About New Wars
Our Mantra
We contend here at New Wars that modern computer technology added to guided missiles has doomed the heavily armored, over-priced weaponry of the Cold War/WW 2 eras. With this in mind we could safely cut such complicated arms as the manned fighter, the heavy tank, and large surface warships. Their replacements would be unmanned aerial vehicles, light armored cars, plus submarines and light patrol ships.
The next major conflict in the air will not be a battle between jets, but of guided missiles and UAVs. The few costly stealth planes which might contend with the new generation of precision SAMs could conceivably weather such an aerial storm, yet be so few in numbers due to cost that their effectiveness will be minimal at best. UAVs which are increasing steadily in performance will perform all duties of their manned versions, from reconnaissance, to attack, and air superiority.
On land the anti-tank missile will rule all, and strategies will be designed around their capabilities. Modern battle tanks have become so huge, even if they could survive the new weapons, their defensive armament will be so great as to negate their mobility and effectiveness on the battlefield. Armored cars use much of the same defensive technology (slat armor, reactive armor) to defeat missile weapons, while still being mobile and affordable. Some also mount guns similar to the heavy tanks, with the ability to fire armor piercing shells.
At sea, the supersonic cruise missile will dictate the design and deployment of navies, and nothing is invulnerable to it save the stealthy submarine. Over the last century the U-boat has evolved to become cruiser, destroyer, and thanks to missiles, an aircraft carrier. There will no need for huge and overly-expensive surface warships which are bought in ever shrinking numbers (though patrol boats and small attack craft will still be vital), because such last-century warships only duplicate the submarine’s new missions, and not nearly as effectively.
Bottom line: The insurgency wars in the Third World will not only teach us how to defeat irregular forces, but thanks to the power of precision weapons, the same tactics can wean us off Industrial Age weaponry like manned planes, tanks, and large surface ships. Such weapons as these we can no longer afford and hardly even need.
About Mike Burleson
My full name is Michael Dewayne Burleson and I was born in 1965 just as the world was being turned upside down in Vietnam and on college campuses throughout the US. I was born in “Carter Country” in Americus, Georgia, raised in South Carolina and recently lived in downtown Charleston where I consider myself the “Holy City’s” longest residing tourist. I have worked for the Charleston Public Library and am currently taking time off to write and care for my aged parents in historic Branchville SC, home of the world’s oldest railroad junction. Last year I completed my first book also titled ”New Wars-The Transformation of Armies, Navies, and Airpower in the Digital Age“, available for purchase from here. As a freelancer, my articles on military issues have appeared in The American Thinker, The Washington Post, Sea Classics Magazine, Townhall.com via Opeds.com, Buzzle.com, and Strategypage.com.
Hey Mike I like the nice cat you have on your banner, BUT she is no longer in US service. I have several good shots of HSV WestPac Express which is under charter to MSC and has been serving the Marines for over 5 years now. Interested?
Lee
Thanks leesea! I know its an old picture but I always liked it. I’ll let you know.
New role for former HSV-1X Joint Venture
goto:
http://www.marinelog.com/DOCS/NEWSMMVII/2008may00270.html
Thanks for the link!
Mike-
Your site is one I visit every day for news on current topics in the defense industry and for the latest in today’s transitional sea systems in particular, especially given your views on the aircraft carrier vs. today’s supersonic cruise missile threats and the increasingly stealthy diesel submarines. Keep up the fine work. Oh, yes, I purchased your book today.
John
Thanks, John, for those kind words from a great writer himself!
Mike,
I’d like to add you to our blog media contact list and keep you updated on the research we do. If you’re interested, please email me your contact info. Thanks and keep up the good work!
Certainly Jyoung! The info you asked for is on its way, and thanks for your interest.
Hi Mike.
I’m the author of the Australian paper you just wrote about. For the record, I hadn’t seen your blog before, but it’s no surprise that we came to the same conclusions. Defence budgets only stretch so far, and it’s a matter of picking the right technologies for the job. Keep up the good work.
Andrew
Thanks Andrew! I believe this is the era of the regional powers who can’t afford the expensive military establishments of the Great Powers and must choose carefully the type of weapons they buy. Rather than building armed forces which are similar to the US, but in miniature, they could easily create local superiority by taking advantage of the new precision weapons and buying basic platforms, like submarines, uavs, armored cars, to launch them. Such weapons like cruise missiles and smart bombs do not require an stealth jet or supercarrier to make them effective, they just need a ride to the target.
I enjoy the blog, but can I make a suggestion? Reserve it for military matters only, and do a separate blog for politics.
Thanks DesScorp, but as an American citizen I feel it my duty to support the candidate of my choice in the upcoming elections. Time prohibits the second blog, BELIEVE ME I TRIED!
hehe, another Burleson who openly displays their patriotism, pride and opinion when they feel reform is needed.
My hat is off to you good sir.
Sadly, I was sent to your op-ed piece/blog today (really haven’t read much of it yet) because I was in Charleston this past week.
Any relation to Vantus (Papaw) Burleson of Bowman, SC?
Mike:
Thanks for linking my ASBN-carrier post on your very fine blog. I’m adding your blog to my blogroll and my must-read daily list. While my own blog is eclectic, I’m very interested in defense matters – by way of background, I’m both a mil-brat and a third-generation Bath Iron Works employee, so naval shipbuilding is in the blood. Thanks again.
David
You’re welcome David! Thanks for stopping by!
Do you have an email where people can contact you directly?
Hi Mike, very interesting website. I’ll be sure to check back regularly!
Thank you! Unless you’d rather not say, what is your name? I was going to give you article credit but I couldn’t find it anywhere on your site.
Shouldn’t have deleted the Marine post. I disagree with your argument, but it was a conversation worth having. But saying something like that about the Marine Corps was sure to stir up a hornets nest…full of angry, armed, and well-trained jarhead hornets.
You may be right, Ryan, but rather than be seen as belittling the Marine mission, and I can see where some would think that, I chose to drop it. I’m not a politician, I don’t make policy, I don’t even pay for this free blog! It wasn’t worth the trouble.
Concur with Ryan. Even though I disagreed with the post, it is part of a necessary discussion we need to have within the naval services in order to recalibrate ourselves for the 21st century. There were tidbits in the messages that I had hoped to mine for my next article and I regret that the post has been removed.
Again, my regrets on the article, but I won’t be accused of slandering the Marines. The aircraft carriers are free fodder here but I won’t touch the Corps, even inadvertently.
Mike – I don’t know any other way to contact you…but would you email me? I’m the USNI blog moderator – Mary
Mike
Give me a shout via email. I’m in Charleston as well.