Global technological trends in the field of weapons and military equipment

Abstract

Technology is the fundamental factor of social change, offering new opportunities for the production, storage and dissemination of knowledge. This is especially true in the military sphere, because progress in military technology can have both positive and negative consequences: improved capabilities for measures to mobilize and use force, or more powerful capabilities for cause harm and destruction. Current innovations in artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous systems, space technology, 3D printing, biotechnology, materials science and quantum computing will bring unprecedented transformations. Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming the "defining technology of the future", both in everyday life and in the military sphere. For developing a military potential suitable for the geostrategic challenges of the present and the future, it is important to navigate military innovations and new technologies, which is what this work is devoted to. Based on the analysis of publications of the international analytical and consulting organizations, foreign governments, NATO, SIPRI, the Munich Security Conference, the EU the latest forecasts for the introduction and adaptation of new technologies and methods originating from the civilian sector into military programs were presented. In particular, this applies to technologies of the fourth industrial revolution - artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomy, cybersecurity, etc., as well as space, nuclear technologies, technologies of new materials, biotechnologies - for military transformation. The future of military success will now belong to those who design, build and use combinations of information technology with existing technology and military capabilities to form a new combat force - smart, interconnected, distributed and digital. This change manifests itself in new forms of war - hyper war, memetic war, cyberspace war. The future scientific and technological landscape in the military sphere will be characterized (and at the same time guided) by the following: - Intelligence: built-in artificial intelligence, advanced analytics and decision-making capabilities across the entire technology spectrum. - Autonomy: autonomous systems with artificial intelligence that are capable of up to a certain level of autonomous decision-making. Such autonomous systems can be robotic, platform-based, or (digital) agents. - Humanistic intelligence: seamless integration of psycho-socio-technological systems supporting human and machine connectivity, as well as synergistic behaviour. - Interconnection: overlay of real and virtual domains, including sensors, organizations, institutions, individuals, autonomous agents and processes.