legitimate targets and the principle of distinction.13 The potential for widespread disruption of critical civilian infrastructure through cyber or EW attacks raises significant IHL concerns regarding the protection of civilians and essential services.20

Modern technologies, particularly AI and precision weapons, challenge fundamental tenets of the Just War tradition, which provides a moral framework for the use of force.13 As discussed, precision weapons raise dilemmas regarding the decision to go to war (jus ad bellum), while AI introduces complexities for conduct within war (jus in bello), such as accountability and maintaining human control.13 The increasing use of technology in scenarios beyond state-vs-state conflict, such as against a state's own population or non-state actors, may require shifting the ethical analysis from Just War principles to human rights frameworks.13 This forces a re-evaluation of long-held ethical principles in the face of rapid technological change.

The military's growing reliance on interconnected digital systems, including networks, satellites, GPS, and AI platforms, creates new and potentially catastrophic vulnerabilities to cyber and EW attacks.20 These attacks can disrupt critical military functions, compromise sensitive information, and even cause physical harm or widespread chaos by targeting critical infrastructure.20 For example, GPS jamming can degrade the accuracy of precision-guided munitions or disrupt navigation for military and civilian assets.26 This dependence means that technological advancement, while offering significant advantages, also introduces a degree of fragility. A military highly reliant on digital connectivity and the EMS is susceptible to being crippled by attacks in these domains, potentially more effectively than through traditional kinetic means alone. This necessitates substantial investment in cybersecurity and electronic protection measures.

Modern Conflicts as Tech Testbeds: Real-World Examples

Recent conflicts have served as crucial testbeds for modern military technologies, illustrating their impacts and accelerating their evolution and the development of counter-tactics.

Lessons from Ukraine

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine provides compelling examples of how modern technologies are shaping warfare. Both sides have extensively and decisively employed drones for a wide range of tasks, including ISR, targeted strikes, and information operations.17 The conflict clearly demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of drones and the significant economic burden they impose on defenders who must deploy expensive countermeasures.17

Ukraine has also become an arena for intense electronic warfare, with both Russian and Ukrainian forces actively jamming communications, radar, and GPS signals used by drones and precision-guided munitions.23 Russia's use of EW systems against Ukrainian drones, such as the Turkish Bayraktars, and GPS-guided weapons like JDAM and HIMARS, underscores the vulnerability of tech-reliant systems to disruption in the electromagnetic spectrum.26 Conversely, Ukraine has demonstrated innovative adaptation, such as combining attack drones with EW units to jam Russian drone signals, showcasing asymmetric tactics.24 The conflict highlights the critical role that cyber and EW now play alongside traditional military operations.20

Other Examples

Other recent conflicts also illustrate the impact of modern technologies. Azerbaijan's extensive use of drones in the second Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is widely credited with significantly influencing the outcome, demonstrating the transformative potential of unmanned systems.17 In Syria, Russia's deployment of advanced electronic warfare systems, like the Krasukha-4, created significant challenges for opposing forces by affecting GPS navigation, disrupting drone operations, and interfering with tactical communications.23 The use of affordable drones by non-state actors like the Houthis in Yemen to challenge established powers further demonstrates how technology can empower smaller groups and enable asymmetric challenges.19

Modern conflicts like Ukraine are serving as rapid, high-stakes laboratories for emerging military technologies, accelerating their development, adoption, and the evolution of tactics needed to counter them.17 The real-time combat environment provides invaluable feedback, driving faster innovation cycles and forcing militaries to learn and adapt constantly, often in unexpected ways, such as the economic implications of widespread cheap drone use.

These examples also underscore that technological advantage is often fleeting in modern warfare. Success depends not just on possessing advanced technology but on the ability to rapidly adapt tactics, integrate disparate technologies in novel ways, and develop effective countermeasures against enemy technology.17 The ongoing cycle of innovation and counter-innovation means that military success is increasingly tied to agility, technological literacy across all levels of command, and the capacity to integrate new capabilities and tactics faster than the adversary.

