Misreading the Battlefield

Three ways the Army Futures Commander is wrong about tech’s impact on warfare

General James Rainey, the commander of the Army Futures Command, recently said that technology has shifted the balance, making the defense now outweigh the offense.

He’s wrong. And these are the three ways he’s wrong.

This is a critically important conversation, as it will shape the future concepts and capabilities, into which the Army invests.

First, the defense has historically been stronger. Second, technology is allowing offenses to overwhelm defenses. Third, the cost disparity between offense and defense is enabling a national power arbitrage mooting the effectiveness of the defense.