This paper explores the persistent tensions within U.S. security cooperation, where efforts to build partner capacity often collide with the realities of sovereignty, hierarchy, and risk. Although designed to enhance global stability, security cooperation initiatives frequently impose on partner autonomy, revealing the hierarchical nature of the in…

With each passing day, the amount of verified information regarding violations of international humanitarian law and human rights by the Russian Federation continues to grow. One of the most striking examples of the Russian Federation’s disregard for its international obligations is its treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs). These violatio…

Taiwan must rethink its defence strategy due to a rising threat from China’s overwhelming military and industrial capabilities. However, Taiwan faces critical imbalances in troop strength, defence budgets, and technological infrastructure, emphasising the need for an asymmetric approach to deterrence. In this respect, Taiwan could draw lessons from…

In a less predictable operational environment, resilience and agility are vital requirements for military sustainment. To demonstrate this, we highlight the shortcomings in military supply chains and identify solutions and practices adopted by various organisations to address recognised challenges. Furthermore, there is a need to understand more ab…

Constantly increasing demands for efficiency, effectiveness, and resilience of military operations are interrelated with increasing military energy demands, particularly with the use of energy storage solutions. This paper provides an overview of the emerging trends in military energy use and management, along with the evolving needs for energy sto…

This article examines how modern training simulators can aid in teaching future Navy officers. Traditional teaching methods often prioritise classroom learning with limited hands-on practice. This research examines whether the use of realistic simulators can enhance police officers' learning of their job responsibilities. The study utilises various…

The emergence of autonomous weapons systems (AWS) represents a clear shift in warfare and raises critical questions about the impact this change will have on soldiers' morale on a 21st-century battlefield. The complex effects that such technology has on military morale are highlighted through historical parallels to previous, similar military innov…

Decision-making regarding target engagement, including considerations for scenarios involving the tactical use of nuclear weapons, requires a multilayered, well-structured, predictable, and traceable approach. The integration of AI into such high-stakes scenarios amplifies the need for transparency, aligning decision-making models to trusted tenets…

At least since the beginning of the most recent Russian invasion of Ukraine and the massive use of unmanned aerial vehicles, it has become imperative to elaborate potential countermeasures, that is, counter-unmanned aerial systems. Accordingly, based on past and ongoing conflicts – including the war in Ukraine – this paper analyses the impact of te…

A need for low-cost warfare has emerged from the experiences of several nations in current conflicts. On the one hand, a recent missile and drone attack on Israel was successfully defeated, but at the unsustainable cost of an estimated $1-1.5 billion. Houthi drones, costing $2000 each, were successfully intercepted with Standard Missile-2s (SM-2), …

The progressive integration of artificial intelligence (AI) transforms military command across doctrinal, procedural, and cultural dimensions. AI reshapes the balance between centralisation and decentralisation across command levels. Using Col. John Boyd’s OODA Loop as a generic model of the military decision-making process (MDMP), it is possible t…

AI-powered autonomous weapons, from advanced drones to robotic soldiers, are reshaping warfare with unmatched speed, precision, and adaptability. Capable of life-and-death decisions, they deliver tactical power and coordination, reducing human risk and amplifying military strength. Intelligent swarming and real-time responses provide a formidable c…

Military effectiveness hinges on technological innovation and organisational fitness—the ability to adapt, integrate, and exploit new capabilities. While AI, cyber warfare, and autonomous systems are reshaping conflict, rigid hierarchies and cultural resistance hinder their adoption. Bridging the gap between technological potential and institutiona…

Emerging and Disruptive Technologies are fundamentally reshaping modern warfare, creating a paradox where military forces are empowered and constrained by digital advancements. Western militaries, particularly NATO, face growing friction as their force structures struggle to adapt to the constantly evolving Russian way of warfare witnessed in Ukrai…

The evolution of battlefield surveillance, from traditional elevated vantage points to advanced satellite remote sensing, has transformed geospatial data into actionable insights. The research focuses on creating a Digital Twin of a battlefield using a range of data sources. A methodology for assessing terrain features, such as visibility, slope, a…

Technological advancements and evolving security policies increasingly shape military conflicts through AI, autonomous systems, and cyber capabilities. Future developments can be analysed from both military-technological and tactical perspectives, highlighting challenges in command structures, information processing, and execution. The vignettes ad…

Explosives and pyrotechnics play a critical role in modern military technology. Recent advancements in nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and 3D additive manufacturing are transforming the development, applications, and safety of these technologies. This paper examines how these disruptive technologies shape the future of explosives while add…

This critical analysis evaluates Thomas Rid's thesis in "Cyber War Will Not Take Place," which argues that cyber operations do not fulfil Clausewitzian criteria for war. It supports Rid's overall assertion while exploring nuances and limitations in his argument. Despite the compelling nature of Rid's claim that cyber war as a standalone phenomenon …

