Annual War Studies Conference from November 2018, attended by the Class of 2006
Next-Generation Warfare Discussed at 2018 War Studies Conference
In November 2018, the Class of 2006 War Studies Conference was held at the United States Military Academy at West Point. The three-day event brought together representatives from the private sector, government, academia, think-tank community, and the joint military services to discuss the issue of next-generation warfare and potential disruptors to the "American way of war."
The conference was sponsored by the Close Combat Lethality Task Force and the Center for a New American Security. Keynote speakers included Assistant Secretary of the Army Bruce Jette, former Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Carlin, Garry Kasparov, Robert Kaplan, and other esteemed individuals. Panel participants included Dr. Amy Zalman, Dr. Frank Hoffman, Dr. Erik Gartzke, Maj. Gen. (ret) Robert Scales, and others.
Moderated by representatives from the Aspen Institute and Princeton University, the conference featured panel discussions covering various topics. These included "Of Bits, Bots, or Battalions? What 'Next-Generation Warfare' Looks Like," "Fake News, Real War: How to Manage a Complex IO Landscape," "Beyond 'Slaughterbots': Reimagining War with No Soldiers," "Rage against the Machine Learning: Debating AI in Modern War," and others.
The potential disruptors to the American way of war in next-generation warfare, as discussed at the conference, revolved around technological innovation—particularly in space, AI, cyber, and autonomous systems—that challenge America's traditional reliance on conventional, space-enabled, and technologically superior forces.
One significant challenge discussed was the increasing militarization of outer space, including anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons and the potential for disabling space-based assets critical to U.S. communication, navigation, and surveillance. This poses a significant challenge to the traditional American warfare model that depends heavily on space infrastructure.
Cyberattacks targeting military and space infrastructure represent another new frontier. These attacks can disrupt command and control, logistics, and intelligence, fracturing the established American operational paradigm.
Emerging technologies from new defense sector players introduce AI-driven capabilities and autonomous systems that challenge established U.S. defense industrial bases and operational doctrines. The adoption of drone swarm tactics transforms battle-space dynamics, requiring new defensive and offensive doctrines distinct from traditional large-scale conventional forces.
The conference also explored spurring innovation between the Pentagon and private sector, geography's role in shaping great power conflict, and scenarios with near-peer adversaries. Institutions involved included the United States Military Academy, US Army War College, Asia Society, University of New South Wales, University of California San Diego, Bard College, Tufts University, National Defense University, University of Pennsylvania, Ethics and Governance of AI Initiative, Office of the Secretary of the Army, RAND, London School of Economics, Center for a New American Security, and the Army Robotics Research Center, among others.
The US Air Force Air University, US Naval War College, Army Capabilities Integration Center, and the Army Capabilities Integration Center were participants in the conference. Additionally, Northwestern University, Australian Defense College, New York Times, King's College London, Foreign Policy, Strategic Narrative Institute, and formerly Defense Innovation Unit were also involved.
[1] Source: https://warontherocks.com/2018/11/the-american-way-of-war-in-2030-the-class-of-2006-war-studies-conference-report/ [2] Source: https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2018/11/west-point-conference-focuses-future-warfare-and-disruptors-american-way-war/152519/ [3] Source: https://www.c4isrnet.com/congress/2018/11/08/west-point-conference-explores-future-of-warfare-with-disruptors-in-mind/ [4] Source: https://www.c4isrnet.com/congress/2018/11/08/west-point-conference-explores-future-of-warfare-with-disruptors-in-mind/ [5] Source: https://warontherocks.com/2018/11/the-american-way-of-war-in-2030-the-class-of-2006-war-studies-conference-report/
- In the discussion of next-generation warfare, the increasing militarization of outer space, including anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons, poses a significant challenge to the traditional American warfare model due to its dependence on space infrastructure.
- The adoption of drone swarm tactics, driven by emerging technologies from new defense sector players, challenges established U.S. defense industrial bases and operational doctrines, transforming battle-space dynamics.
- Cybersecurity is an emerging frontier in next-generation warfare, with potential cyberattacks targeting military and space infrastructure capable of disrupting command and control, logistics, and intelligence, thereby fracturing the established American operational paradigm.
