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.