By Michael Depp
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has become a test bed for theories about the conduct of modern warfare, and one of the mostly hotly debated topics has been the role of technology in contemporary military operations. Much commentary has been understandably focused on the lack of cyber effect operations or the value of those conducted and while that is indeed an important question related to digitized warfare, it has also obscured the importance of digital technology generally for Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian invasion.
Two very critical examples of other digitized aspects that have had vast consequences for the war center on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities and the use of information warfare. The first has not only allowed Ukraine to strike back at Russian units, especially with unmanned platforms, but also allowed NATO forces to share critical data with Ukraine to help plan its defense. The digitalization of national intelligence systems has made it possible for NATO to more effectively support Ukraine’s efforts with intelligence sharing. Just as importantly, we have seen Ukraine use cyberspace and the information environment to empower its outreach to the world and craft a cohesive narrative about the conflict, leading to far more support in Europe and the United States. This combination of improved intelligence collection and sharing as well as the ability to quickly and easily message battlefield success concretely demonstrates the power of digital capabilities and indicates a fundamental truth: yes, we need to think deeply about the revolutionary ways that technology will alter the conduct of warfare, but we also need to consider the seemingly mundane but collectively impactful evolutionary ways it will change existing functions.
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