Technology is transforming the battlefield. Men and women in uniform today know they have to stay up to date with the latest advances because if they don’t, their adversaries will.
Innovations such as drones and artificial intelligence (AI) serve as force multipliers that give security professionals greater reach and capacity to defend their homeland. But these tools are only as good as the people who operate them. Each can be turned against the public and cause great harm.
About 31 militaries in Africa now operate drones. These affordable tools are deployed for surveillance, to secure borders and to stop illicit trafficking. Highly trained pilots can operate armed drones and destroy terrorist targets with lower risks to uniformed personnel and civilians.
AI is another technology with widespread security applications. It can help professionals sift through mountains of data to find valuable intelligence. It can streamline logistics and predict when maintenance is needed to prevent vehicle breakdowns. It also can improve wargaming, helping analyze possible outcomes of military campaigns and strategies. AI tools also can be harmful. Autonomous weapons could be programmed to make terrorist attacks more lethal. AI can enable malign actors to spread misinformation and create videos that deceive the public and sow chaos.
Cyber connectivity has improved nearly every facet of a Soldier’s life. Today’s battlefield is fully connected with information shared in real time to improve results and save lives. But this same connectivity can be a liability when bad actors steal data or paralyze the armed forces with a cyberattack.
When approaching technology, delay favors the enemy. Militaries must recruit and train tech-savvy Soldiers who will be ready for the next generation of warfare. Soldiers must adopt and master new technology before their adversaries can. Safeguards also must move at the speed of innovation to make sure the newest weapons stay in the right hands and are used for the right purposes. By being forward-looking, African security professionals can win this fight, and the technological advances of today will help provide security tomorrow.