"Die Welt": West lags behind – this could change the course of the war

Western militaries must urgently adapt to new realities of warfare or risk becoming vulnerable to novel attack methods, a stark warning from the German publication "Die Welt" suggests. The article points to conflicts in Ukraine and Iran as evidence that even seemingly weaker adversaries are difficult to defeat, challenging the long-held Western military strategy of relying on superior technology for quick victories.

Recent events underscore this shift. In February 2023, a rare and expensive Russian A-50 reconnaissance aircraft was destroyed by a drone at an airbase in Belarus, a target seemingly protected by its distance from the front lines. "Die Welt" draws a parallel to Iran's recent strike on a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft in Saudi Arabia, noting that while the U.S. military had been warned of such threats for years, it failed to draw sufficient lessons, according to former Australian General Mick Ryan, cited in a Lowy Institute study.

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When you are fighting an adaptive adversary, the speed of innovation and the ability to learn are more important than the technology itself.

The publication argues that in protracted conflicts, resilience becomes paramount. This includes the ability of society, infrastructure, and the economy to withstand prolonged strain. Crucially, the defense industry must rapidly scale up production of munitions and equipment, but even more vital is the military's capacity to adapt quickly to changing battlefield conditions. "When you are fighting an adaptive adversary, the speed of innovation and the ability to learn are more important than the technology itself," Louis Mosley, head of a division at the UK company Palantir, told The Wall Street Journal.

Palantir has reportedly assisted Ukraine in developing an AI-powered system for real-time intelligence sharing, enabling military units to strike detected enemy targets swiftly. However, Ryan identifies a core problem in Western armies: applying new technologies to outdated methods without re-evaluating the methods themselves. "The battlefield is changing rapidly," he notes, pointing to advancements in AI, quantum computing, lasers, and automation. "We need flexibility and the ability to adapt. If we cannot constantly adapt to changing circumstances, we will be defeated at the decisive moment."

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The battlefield is changing rapidly. We need flexibility and the ability to adapt. If we cannot constantly adapt to changing circumstances, we will be defeated at the decisive moment.