Following the annexation of Crimea a decade ago, Russian warfare tactics have evolved to adapt to technological advancements and make up for shortfalls in conventional military domains; among them falls the use of Russian television and Telegram channels to influence the Ukrainian public. As claimed by Maschmeyer et al.’s “Donetsk Don’t Tell - ‘Hyb…

Taiwan occupies a pivotal position in the realm of technological geopolitics due to its dominance in semiconductor manufacturing and strategic location in the Indo-Pacific region. As global powers increasingly depend on advanced technologies for economic and security imperatives, Taiwan has emerged as a critical player in the strategic calculus of …

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, European policymakers have gained a renewed sense of how fragile peace is in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). A brief brush through Bosnia's recent history reveals outstanding issues following the war in the 1990s, foreign meddling in internal politics, as well as an internal secessionist movement on the …

Religion und Militär in der Türkei, wie auch früher im Osmanischen Reich, werden als strukturbildende Größen für die gesellschaftliche Entwicklung erkannt. Diese wurden im Kemalismus neu ausgeformt und begründeten dann die Geschichte der modernen Türkei, bis sie durch Recep Tayyip Erdoğan erneut ausgeformt wurden und dadurch einen großen Einfluss a…

Although the US Navy is assessing hybrid fleet designs combining existing crewed vessels and autonomous systems, the process of devising a deterrent strategy to exploit these capabilities is just getting underway. A new bi-modal strategy combining sea denial and sea control capabilities is emerging as the basis of a maritime deterrent. NATO planner…

Die deutsche Militärstrategie muss die konzeptionelle Lücke zwischen verteidigungspolitischen Vorgaben und der militärisch-operativen Ebene schließen. Im Dokument sind konkrete militärstrategische Bedrohungen zu identifizieren und diesen ist ein militärisches Gegenhandeln im Rahmen des durch die Verteidigungspolitischen Richtlinien definierten Aufg…

Dieser Podcast diskutiert die wachsende Bedeutung Künstlicher Intelligenz im militärischen Bereich, insbesondere im Kontext aktueller Konflikte. Die Entwicklung und Erprobung K.I.-gestützter Waffensysteme eröffnen neue strategische und technologische Möglichkeiten, werfen aber auch Fragen auf. Im Fokus der Analyse stehen die Rolle des Völkerrechts …

As an output of strategic culture, a State Defence Strategy should set the direction of the defence policy and focus on defence system development and employment. As the main effort line to shape plans to be a reliable alliance member, the Slovenian Defence Strategy takes over the burden of collective defence (capabilities and operations). It foste…

As an output of strategic culture, a State Defence Strategy should set the direction of the defence policy and focus on defence system development and employment. As the main effort line to shape plans to be a reliable alliance member, the Slovenian Defence Strategy takes over the burden of collective defence (capabilities and operations). It foste…

Urban warfare presents complex challenges that necessitate rethinking traditional military strategies, particularly manoeuvre warfare. The Swiss defence doctrine "Armee 2030" addresses these challenges by emphasising multidomain operations, technological integration, and adaptability. Key to this approach is the decentralisation of command, allowin…

Die Taktikausbildung im Österreichischen Bundesheer (ÖBH) war in den letzten Jahrzehnten von der Idee des Manövers geprägt. Sämtliche Lösungen für taktische Herausforderungen haben sich daher am Manöver orientiert. Das Manöver hatte zum Ziel, eine eigene Überlegenheit aufgrund Beweglichkeit und Überraschung zu erreichen. Dieses Dogma wurde auch dem…

In contrast to recent engagements at sea defined nearly exclusively by the logic of attrition, this paper argues that manoeuvre warfare is an essential component of naval warfare. The article shows that, depending on mission objectives, naval operations are characterised by manoeuvre warfare and thus contribute to minimising an adversary’s attempt …

In spite of the expectations of Moscow, the war in Ukraine has quickly turned into a war of attrition. Based on open-source military publications, this paper aims to present Russian views on the causes of positional war as well as on the future of manoeuvre warfare. While not questioning the purpose of the war, in between the lines, Russian militar…

The manoeuvrist approach is highly relevant for militaries facing stronger adversaries, and its principles are, therefore, taught in the Estonian Military Academy. For evaluating the effectiveness of teaching methodology and its outcomes, essential maneuverist principles were identified, and their prominence was determined by analysing interviews w…

In the context of governance, AI offers chances to improve efficiency and effectiveness in public services. However, the strategic use of AI necessitates careful consideration of ethical concepts, including openness, accountability, and justice. Regarding security, AI is changing the nature of battle and conflict. Nations are investing significantl…

