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  • About RSIS
      • Introduction
      • Building the Foundations
      • Welcome Message
      • Board of Governors
      • Staff Profiles
        • Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
        • Dean’s Office
        • Management
        • Distinguished Fellows
        • Faculty and Research
        • Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
        • Visiting Fellows
        • Adjunct Fellows
        • Administrative Staff
      • Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
      • RSIS Endowment Fund
      • Endowed Professorships
      • Career Opportunities
      • Getting to RSIS
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        • Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
        • Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
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        • International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
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        • National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
        • Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      • Future Issues and Technology Cluster
      • [email protected] Newsletter
      • Other Research
        • Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
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      • MSc (International Political Economy)
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    • The Fourth Industrial Revolution’s Impact on Smaller Militaries: Boon or Bane?
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    WP318 | The Fourth Industrial Revolution’s Impact on Smaller Militaries: Boon or Bane?
    Nah Liang Tuang

    22 November 2018

    download pdf

    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.

    Categories: Working Papers / General / Global

    Last updated on 05/08/2019

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    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.

    Categories: Working Papers / General

    Last updated on 05/08/2019

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