The Arms Of The Future: Technology And Close Combat In The Twenty-First Century – Book Review
By Mehran Khan
In “The Arms Of The Future: Technology And Close Combat In The Twenty-First Century,” author Dr. Jack Watling examines the new technologies comprising complex sensors and machine learning alongside autonomous weapons: how these might alter combat at large, what could change in armed forces’ procedures and equipment during modernisation, and their readiness in the face of a future conflict or even a combination of many.
The author is a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and has expertise in land warfare. Dr. Watling’s PhD is based on Britain’s policy responses to civil war in the early twentieth century and has worked on Ukraine, Iraq, Yemen, Mali, Rwanda, and other civil wars. Dr. Watling is a Global Fellow at the Wilson Center in Washington, DC.
The book is categorised into three broad chapters: (i) From Mechanised to Informatised Warfare, (ii) The Arms of the Future, and (iii) The Continuation of Policy. All these chapters highlight how modern technologies will replace the traditional weapons of warfare, concerning the applications of artificial intelligence, sensors, networks, drones, hypersonic, robotic systems, and electronic devices.
In the first chapter, the author discusses how advances in high-quality sensors and the increased openness of battlefields have reshaped the established conventional war-fighting doctrines. As Dr. Watling postulates, High-fidelity sensors like Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and electro-optical systems make it difficult or almost impossible for armies to stealthily transport forces in strength, a feat considered long-impregnable from operational surprise and force concentration methods. Dr. Watling also examines how enemies can exploit weaknesses in communication systems, and how armies must adopt new methods of maneuvering and defending their forces in this enlightened age.
In the second chapter, the author outlines the components of a modern combined arms formation designed to overcome the challenges posed by emerging technologies. Dr. Watling identifies four key systems: (i) Manoeuvre System, which focuses on mobility and stance to turn or bypass the opponent’s defenses. Dr. Watling highlights that advances in operational reach are also possible through autonomous cars and more complex logistics; (ii) Fires System, which makes the case by highlighting networked targeting and precision-guided missiles, striking powerfully over great distances. (iii) Assault System, in which it studies the role of dismounted infantry and how best to integrate them with robotic systems for urban and complex terrain close combat; and (iv) Support System, in which it outlines the critical role supply chains, medical treatment, and logistics have in maintaining combat effectiveness (p.107). Dr. Watling stresses that robust systems operating in contested environments are needed. Moreover, fictitious scenarios are used for each system to illustrate how they may work together to counter conventional forces and adapt to changing circumstances.
In the final chapter, Dr. Watling lays his operational and tactical observations inside a larger strategic framework. He stresses the necessity of bringing together land forces with air, sea, cyber, and space capabilities to get multi-domain dominance. Dr. Watling further analyses the geopolitical implications of this shift by warning that countries failing to modernise will fall behind in their ability to project power and defend their interests. The author strongly emphasises the need for allies to work together to pool resources and distribute technical developments.
Dr. Watling examines the challenges to implementing the book’s recommended changes. The author identifies an important institutional barrier – that is, the military’s clinging to legacy systems and concepts (p.191). He also cites financial constraints that many nations face, making the investment in high-tech solutions problematic. To overcome these hurdles, Dr. Watling urges greater emphasis on experimentation and training along with prioritizing modernisation efforts.
Dr. Watling emphases combining several technologies such as AESA radar, electronic warfare, hypersonic, autonomous systems, and autonomous drones into cohesive systems to gather strength. Focusing on integration, he goes beyond debating individual tools and shows how they can work together to create a more potent military force. Furthermore, the author discusses insights gleaned from military exercises, reminding us of the practical problems of these technologies in a real-world scenario such as in the Ukraine conflict, where advanced sensors and electronic warfare were heavily applied.
The Arms of the Future book is comprehensive and detailed. For military leaders, legislators, and defense buffs, this book offers insightful analysis of the instruments and tactics needed for twenty-first-century warfare. The book acknowledges the difficulties of implementing these changes while offering a comprehensive and clear road map for military modernisation. The author’s analysis is authentic and in-depth due to his first-hand experience of military operations and actual conflicts. Still, the technical segments might be challenging for readers without a military background. Dr. Watling’s writings challenge readers to remain faithful to successful warfare ideas while carefully considering how to equip them for a fast-changing battlefield.
