On Monday 23 October, the European Defence Agency (EDA) published its in-depth analysis of the impact of long-term global trends in defence capabilities and technologies.
The analysis, entitled ‘Enhancing EU Military Capabilities Beyond 2040’, identifies the main future trends that will shape capability requirements and technological advances over the next 20 years and beyond.
According to the Agency, these include: - multi-domain connectivity; - a cognitive superiority that provides greater situational awareness in near-real time; - the ability to counter future weapons systems; - greater dependence on necessary and operational space-based resources. The adaptability of the armed forces in using both analogue and digital defence mindsets to adapt to existing military platforms and technological developments is also mentioned.
The EDA also believes that emerging disruptive technologies will play a key role in shaping military requirements up to 2040, as “the systems derived from these technologies, as well as their combinations, are likely to have multiple applications in the military context”. The Agency has identified nine key emerging disruptive technologies, including hypersonic weapons systems, artificial intelligence and quantum technologies.
See the report: https://aeur.eu/f/97a (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)