New technology favors defense

Abstract

Many new technological developments thus serve offensive plans. But in most cases the new technology can serve both offensive and defensive purposes. In fact, the technological trends actually favor the defense overall, partly because of some inherent weaknesses in an offensive military posture. Not only is the technology itself versatile, but some components and even some weapons now under development or in operation are suitable for strictly defensive activities. Moreover, some technologies would work much better in a defensive context than they would in the offensive missions for which they were designed. Not all proponents of nonoffensive defense would agree that defensive plans should take advantage of new technologies. The Study Group on Alternative Security Policy, for one, has warned against technical fetishism and recommends extreme caution in accepting the products of modern technology. Some analysts also prefer simple, sturdy systems to complicated, high-tech ones which tend to be fragile. Some of the technologies now under development are considered expensive, vulnerable, and easy to counteract.