Applying the Principles of War to Defense Modernization
A Strategic Perspective
I have written a lot over the past year about the idea of attritable mass.
The rise of attritable mass is due partly to advancements in autonomy (one of the patterns of AI), partly due to novel manufacturing practices and capabilities, advancements in flight technologies, and a shift in threat focus towards large, near-peer, state actors.
I’m incredibly bullish on attritable mass for several reasons, not the least of which is that it enables distributed operations through the ability to mass effects.
Mass has long been a cornerstone of warfare.
In fact, it is one of 9 principles of war that the United States recognizes.
This morning, I ran through a thought experiment using the framework of these principles to guide decisions and investments in defense modernization.
Understanding the Principles of War
The principles of war are a set of fundamental precepts that guide military planning, operations, and execution.
While the specific principles may vary across different militaries, the below are the principles as defined by the U.S. military, on which we’ll focus
Objective: Establishing clear and achievable goals is essential for guiding military operations and ensuring unity of effort among forces.
Offensive: Seizing and maintaining the initiative is crucial for dictating the terms of engagement and exploiting enemy vulnerabilities.
Mass: Concentrating combat power at the decisive point and time to overwhelm the enemy and achieve decisive results. Historically this was achieved by having lots of forces aggregated together.”
Economy of Force: Allocating resources efficiently to achieve maximum effectiveness while conserving capabilities for other essential tasks.
Maneuver: Employing agility and flexibility to outmaneuver the enemy, exploit opportunities, and gain positional advantage.
Unity of Command: Ensuring a single, unified command structure to coordinate efforts and prevent conflicting directives.
Security: Safeguarding information, forces, and operations to prevent exploitation by the enemy and maintain operational secrecy.
Surprise: Achieving unexpected and decisive actions to disrupt enemy plans and seize the initiative. Hamas demonstrated incredible surprise in the October 7th attack against Israel.
Simplicity: Keeping plans and operations straightforward and easily understood to facilitate rapid decision-making and execution.
A Brief History of the Principles of War
The principles of war have evolved over millennia, rooted in the strategies and tactics employed by ancient military leaders and philosophers. Early military theorists, such as Sun Tzu in ancient China and Clausewitz in 19th-century Prussia, laid the groundwork for understanding warfare's fundamental principles. Sun Tzu's seminal work, "The Art of War," emphasized the importance of deception, maneuver, and psychological warfare in achieving victory. Meanwhile, Clausewitz's treatise, "On War," explored the concept of friction in warfare and the dynamic interaction between political objectives and military means.
The principles of war gained further prominence during the Napoleonic era, as Napoleon Bonaparte's innovative military campaigns showcased the importance of mass, mobility, and concentration of force. Napoleon's victories, such as the Battle of Austerlitz, demonstrated the effectiveness of maneuver warfare and the decisive application of combat power. Subsequent military theorists, including Jomini and Mahan, further refined the principles of war, emphasizing concepts such as economy of force, unity of command, and offensive action. These principles continued to shape military strategy throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, influencing the conduct of major conflicts such as the American Civil War, World War I, and World War II.
Other Countries' Principles of War
While the principles of war share common themes across various military doctrines, each country may emphasize certain principles based on its strategic objectives and operational doctrine. For example:
The United Kingdom: The United Kingdom has long embraced a comprehensive set of principles of war, which are taught to all officers of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force. These principles, initially formulated after the First World War and based on the work of British general and military theorist J.F.C. Fuller, have undergone refinement over the decades and are now deeply ingrained within the British armed forces.
The UK's principles of war encompass ten key tenets, each playing a crucial role in guiding commanders and their staffs in the planning and execution of military operations. Among these principles, the selection and maintenance of the aim stand out as paramount, representing the keystone of successful military endeavors. Additionally, the maintenance of morale underscores the importance of fostering a positive state of mind among military personnel, rooted in inspired leadership, shared purpose, and group cohesion.
Offensive action, security, and surprise are further highlighted as essential components of effective military strategy, emphasizing the practical pursuit of advantage, the provision of a secure operating environment, and the deliberate or incidental introduction of unexpected elements to disrupt the enemy's plans. Furthermore, the principles of concentration of force, economy of effort, flexibility, cooperation, and sustainability underscore the importance of resource allocation, adaptability, teamwork, and operational longevity in achieving strategic objectives.
These principles of war, deeply embedded within the ethos of the British armed forces, serve as enduring guidelines for military activity, emphasizing the importance of judgment, common sense, and intelligent interpretation in their application. As such, they provide a solid foundation for military operations, ensuring that commanders can navigate the complexities of modern warfare with clarity and purpose.
Russia: The Russian military doctrine places a strong emphasis on mass, surprise, and decisive action, reflecting its historical experiences and strategic priorities.
China: The military principles of war followed by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) have evolved significantly, with three main doctrinal schools shaping its strategic outlook. Rooted in Maoist ideology, the concept of "People's War" envisages warfare as a total societal mobilization, while "Regional War" anticipates conflicts to be limited in scope and primarily confined to China's borders. Complementing these traditional perspectives is the notion of "Revolution in Military Affairs" (RMA), acknowledging the transformative impact of technology on warfare. This framework reflects China's pragmatic assessment of geopolitical challenges and emphasizes the need for a regionally-oriented defense strategy. In recent years, there's been a growing emphasis on "Local War under High-Tech Conditions," highlighting China's commitment to leveraging advanced technologies for operational superiority and strategic advantage in an evolving security landscape. These principles guide the PLA's modernization efforts and inform its approach to defense strategy in an increasingly complex and contested environment.
Innovations Aligned with Principles of War
Emerging innovations in defense technology align closely with the principles of war, enhancing military capabilities and effectiveness. For example:
Drone Swarms: Drone swarms exemplify the principle of mass, leveraging autonomous systems to concentrate combat power and overwhelm enemy defenses through sheer numbers and coordination.
Hypersonic Weapons: Hypersonic weapons embody the principles of speed, surprise, and maneuver, enabling rapid and unpredictable strikes against high-value targets with unparalleled precision.
JADC2: Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) aligns with the principle of unity of command by facilitating seamless coordination and integration of military efforts across multiple domains and services, ensuring a unified approach to achieving strategic objectives under centralized command authority.
There are many examples of other innovations, projects, and technologies that are applied according to the principles of war. The more I reflect on it, the more important I think it is to use the principles as a framework to assess an innovation’s potential to affect warfare and defense—either in advancing America’s ability to apply the principles or in attacking an adversaries ability to do so.
Conclusion
As we navigate the complexities of modern warfare, the principles of war serve as timeless principles that guide military strategy and decision-making.
By applying these principles to defense modernization efforts, nations can enhance their military effectiveness and maintain a strategic advantage in an increasingly contested security environment.
Through innovation and adaptation, we can ensure that our armed forces remain agile, resilient, and ready to meet the challenges of the future battlefield.
Keep building,
Andrew