Identifying self-inflicted vulnerabilities: The operational implications of technology within U.S. combat systems

Abstract

Since the 1970s, the United States has integrated technology into combat platforms to maintain its military superiority. Modern digital vulnerabilities within these platforms place U.S. capabilities and military forces at risk for cyber attack. This paper discusses the impact of digital vulnerabilities for operational commanders through the lens of joint functions and operational factors. The undisciplined pursuit of a technological advantage within its weapons systems stands to revert U.S. military capabilities back to the World War I era. A cursory analysis of these implications yields two policy recommendations that will mitigate risk if adopted. Primarily, the United States needs to extend existing vulnerability disclosure programs to classified capabilities and programs. Secondly, the DoD must implement unscripted attack scenarios within combat readiness exercises that allow commanders to experience the brunt of a cyber attack before lives are at stake in a real-world scenario.