This Podcast critically examines the Western military's reliance on manoeuvrist warfare as defined by NATO, positing that this approach may prove myopic in the context of potentially unlimited warfare. It argues that expecting a single set of forces to achieve decisive results against a resilient adversary swiftly is a high-risk strategy. Furthermo…

New weapon systems, like drones, challenge the ability of tanks to manoeuvre on the battlefield, thereby influencing the conduct of operations by mechanised forces. In the 21st century, tank forces must persist in both attritional and manoeuvre warfare. Therefore, new design features, alongside updated tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), mu…

China's weaponisation of economics is fully in line with China’s grand strategy. China relies mainly on using the indirect instead of the direct approach. Manoeuvre warfare as an indirect approach sees the opponent as an interconnected system, to which measures against identified vulnerabilities are applied. The goal is systemic destruction – the i…

The widespread use of sensors and stand-off precision fires is increasingly hampering ground manoeuvre and endangering manoeuvre forces in their staging areas. While some militaries adopt Multi-Domain Operations (MDO)-approaches as a remedy, it might be cheaper and more effective for small and medium-sized powers to disrupt adversaries' MDO capabil…

The German Army's Medium Forces are crucial in maintaining the principles of Manoeuvre Warfare and the "Manoeuvrist Approach". Their mobility, flexibility, and rapid deployment capabilities make them essential for NATO's defence strategy, particularly on the eastern flank. These forces bridge the gap between light infantry and heavy armoured units,…

Media is pivotal in shaping the discourse around attrition and manoeuvre warfare strategies in modern military contexts. These narratives contribute greatly to the perceived rivalry between the two strategies, impacting public perception and strategic decision-making. Given the prevalence of media bias in military reporting and its implications for…

As a prerequisite to effectively identifying and countering cyber and hybrid threats, as well as cognitive warfare/superiority campaigns against Western democracies worldwide, it is crucial to have cross-governmental and international information-sharing capabilities. Due to the vast amount of data, this process must be supported by technically adv…

Technological innovations such as ubiquitous drones have led to a stalemate in the current war in Ukraine. Western observers who see the war of attrition as a disadvantage ask whether it can be transformed into a war of manoeuvre. We argue that this is only possible if the West succeeds in exploiting competitive advantage through innovations that a…

NATO's defence concept in the central region called for the Forward Defence close to the Iron Curtain during the Cold War. The aim was to achieve superiority through fire and movement through a manoeuvrist approach: manoeuvre combined with attritional effects. How this was to be achieved in battles of combined arms was assessed differently in the t…

The recognition of existential threats such as cognitive warfare is crucial to avoid defeat. Western societies must address such threats by leveraging their militaries’ adaptability. Relying solely on the military poses risks, however, necessitating a comprehensive approach to national security. Coordination among all the instruments of power under…

Traditionally, ideal-typical officers are conservative and right-leaning both in terms of value-based and redistribution policies. In spite of the appearance of a new type of conservatism, our findings indicate that this is still the case: Intrinsic motivation is strongest among cadets whose personal values align with classical conservatism. »» TDH…

In today's interconnected world, communication networks form the backbone of society, enabling global connectivity and innovation. However, these systems are vulnerable to cyber-attacks, as evidenced by Russian forces targeting satellite-based networks during the Ukraine war, disrupting crucial services. This highlights the need to protect critical…

While subduing the opponent's will has been the pinnacle of warfare since Sun Tzu, the existing notion of cognitive warfare has gained traction with the possibility of influencing the opponent directly via cyberspace and social media. Influence operations via cyberspace entail swaying public opinion, manipulative psychological warfare, and lawfare.…

Hybrid warfare operations embrace “anything that gets results” strategy, including significant information operations. Western democracies need to better understand the information operations that are undertaken against them. This will need to involve more rigorous observation, monitoring, and measurement of malign political campaigns undertaken ag…

Cognitive warfare and, particularly, disinformation, is now heavily reliant on social media platforms, cybertechnologies, and AI, with the aim to cause confusion, societal polarisation, mistrust, anger, and hatred against governments, organisations, communities, or opposing individuals. While disinformation is a global problem, early defences based…

Manoeuvre is still the most challenging phase of military operations. However, it has changed from the temporal-spatial coordination of physical combat power factors to a more mentally based control of, among other things, the intensity progression of armed conflicts. The targeted use of the culmination principle offers armed forces — in particular…

Foresight refers to the ability to make assumptions about probable future events based on the analysis of a situation. In a game of chess, for example, the player simulates his opponent's next moves in his head and looks for the appropriate answers. This way of thinking has also gained importance in the military context. Suppose one applies the sam…