The 4th Industrial Revolution, Military-Civil Fusion, and the Next RMA

Abstract

The technologies embedded in the emerging 4th industrial revolution (4IR) –and artificial intelligence (AI) in particular– promise to constitute a disruptive paradigm shift in the future nature and conduct of warfare. These technologies will likely also have a major impact on the competitions between great powers, countries that aspire to be leading regional players or nations that see technology as a critical force multiplier. It is important to understand what new and emerging critical technologies are challenging the traditional warfighting paradigm and how militaries might access and leverage these innovations. This entails an examination of the potential military-technical impact of technologies embedded in the 4IR, as well as the means –generally described as ‘military-civil fusion’– for exploiting those technologies for military capability and advantage.