The Big Five - April 13 Edition
A weekly guide to new readings on modern war and adapting to win
Given my recent visit to Ukraine, you would expect this week’s Big Five to be dominated by Ukraine issues. However, I have also included an interesting piece about civil defence in Sweden, as well as a new article on developments in robotics.
As always, if you have time to read only one article, number one on the list is my recommendation.
Enjoy this week’s Big Five!
1. The War Is Not Going Well for Ukraine
During my recent trip to Ukraine, one of my travelling companions was my old professor and friend, Eliot Cohen. Eliot has been a frequent contributor to analysis about the war in Ukraine, and the strategy of the U.S. administration in helping Ukraine defend itself. In this article, Eliot provides a sobering assessment of the status of the war. You can read the piece here.
2. The Invisible War
Over the course of the war in Ukraine, electronic warfare (EW) has assumed an increasing role in battlefield operations. Developed under great secrecy during the Second World War, EW can attack the command and control of an enemy force while also providing location services to tactical and operational fires. In Ukraine, it has gained prominence as well because of the centrality of EW in countering drones and precision munitions. This is a terrific expose on the topic from the Kyiv Independent, which can be read here.
3. Beat Russia Now or Face a Bigger Problem Down the Road
One of the great challenges of the West’s support for Ukraine is that NATO and individual countries have focussed on ‘defending Ukraine’ rather than ‘defeating Russia in Ukraine’. With a Russia that has fully mobilised its people and industry for war, this strategy is no longer valid. This article argues for increased resourcing for Ukraine, because a defeat in Ukraine would mean a more power and agressive Russia that will be an even bigger problem for Europe than it already is. Read the full article here.
4. Civil Defence
After the fall of the Soviet Union, many nations allowed their civil defence capabilities to wither. A case study in this is Sweden, which had one of the worlds most sophistocated and effective approaches to civil defence. But, after allowing this capability to degrade over the past three decades, Sweden is rebuilding its civil defence. There are lessons here for us all. Read the full article, published by War on the Rocks, here.
5. A Forthcoming Great Leap Forward in Robotics?
The MIT Technology Review is one of my favourite journals for keeping up with developments in technology, and the human impacts of advanced technologies. In this piece, Melissa Heikkila ponders whether the field of robotics might see its own great leap forward similar to what occured with AI upon the release of ChatGPT. This has many potential implications for society, as well as military affairs. You can read the article here.