Strategic Technologies for the Military: Breaking New Frontiers

About the Book

This book provides a holistic view of the key technologies that are expected to revolutionise military affairs in the near future and change the nature of warfare tactics and the very concept of the ‘battlefield’. It addresses five key technologies—near-space technology, robotics, directed energy weapons, nanotechnology and biotechnology—and explains why they are being considered for military applicability worldwide. It highlights how they would contribute to the future warfare tactics and defence mechanisms of various countries. In addition, it also discusses the possible military utility of two other technologies—ambient intelligence and cognitive technology.

Written in an easy-to-understand style, Strategic Technologies for the Military: Breaking New Frontiers presents a social–scientific approach. It describes the nuances of technological development in specific fields and discusses their relevance for future warfare and for issues such as disarmament and arms control. It also dwells on the impact of these developments on the environment. The book begins with a focus on the research going on in several developed countries in the last decade—some of them for nearly two decades now—and then narrows its focus on India and a few developing countries. It concludes with a few India-specific recommendations which would help policy-makers and military leadership to methodically incorporate the recent technological developments in the future warfare and defence tactics of the country.

As can be gauged from the title, this book will be immensely useful for students and academics working in the fields of defence and strategic studies, politics and international relations.

Contents

Preface

Introduction

I: PLATFORM TECHNOLOGIES
Near Space Technology: Relevance in the Evolving Security Environment
Military Robots

II: WEAPON TECHNOLOGIES
Speed of Light Weaponry: Directed Energy Weapons

III: EMERGING and CONVERGING TECHNOLOGIES
Role of Nanotechnology in Defence
Military Applicability of Biotechnology
Cognitive Technology and Ambient Intelligence

Conclusion

Select Bibliography

Index