Below is a table summarizing some of the key technologies and their demonstrated impacts in recent conflicts:

Conflict	Key Technologies Prominently Used	Specific Examples of Impact
Ukraine	Drones, EW, Cyber, PGMs	Extensive use for ISR, targeted strikes, information warfare; Cost-effectiveness vs. countermeasures; Intense jamming of comms, GPS, radar; Counter-drone EW; Cyberattacks on infrastructure. 17
Nagorno-Karabakh	Drones	Significant role in determining the outcome of the war, demonstrating transformative potential for smaller forces. 17
Syria	EW, Drones	Russian EW systems (Krasukha-4) disrupted GPS, drone operations, and communications, creating challenges for opposing forces. 23
Yemen (Houthis)	Drones	Use of affordable drones by non-state actors to challenge established military powers, demonstrating asymmetric capabilities. 19

The Future Landscape: Arms Race and Regulation

The rapid evolution and demonstrated effectiveness of modern military technologies are fueling a global technological arms race.1 Major military powers are heavily investing in key areas such as AI, autonomous systems (including drone swarms), advanced cyber capabilities, and resilient connectivity solutions.1 This competition for technological supremacy strains national resources and contributes to diplomatic tensions.1 Technological disparities between nations are likely to become an increasingly significant factor in future geopolitical dynamics.1

Simultaneously, the integration of these technologies raises profound ethical concerns and presents significant challenges for international governance and the development of norms.1 The rapid pace of military technological development, particularly in AI and autonomy, appears to be outpacing the ability of international law, ethical frameworks, and governance structures to keep pace.1 This creates a dangerous gap where powerful new tools exist without adequate rules or norms for their responsible use.13 There is a clear need for public debate and the establishment of robust governance frameworks for the military application of AI.13 International regulatory developments, such as resolutions on LAWS at the UN, reflect growing global concern and attempts to address these issues.5 Ensuring compliance with IHL in the face of new technologies, defining acceptable levels of automation bias or error, and addressing the vulnerability of critical civilian infrastructure to cyber/EW attacks are ongoing challenges that necessitate continued international dialogue and cooperation.5

The demonstrated effectiveness and economic advantages of technologies like drones and sophisticated cyber/EW capabilities are driving a fundamental shift in military investment priorities.9 Nations are increasingly directing resources away from traditional, expensive platforms towards more agile, software-defined, and networked capabilities.9 This reshaping of defense spending reflects the understanding that future conflicts may be won not solely by having the most tanks or jets, but by mastering the digital and electromagnetic domains and leveraging cost-effective, adaptable systems.

Conclusion: Navigating the Future of Conflict

Modern technologies have unequivocally and profoundly impacted warfare, transforming military strategy, operations, and economics while simultaneously introducing complex ethical, legal, and humanitarian challenges. Technologies such as AI, autonomous systems, drones, cyber and electronic warfare, precision-guided munitions, and satellite communications have enabled increased speed in decision cycles, enhanced ISR capabilities, greater precision in targeting with reduced collateral damage, and the ability to conduct military actions remotely, thereby lowering the risk to friendly personnel. The economic advantages offered by cost-effective systems like drones have also introduced a new dimension of asymmetric warfare and shifted investment priorities.

However, these technological advancements are not without significant drawbacks and risks. Challenges related to the attribution of responsibility for actions taken by AI, the potential for bias in automated systems, the difficulty in maintaining meaningful human control, and the impact on human dignity and military virtues are pressing ethical concerns. Furthermore, the increasing reliance on interconnected digital systems creates new vulnerabilities to cyber and electronic warfare attacks, which can disrupt critical functions and infrastructure. The application of existing international humanitarian law to these new technologies is complex and necessitates ongoing legal interpretation and the development of new norms.

The expert consensus suggests that integrating technologies like AI into defense is unavoidable and even necessary for national security in the current international climate.13 Yet, doing so responsibly requires significant effort in developing robust governance frameworks, fostering public debate, and ensuring ethical considerations are paramount.13 The rapid pace of technological development is currently outpacing the ability of international law and ethical norms to keep up, creating a dangerous gap.5 Navigating this future requires a delicate balancing act: nations must leverage technological advantages to ensure their security while actively addressing the significant risks and ethical dilemmas they introduce. The path forward necessitates continuous adaptation, strategic investment in both offensive and defensive technological capabilities, and, crucially, sustained international dialogue and cooperation to establish clear norms and regulations for the responsible development and use of military technology. The challenge lies in finding a way to harness the necessary technological power without sacrificing fundamental values or creating unacceptable risks for humanity.