8. Technology and Warfare

This chapter discusses the role of technology in achieving victory in battle and the emerging technological trends that are likely to transform the way wars are conducted in the future. It first considers the debate over the importance of military technology in warfare before introducing the reader to some concepts about military technology, showing that military technologies often reflect different national styles. In turn, different national styles are determined by a variety of factors such as the search for technological edge. The chapter goes on to examine the debate regarding the revolution in military affairs and how asymmetric challenges such as irregular warfare and the threat of weapons of mass destruction can counterbalance superior conventional technology. It also explores the range of challenges presented by new technologies to military and political leaders before concluding with an analysis of the future of military technology.