The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare

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When considering the future of warfare, the prevailing mindset in the military and Washington is often misguided. The focus tends to be on acquiring individual military systems like fighter jets or aircraft carriers, and on modernizing these systems with better versions. However, the key factor is not the individual systems themselves but rather "the battle network"—the integrated collection of sensors and shooters that allows a military to detect, target, and engage enemy systems. This process, known as "the kill chain," emphasizes the importance of swiftly moving from detection to action. The future of warfare lies not in enhancing existing systems but in developing faster, more efficient kill chains. Christian Brose, with his experience as the former Staff Director for the Senate Armed Services Committee and a senior policy advisor to Senator John McCain, highlights a critical strategic challenge facing America: we are losing ground. Our military's technological superiority has historically worked against lesser adversaries, but now we confront capable competitors leveraging advanced technologies that threaten our military advantage. To maintain our ability to deter aggression and ensure peace, adaptation is essential. Brose argues that the greatest barrier to this necessary change is the overwhelming inertia of the current status quo.