War Has Changed Completely: The World Races to Develop Advanced and\nIntelligent Weapons<\/p>\n
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The world is currently experiencing a rapid\nincrease in military spending. Over the past decade, global defence\nexpenditure has steadily risen in real terms, with the largest surge\noccurring in 2024 since the Cold War era.<\/p>\n
NATO member countries in Europe, recognising the weaknesses in their\narmament following Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine, are projected to\nincrease spending by up to \u20ac300 billion per year by the end of this\ndecade. Meanwhile, China continues to boost its military budget annually\non a scale equivalent to Taiwan\u2019s total defence budget.<\/p>\n
However, military strength is not solely determined by budget size,\nbut by the ability to produce weapons relevant to the character of\nfuture warfare.<\/p>\n
Use of Weapons in Ukraine and the Middle East<\/p>\n
Conflicts in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East provide\ndiffering insights. Ukraine has demonstrated the effectiveness of cheap,\nrapidly updated drones to counter Russia\u2019s larger military force.<\/p>\n
In contrast, the United States and Israel rely on high technology\nsuch as stealth fighter jets and strategic bombers in their military\noperations against Iran.<\/p>\n
Although they appear different, both approaches underscore the\nimportance of combining advanced technology with flexible and adaptive\nweapon systems.<\/p>\n
Weapon Production Capacity<\/p>\n
One of the main lessons is the need for greater defence production\ncapacity. Within 40 days of conflict, the United States reportedly\ndepleted half of its stockpile of top-class air defence ammunition.<\/p>\n
This highlights that modern militaries require a balance between\nexpensive, limited-quantity weapon systems and cheap weapons that can be\nmass-produced and easily replaced.<\/p>\n
Moreover, the key determining factor has now shifted to software; the\nmost effective weapons are those supported by the best algorithms,\nhigh-quality data, and rapid updates.<\/p>\n
Transformation of the US Defence Industry<\/p>\n
The US defence industry is undergoing a major transformation.\nCompanies like Palantir Technologies now have valuations surpassing\nthose of established players like RTX Corporation in the defence sector.\nTogether with SpaceX and Anduril Industries, they form a group of\n\u201cneo-primes\u201d\u2014software-based companies redefining the weapons\nindustry.<\/p>\n
These companies adopt modern manufacturing approaches, including\ntechniques from the automotive industry, and invest heavily in internal\nresearch and development.<\/p>\n
This change is also supported by reforms in the US military\nprocurement system. Under the leadership of Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon\nis working to accelerate the previously complex and bureaucratic\npurchasing process. Additionally, frontline commands are given a greater\nrole in determining needs, and there is a push to utilise commercial\ntechnology over expensive bespoke solutions.<\/p>\n
These steps open opportunities for new companies to compete with\nestablished players, creating a more diverse and innovative industrial\necosystem.<\/p>\n
Europe Lags in Defence Technology<\/p>\n
On the other hand, Europe still lags in developing its defence\ntechnology industry. The scarcity of large new companies in this sector\nis due to a fragmented market, limited access to venture capital, and\nlow demand from governments.<\/p>\n
Most defence budgets are still allocated to conventional equipment,\nas seen in Germany\u2019s special \u20ac100 billion fund.<\/p>\n
In the UK, targets for allocating 10% to new technology even included\nthe F-35 Lightning II jet, a technology that is actually two decades\nold. This indicates slow adaptation to new innovations.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Europe still has opportunities to catch up. Ukraine\u2019s\nrapidly developing defence technology ecosystem since 2022 serves as a\nstrategic asset that can be leveraged.<\/p>\n
The UK has collaborated with Ukraine on developing interceptor drones\nor unmanned aerial vehicles, while Germany has struck new drone deals.\nCompanies like Rheinmetall have also formed joint ventures with Destinus\nto produce long-range missiles at lower costs.<\/p>\n
Ukraine even offers battlefield data to train artificial intelligence\nor AI, which is becoming a crucial component in next-generation weapon\nsystems. If optimally utilised, this collaboration could strengthen\nEurope\u2019s defence industry and reduce dependence on the United\nStates.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/war-has-changed-completely-the-world-races-to-develop-advanced-and-intelligent-weapons-1777017168", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }