military technolgy

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KEY CHALLENGES FACED BY US MILITARY: (I) INCREASE IN CYBER-WAR FARE: The wakeup call for the US Department of Defense with respect to Cyber Warfare happened in Middle East in 2008 when an infected flash drive inserted in their laptop compromised important classified military data. The flash drives computer code uploaded onto the system, undetected by classified and unclassified systems transferring classified data to foreign control. This was the worst fear: a hidden rogue problem delivering operational plans to an unknown enemy. The Pentagon responded this with – Operation Buckshot Yankee: a turning point in US Cyber-Defense strategy. THE THREAT: Information Technology has made its mark in everything that a Military does: real time intelligence, remote operations and logistics and support. All of these functions depend on Military s Global Communication backbone which consists of 15,000 networks and seven million computing devices across hundreds of installations in dozens of countries. While having such advanced digital infrastructure has given the US military superior power over its adversaries, it has also made it highly reliable on such computer networks giving opponents a key to access confidential data which can disrupt the US Economy. The major threats out of this are: 1. The low cost of such computing device means that even though the US Military does not have to spend so much on expensive weapons and artilleries, any loophole or vulnerability in their network system can threaten the United States Global Logistics Network can steal its operational plan, blind its ability to deliver weapons and artilleries on time. 2. Since Internet was built with low security measure to improve Technological innovation, the ability for US

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Transcript of military technolgy

KEY CHALLENGES FACED BY US MILITARY:

(I) INCREASE IN CYBER-WAR FARE:

The wakeup call for the US Department of Defense with respect to Cyber Warfare happened in Middle East in 2008 when an infected flash drive inserted in their laptop compromised important classified military data. The flash drives computer code uploaded onto the system, undetected by classified and unclassified systems transferring classified data to foreign control. This was the worst fear: a hidden rogue problem delivering operational plans to an unknown enemy. The Pentagon responded this with – Operation Buckshot Yankee: a turning point in US Cyber-Defense strategy.

THE THREAT:

Information Technology has made its mark in everything that a Military does: real time intelligence, remote operations and logistics and support. All of these functions depend on Military s Global Communication backbone which consists of 15,000 networks and seven million computing devices across hundreds of installations in dozens of countries.

While having such advanced digital infrastructure has given the US military superior power over its adversaries, it has also made it highly reliable on such computer networks giving opponents a key to access confidential data which can disrupt the US Economy. The major threats out of this are:

1. The low cost of such computing device means that even though the US Military does not have to spend so much on expensive weapons and artilleries, any loophole or vulnerability in their network system can threaten the United States Global Logistics Network can steal its operational plan, blind its ability to deliver weapons and artilleries on time.

2. Since Internet was built with low security measure to improve Technological innovation, the ability for US Government to defend will be behind its opponents ability to attack and find weakness in its network.

3. Cold War deterrence models don’t work in Cyber warfare as it’s not possible to identify our attacker. SO it takes more time and energy than in actual war making this more dangerous.

4. Also, espionages have become very common and so, it becomes even more difficult to prove the guilt as the attacker will always claim ignorance.

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY TO COMBAT CYBER WARFARE:

US CYBER COMMAND :

Recognizing that the existing structure is not enough to protect from Cyber warfare, the Pentagon ordered consolidation of task force into a 4 star command – the US Cyber Command- which began in May 2010. Its functions involve:

1. Day to Day protection of all Defense and provides a counter terrorism support for operations in cyberspace.

2. It provides a clear hierarchy to control the flow of information within the US Department. The chain of command from the President to the Secretary of the State to the Strategic Commander to Cyber Commander.

A Snapshot of the US Army Cyber Command Page [2]

3. To work with a variety of partners inside and outside the U.S. government. Representatives from the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department, and the Defense Information Systems Agency work on-site at Cyber Command's Fort Meade headquarters. They liaison with allied Governments to address shared vulnerabilities.

To combat threats, it is necessary for the US Government to respond within milli seconds after the attack or even before the attack. So the Pentagon has employed a system with 3 defense layers – to always be on the attack: ordinary computer hygiene, which keeps security software and firewalls up to date, and sensors, which detect and map intrusions. The third line of protection leverages government intelligence capabilities to provide highly specialized active defences.[1]

(II) ROBOTIC REVOLUTION:

In Iraq, robots have defused over 10000 roadside bombs, which constitute to about 40 % of US causalities there. In 2003, the US Army didn’t have any robots in war zone. Now they have over 12000 robots on ground and over 7000 in the air in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Robots are a great addition to the US Army personnel. “I talked to a researcher who told me that for $50,000 worth of robots he could shut down New York for a day. It was pretty convincing. Warfare will go open source.”says P.W Singer, Author of Wired of War.

(ii) CONTROLLING JET PLANES WITH MIND :

The Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency of the US Government announced a major breakthrough in Feb 2015 where a Quadriplegic patient, mother of 2 aged 55 was able to control a robotic arm and even fly a F-35 Joint Strike Fighter simulator using nothing but her thoughts !

Robot mannequin to test armed forces' protective suits

Robots replacing army troops in US protective suits

Jan Scheuermann-Mother of two who controls Fighter Planes with her mind

This was made possible by implanting electrodes in her brain which helped her manipulate the limbs of the robotic arm. This form of neural signalling is at the heart of the research and we can envision a deadly form of war where US Warzone practically has no human race.

IMPACT – ETHICAL WAR MACHINE:

Robots are replacing human soldiers in dull and dangerous missions like spying, rescuing wounded and even in killing people. While this has major impact when it comes to the number of army men who will be deployed in dangerous situations which can to even loss of life, one has to also consider its side effects:

(i) Legal Challenges – For any Robotic Misconduct or accidental killings, who would be punishable? The Laws of Armed Conflict (LOAC) prohibit targeting non-combatants- so should a robot be allowed to take decisions as to when to attack and when not to?

(ii) Just –War Challenges - The idea of having an option of sending Robots for War makes it easier for Nations to wage war on each other for even political reasons as it will lead to lesser casualties. But the LOAC demands that before attacking we should have our eyes o target, so should we allow Robots to make that call?

(iii) Technical Challenges- A Robot should be able to distinguish a combatant from a non- combatant before attacking. As most of the times, insurgents pose as civilians; it becomes important to discriminate actual targets. So, should we allow the Robot to sacrifice an innocent person to save 100 others? The ethical question to this dilemma is many.

(iv) Robot-Human Challenges - Soldiers in the war field need to able to trust and depend on one another, as a band of brothers, to look after their back. Would a Robot with cameras and non fluid motion be able to be a part of such squad cohesion?Also, in urban context for regular road patrolling, would a robot be able to connect with the general public?

(v) Societal Challenges- Using Robots in war might mean a quicker and swifter win for us but it also means a demoralizing defeat with huge losses for the other side. Would this lead to an imbalance in War fare encouraging more such war? As opponents are also quickly adapting themselves to this technological advancement, would this cycle of showing superiority in technology end?