Modern War Institute at West Point

"I think that there's a real conviction in the United States, or at least in substantial parts of the US foreign policy community, that China is intent on supplanting the United States. And I think that there's a comparably intense conviction in vast segments of the Chinese foreign policy community, and also the Chinese public, that the United States is determined at all costs to suppress not only its technological development but also by extension therefore its economic development." Don't miss the latest episode of the MWI Podcast! John Amble is joined by the International Crisis Group's Ali Wyne to explore how Beijing conceives of and approaches the US-China strategic competition. https://lnkd.in/dkP9JpY9

"Given the emphasis on transformation, it’s prudent to ask how these organizations in the generating force are changing to support the ATI and ARSTRUC in preparation for large-scale combat operations. The answer seems to be: They aren’t." As the Army rapidly undertakes a major transformation initiative, one part of the service is at risk of being left behind. https://lnkd.in/dMHADUSK

"Vehicle crews must train to fly, fight, and interpret data from UAVs as second nature. UAV control consoles must be built into future armored vehicles, not bolted on as afterthoughts. Units must integrate UAV operations into their battle drills." Integrating drones into armored formations isn't just about buying the unmanned systems. It's about rethinking everything from training to doctrine to network infrastructure. https://lnkd.in/dxBSfdn7

"It's a first principles question on what does interoperability mean in the twenty-first century? It starts with things like our mission command systems and then it goes to things like robots." Don't miss the latest episode of the MWI Podcast! Host John Amble is joined by Dr. Alex Miller, chief technology officer for the chief of staff of the Army. https://lnkd.in/dmvKtaXp

An EU military training mission teaches Ukrainian forces to employ a sophisticated planning process. The problem? Battlefield realities almost never provide the time and conditions to employ it. That's just one indicator of the challenge facing Ukraine's Western trainers. Here's how to overcome it. https://lnkd.in/dFxp_wrt

"Undeniably, drones have accelerated attrition, provided excellent fire control, and killed tens of thousands of combatants. They just have not enabled the type of shock that ties tactical disruptions into operational gains." By orders of magnitude, the war in Ukraine is seeing more drones on the battlefield than any previous conflict, and yet the war has remained largely static and attritional. What would make drones capable of enabling operational breakthrough in the next war? https://lnkd.in/diWfpinG

Looking for an opportunity to develop the Army’s future leaders? The Modern War Institute (MWI) at West Point is on the lookout for forward-thinking O-3 and O-4 Army officers (branch immaterial) to join us as instructors at the United States Military Academy. We are seeking high-performing officers to submit applications for immediate assignment as a “direct hire” or to attend prestigious, two-year resident graduate programs starting in fall 2027. You’ll gain the knowledge and tools to lead in an era of rapid change, harnessing innovation and technology to solve the most complex defense challenges. Active duty officers interested in an opportunity for advanced civil schooling and serving in MWI should apply by completing a Modern War Institute application in the USMA Teach Hiring Portal at https://lnkd.in/eKQG3BwQ no later than 1 November 2025. Army Reserve and Army National Guard officers interested in joining the MWI team as part of the active duty operational support (ADOS) program should reach out to mwi@westpoint.edu or call (845) 938-8148.

"These ideas weren’t academic abstractions; they fundamentally shaped US decision-making during the Cold War, with enormous implications for nuclear strategy today. Yet they’ve largely disappeared from view, just when we need them most." Arms control agreements can enhance deterrence. Strong deterrence can facilitate more effective arms control. So why do so many discussions treat them as mutually exclusive? New America's Amy J. Nelson examines this critical question. https://lnkd.in/dRs-R9dq

"This is the power of deliberately architected networks and sensor fusion: fast, efficient, shared awareness. One track, one threat, one decision, one common operational picture." The US military's response to the proliferating drone threat has been to throw expensive hardware at the problem—jammers, exquisite radars, and costly interceptors. That's not good enough anymore. https://lnkd.in/dM52hhMV

"In Iran, like in Gaza, the use of the underground complicates enemy targeting, preserves offensive and defensive capabilities, and ensures operational continuity under attack." Subterranean spaces have been tactically useful across much of military history. On the modern battlefield, however, the underground is being leveraged for its strategic utility. Here's why that matters. https://lnkd.in/ejcx-P5V