introduction

The dawn of
new war technology

GDR editor Tim Ripley examines the emerging nations’ entrance on the world stage of advancing military technology.

One hundred years ago the world was only 14 years away from the first industrial age conflict. As the turn of the century was being celebrated, few could have imagined how warfare would be transformed from what was considered almost a gentlemanly sport into an exercise in killing on an industrial scale. World War I saw the rise of scientific and industrial resources as key factors in warfare. The vital importance of technology in warfare was confirmed with the development of chemical and nuclear weapons.

As we enter the new epoch, technology continues to be the dominant force in defence. It would be a brave person who tried to predict where the rampant advances in technology, particularly computer and information technology, will take the global defence industry in the next few years. Last year the Kosovo conflict introduced 21st-century technology to warfare for the first time. B-2 Stealth bombers dropped satellite-guided bombs on Yugoslavia after flying direct from their base in Missouri and returning without landing in Europe. The conflict also saw the widespread use of computer hacking by both sides to spread confusion and destroy vital computer networks.

This edition of Global Defence Review is a snapshot of the world’s defence industry at the dawn of the 21st century. It focuses on some of the key weapon systems being produced for armed forces and looks at how the global defence industry is responding to the challenges of a world where defence budgets are in universal decline. It also takes a look at some of the key technologies that will shape the defence industry in the next century.

Spirit of the age

In tune with the spirit of the age, this year’s edition will be fully reproduced on the GDR website at www.global-defence.com. This will feature for the first time a section on simulation and training that draws together a number of themes covered in greater depth in ETS News, our sister publication. Further details of this publication and the world of simulation, training and defence upgrades can be found at ets-news.com. There is also an up-to-the-minute news service covering this dynamic segment of the defence industry. Global Defence Review and ETS News will be present at all the major defence shows and events during the year and we look forward to meeting you all. Feel free to let us know what you think about how the defence industry is developing. We would also welcome your comments on our publications and our websites.

The coming year looks likely to be just as unpredictable and exciting as the last. Looking back at my editorial in last year’s GDR, I can boast that I successfully predicted the escalation of the Kosovo conflict but I have to admit that East Timor did not register on the radar. So this year I think it is perhaps prudent not to make such predictions. The only thing that can be confidently stated is that nothing is certain in the world of defence. To misquote a famous Chinese saying, we live in interesting times. ©

"The vital importance of technology in warfare was confirmed a long time ago with the development internationally of chemical and nuclear weapons"


			The dawn of new war technology
			GDR editor Tim Ripley examines the emerging nations’ entrance on the world stage of advancing military technology. One hundred years ago the world was only 14 years away from the first industrial age conflict. As the turn of the century was being celebrated, few could have imagined how warfare would be transformed from what was considered almost a gentlemanly sport into an exercise in killing on an industrial scale. World War I saw the rise of scientific and industrial resources as key factors in warfare. The vital importance of technology in warfare was confirmed with the development of chemical and nuclear weapons. As we enter the new epoch, technology continues to be the dominant force in defence. It would be a brave person who tried to predict where the rampant advances in technology, particularly computer and information technology, will take the global defence industry in the next few years. Last year the Kosovo conflict introduced 21st-century technology to warfare for the first time. B-2 Stealth bombers dropped satellite-guided bombs on Yugoslavia after flying direct from their base in Missouri and returning without landing in Europe. The conflict also saw the widespread use of computer hacking by both sides to spread confusion and destroy vital computer networks. This edition of Global Defence Review is a snapshot of the world’s defence industry at the dawn of the 21st century. It focuses on some of the key weapon systems being produced for armed forces and looks at how the global defence industry is responding to the challenges of a world where defence budgets are in universal decline. It also takes a look at some of the key technologies that will shape the defence industry in the next century. Spirit of the age In tune with the spirit of the age, this year’s edition will be fully reproduced on the GDR website at www.global-defence.com. This will feature for the first time a section on simulation and training that draws together a number of themes covered in greater depth in ETS News, our sister publication. Further details of this publication and the world of simulation, training and defence upgrades can be found at ets-news.com. There is also an up-to-the-minute news service covering this dynamic segment of the defence industry. Global Defence Review and ETS News will be present at all the major defence shows and events during the year and we look forward to meeting you all. Feel free to let us know what you think about how the defence industry is developing. We would also welcome your comments on our publications and our websites. The coming year looks likely to be just as unpredictable and exciting as the last. Looking back at my editorial in last year’s GDR, I can boast that I successfully predicted the escalation of the Kosovo conflict but I have to admit that East Timor did not register on the radar. So this year I think it is perhaps prudent not to make such predictions. The only thing that can be confidently stated is that nothing is certain in the world of defence. To misquote a famous Chinese saying, we live in interesting times. ©
	"The vital importance of technology in warfare was confirmed a long time ago with the development internationally of chemical and nuclear weapons"