WP318 | The Fourth Industrial Revolution’s Impact on Smaller Militaries: Boon or Bane?

Abstract

Even as smaller and less well funded armed forces are still grappling with incorporating computerisation into personnel, supply and other military functions for increased efficiency or effectiveness, this hallmark of the Third Industrial Revolution is already being eclipsed by developments from the dawn of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Developments like artificial intelligence, autonomous drones, three-dimensional printing and genetic engineering will deeply affect the profession of arms, with armed services from smaller or poorer nations being no exception. Without the deep pockets needed to fully exploit all these cutting-edge developments, small and mid-sized militaries will still have to adapt as best as they can to the changing winds of the Fourth Industrial Revolution while attempting to mitigate any harmful after effects. The industrial and technological impacts of this revolution on the human resource, intelligence, logistics and operational functions of smaller armed forces will be examined and their implications analysed. Accordingly, the overall military influence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution can be assessed and appropriate operational and policy-based advice for smaller armed services suggested.

About the Author

Nah Liang Tuang is a Research Fellow with the Military Studies Programme at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS). He has also taught at the Command and Staff College, SAF Advanced School and Officer Cadet School at SAFTI Military Institute, and actively lectures at the SAF Warrant Officers School. In addition, he serves on the peer review board of the North Korean Review (NKR), a journal of Yonsei University’s School of International Studies, Republic of Korea. Liang Tuang completed his doctoral studies in International Relations at RSIS in 2015. His research specialities include nuclear weapons politics, nuclear non-proliferation, North Korean affairs and nationalism’s role in state defence. Liang Tuang’s articles, commentaries and op-eds have been published in the NKR, The Diplomat, East Asia Forum and Korea Times, amongst others.