The Implications of the Technological Trends in Military on the Defence of Small States

The article argues that technological innovations change war, and pushes to innovate, to rethink strategic, operational and tactical decisions which raise new issues of moral and legal impacts. Small states have to redefine their defence concerning major technological trends. Technological progress...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Česnakas Giedrius
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sciendo 2019-12-01
Series:Lithuanian Annual Strategic Review
Online Access:http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/lasr.2019.17.issue-1/lasr-2019-0012/lasr-2019-0012.xml?format=INT
id doaj-23b443d76d794c49ab4c4e981409ffcb
record_format Article
spelling doaj-23b443d76d794c49ab4c4e981409ffcb2020-11-25T03:25:13ZengSciendoLithuanian Annual Strategic Review2335-870X2019-12-0117127329310.2478/lasr-2019-0012lasr-2019-0012The Implications of the Technological Trends in Military on the Defence of Small StatesČesnakas Giedrius0The General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of LithuaniaThe article argues that technological innovations change war, and pushes to innovate, to rethink strategic, operational and tactical decisions which raise new issues of moral and legal impacts. Small states have to redefine their defence concerning major technological trends. Technological progress will only strengthen the polycentric system in military technology because war is waged in six domains; small states do not have access to all of them, and at the same time they lack financial and industrial capabilities. Artificial intelligence, the increasing role of cyber and informational elements, unmanned systems, 3D printing and changing battlefield force to adapt the defence of small states. Small states have to plan their defence in three periods – peace, attack until full occupation and resistance. Technological innovations for the defence of small states are important, but the most crucial element is preparation of military and society for total resistance with the focus on denying victory for the aggressor. Small states cannot compete with technologically advanced powers (in terms of arms quality and quantity), so they have to adapt by expanding their fighting force, adapt to defend in the areas which decrease technological advantage and increase uncertainty. Small states also have to approach defence more creatively by exploiting non-conventional instruments, focusing on capabilities to fight without clear command and control, investing in personal skills of officers and soldiers, as well as maintaining symbiotic relations with technologically superior allies.http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/lasr.2019.17.issue-1/lasr-2019-0012/lasr-2019-0012.xml?format=INT
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Česnakas Giedrius
spellingShingle Česnakas Giedrius
The Implications of the Technological Trends in Military on the Defence of Small States
Lithuanian Annual Strategic Review
author_facet Česnakas Giedrius
author_sort Česnakas Giedrius
title The Implications of the Technological Trends in Military on the Defence of Small States
title_short The Implications of the Technological Trends in Military on the Defence of Small States
title_full The Implications of the Technological Trends in Military on the Defence of Small States
title_fullStr The Implications of the Technological Trends in Military on the Defence of Small States
title_full_unstemmed The Implications of the Technological Trends in Military on the Defence of Small States
title_sort implications of the technological trends in military on the defence of small states
publisher Sciendo
series Lithuanian Annual Strategic Review
issn 2335-870X
publishDate 2019-12-01
description The article argues that technological innovations change war, and pushes to innovate, to rethink strategic, operational and tactical decisions which raise new issues of moral and legal impacts. Small states have to redefine their defence concerning major technological trends. Technological progress will only strengthen the polycentric system in military technology because war is waged in six domains; small states do not have access to all of them, and at the same time they lack financial and industrial capabilities. Artificial intelligence, the increasing role of cyber and informational elements, unmanned systems, 3D printing and changing battlefield force to adapt the defence of small states. Small states have to plan their defence in three periods – peace, attack until full occupation and resistance. Technological innovations for the defence of small states are important, but the most crucial element is preparation of military and society for total resistance with the focus on denying victory for the aggressor. Small states cannot compete with technologically advanced powers (in terms of arms quality and quantity), so they have to adapt by expanding their fighting force, adapt to defend in the areas which decrease technological advantage and increase uncertainty. Small states also have to approach defence more creatively by exploiting non-conventional instruments, focusing on capabilities to fight without clear command and control, investing in personal skills of officers and soldiers, as well as maintaining symbiotic relations with technologically superior allies.
url http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/lasr.2019.17.issue-1/lasr-2019-0012/lasr-2019-0012.xml?format=INT
work_keys_str_mv AT cesnakasgiedrius theimplicationsofthetechnologicaltrendsinmilitaryonthedefenceofsmallstates
AT cesnakasgiedrius implicationsofthetechnologicaltrendsinmilitaryonthedefenceofsmallstates
_version_ 1724598174168907776