Technology-based information warfare: developing world perspective

Abstract

The technologies of information warfare encompass intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); command, control, communications, coordination, intelligence, interoperability and precision force application. Of these, the ISR technologies are the most visible in the current combat zone. A brief survey of the status and the general direction of these technologies as pursued by the major military powers of the world has been attempted in the paper. The gap between the developed and the developing nations is quite evident. Nevertheless, all the major developing military powers are keenly pursuing the path of modernisation in this field. However, the economical and technological infrastructures of these nations are nowhere near the requisite standards in this field. At the same time, the teeming millions of these countries are desperately vying for a better standard of life. Economic strength and happy population form important ingredients of the national security in modern times. Herein lies the dilemma of the developing nations. A viable model has been suggested for the developing nations to attain a minimum level of hi-tech military strength in this field in a cost-effective manner so that other aspects of national security are not ignored.