A Framework For Constructing Tomorrow's Militaries

A Checklist To Understand What Needs To Be Created--And What Definitely Does Not

Hi All,

This post is going to get somewhat technical. I spent the last few days speaking with people who understand Europe’s military/industrial situation better than I, who are part of the process of preparing Europe’s militaries for tomorrow and who have to make major choices about not only what to make today, but what to invest in today so that it can be made in mass tomorrow.

These questions, btw, are as valid for the USA and other powers who are trying to imagine what their militaries are going to look like in the future (hint they should be rather different than they look today—though that of course is a should not a will).

Militaries should be transformed, not just in reaction to the Russo-Ukraine war, but in reaction to technological developments in general. In particular, serious decisions need to be made about the value of expensive, legacy systems that emerged in the interwar period—the large warship such as aircraft carriers, the heavy Main Battle Tank (MBT), even the crewed aircraft. All weapons of war have limited shelf lives, and it those who understand that, and adjust to that reality, who will have a major strategic advantage.

Does A State Want To Build More Of These Going Forward?