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Revolution in Military Affairs

Revolution in Military Affairs. PPA 706 -- National Defense November 13/14, 2000. Perspectives on RMA. Revolution doesn’t exist -- future construct will look like the present The Revolution arrived -- Gulf War This is the middle of the Revolution -- “system of systems”

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Revolution in Military Affairs

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  1. Revolution in Military Affairs PPA 706 -- National Defense November 13/14, 2000

  2. Perspectives on RMA • Revolution doesn’t exist -- future construct will look like the present • The Revolution arrived -- Gulf War • This is the middle of the Revolution -- “system of systems” • The Micro Revolution -- info systems will dominate all other variables • Continuous Revolution -- technology renders all things obsolete continuously

  3. RMA Hypothesis • Capabilities are more important than geopolitics • “strategic pause” -- conditions have changed • Holding pattern....... or transformation? • significant adjustment in time or space assumptions can constitute an RMA

  4. Hypothesis (cont) • RMA assumed to be “synergistic” • positive interaction of forces/elements to produce a more desirable outcome • “Whigs “ and “Calvinists” • adaptation -- range of competence required to use new technology • “defining event” usually required to determine if RMA occurred

  5. The Revolution in Military Affairs: Intellectual Origins • The military historians • Soviet writings in the late 1970’s and 1980’s -- “The Military Technical Revolution” • The Gulf War • Admiral Owens and the “System of Systems”

  6. Questions • Is there a revolution? • What drives warfare? • What are the policy challenges? • What are the greatest threats?

  7. Four American Views Owens IIThe Uncertain RevolutionaryThe Gulf War VetThe Skeptic

  8. #1 Owens II“Build the System of Systems” • a single revolution resulting from employment of information technologies • most of warfare has been wasted motion because of uncertainty • utilize the array of available systems to improve space awareness & employ forces • “the enemy is us” -- service parochialism and bureaucratic inertia

  9. #2 The Uncertain Revolutionary“Let a hundred flowers bloom” • One in a series of revolutions • Revolutionary change occurs from a mixture of technology, organization, and operational concepts • Challenges are experimentation and innovation • Threats are (1) diffusion of technology; (2) peer competitor

  10. #3 The Gulf War Veteran“Been there, done that” • The revolution occurred in the 1980s • Recruitment and training make all the difference • Challenge is developing new technology while keeping an adequate force structure • Threats are asymmetric responses (terror, weapons of mass destruction)

  11. #4 The Skeptic“What revolution?” • The history of warfare is a history of evolution • Human nature, not technology, drives warfare • The challenge is keeping the warrior spirit alive in the face of social change • The danger of being too clever

  12. Consequences Owens II: radical cuts in force structure and organizational surgery; make the current technologies work together Cautious Revolutionaries: experimentation; organizational and educational reform; incrementalism Gulf War Veterans: emphasis on readiness and training & current technologies > Skeptics: continue the current strategy and see what world changes occur

  13. Revolution in Military Affairs SAIS MAXWELL

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