Richard Brennan III
The character of warfare has transformed with the rise of robotic and autonomous systems, which now define warfare rather than merely shaping it. Robotification—the integration of autonomous machines to replace human roles in combat and support functions—offers unprecedented flexibility, as seen in Ukraine’s drone mass-attacks and the U.S. Army’s Transformation in Contact initiative.[1] Unlike earlier technologies that enhanced human capabilities, robotic systems eliminate human presence, enabling low-cost assets to defeat advanced defenses with speed and scale. This shift demands a rethinking of doctrine, training and leadership to maintain U.S. dominance against adaptive adversaries like China. This transformation demands a massive course correction across the Department of War (DoW)—both culturally and technologically.
In The Evolution of Weapons and Warfare, Colonel Trevor N. Dupuy traces the arc of military history through technological revolutions that redefine the character of conflict, from the Macedonian sarissa to the rifle. An era is marked when innovations are not just realized but become incorporated into processes, doctrine and strategies. They are scaled when markets are created that support the innovation—especially when dual-use applications are viable. Each era, marked by innovations like gunpowder or the internal combustion engine, reshaped strategy, tactics and battlefield dynamics by enhancing lethality, mobility and operational flexibility. Dupuy’s paradox—that as weapons grow deadlier, casualty rates often decline—underscores the enduring principles of warfare despite technological shifts.[2] Major General Adna R. Chaffee’s “Mechanization in the Army” illustrates how tanks and aircraft restored mobility, breaking trench warfare’s stalemate and altering battlefield geometry.[3] Today, the rise of robotic and autonomous systems signals the dawn of a new era, extending Dupuy’s framework by introducing machines that operate independently, replacing humans on the battlefield and redefining warfare’s strategic landscape.
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