War of the Machines

Description

How will wars be fought and won in the age of autonomous machines and artificial intelligence?

War is becoming more machine-intensive, data-dependent and fast-moving. Unmanned systems operate in the air, at sea and on land. Software is collapsing the distance between detection and destruction across a battlefield where almost nothing stays hidden.

Yet wars are increasingly becoming contests between systems of adaptation and integration. The advantage lies with states like Ukraine that learn, produce and change faster than their adversaries can counter. Ukrainians have adroitly connected soldiers, engineers, factories, intelligence services, private companies, tech founders and political institutions. Although numbers matter, the ability to alter techniques before the enemy can respond matters more. Drawing on dozens of field trips to Ukraine, frontline access and conversations with commanders, soldiers, engineers, politicians and citizens, the authors show why military innovation cannot be separated from politics. Political institutions are military variables, and political agency, people and values remain central to understanding why societies fight and how they endure.

Written from the perspectives of a strategist, intelligence officer, entrepreneur and soldier, War of the Machines reveals what is changing in war, what is not and what we can learn from Ukraine about conflict in the age of autonomous machines and artificial intelligence.

Reviews

‘An engrossing account of the courageous men and women and the extraordinary machines that have kept a superpower at bay as Ukraine fights for its survival against Russia.’ — Rory Stewart

‘If you are to read one book on Ukraine and the meaning and manner of its struggle for freedom, then this is it.’ — General Mykhailo Drapatyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

‘War of the Machines is both utterly fascinating and very important, demonstrating that Ukraine’s resistance to Russia is the single most important transformation in warfare since 1945. As this compelling and lucidly written book shows, Ukraine’s success is less about the production of drones and more about the creation of a highly adaptable national war-fighting system that connects civilians, troops, engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs, factories, software, intelligence and foreign allies. Quite simply, this is essential reading.’ — James Holland, Sunday Times bestselling author of Brothers in Arms

‘This powerful book reveals why Ukraine has fought so bravely against Russia’s brutal onslaught—and why the cause of freedom is worth every sacrifice. A compelling reminder of what is at stake, and why it matters to us all.’ — Kaja Kallas

‘Part prophecy and part primer, this comprehensive call-to-arms takes you through Ukraine and beyond, to a landscape where many of our assumptions and complacencies hold no value. Ukraine has paid a price for this wisdom. The book voices it with a pace and clarity that makes it hard to ignore.’ — Major General (Retd.) Alex Turner DSO, former Director of British Army Futures

‘War of the Machines represents an eye-opening account of just how the world of warfare has changed and how the wars of agency, people and values, words, innovation and technology, intelligence, and integration are now more important than ever. This book is a call to action on how to protect freedom everywhere.’ – Oleksandra Matviichuk, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, 2022

‘Every conflict changes the character of war, not least through the application of new technologies. Yet many constants in the nature of war remain unchanged—including the violence, politics and human choices behind it. Drawing on phenomenal access, fieldwork and insight, War of the Machines reveals where—and how—the boundaries of modern warfare are changing.’ – General Richard Myers, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, US

‘Ukraine is a bulwark against the march of autocracy world-wide. To hold back these malign forces, we rely on international partners and friends, and beyond all else, the strength, depth and agency of our own people. This seminal volume by four such friends explains how the integration of machines and people will increasingly lift the fog of war and steer future conflict.’ – Viktor Yushcheneko, former President of Ukraine

‘This war was never about territory. It is about the right of Ukrainians to determine their own future and to live securely and in peace. The lessons of politics and international relations, technological innovation and its application, and the future of warfare are clinically dissected and brought together in this masterful and timely contribution.’ — Gregory Nemyria MP, First Deputy Chair: Rada Foreign Affairs Committee, Ukraine

‘War of the Machines tells the story of this war as we live it: under fire, under pressure and always adapting. It is sharp, accurate and deeply informed, and it understands that technology only matters when fighters know how to turn it into an edge over the enemy.’ — Robert ‘Magyar’ Brovdi, Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

‘Ukraine may seem a long way away for those outside of Europe consumed by the pressures of daily life. But Putin’s brutal war of choice reminds us that all conflict is global. What happens in Ukraine will affect the price of food and fuel far beyond its borders. More profoundly, Russia’s aggression strikes at the protections that underpin security everywhere, reducing human lives to pawns in the pursuit of geopolitical vanity. Read this book to understand why what happens in Ukraine matters to us all.’ – Tendai Biti, former Finance Minister, Zimbabwe

‘Russia’s war in Ukraine is a war of its own choosing―and its own making. Ukraine has shown the world that Moscow’s 21st-century imperial revanchism can be resisted. But resistance comes at an immense cost in blood and treasure, demanding extraordinary courage, ingenuity and resilience. War of the Machines traces the course of this brutal and transformative war with clarity, authority and insight. It is an essential account of a conflict that will shape the future of warfare―and I commend it without reservation.’ ― Maj-Gen. Viktor Khorenko, Former Commander, Ukrainian Special Forces

Author(s)

Dr Greg Mills is a strategic adviser to several African leaders and previously to the NATO commander in Afghanistan. He is the co-author of War of the Machines; The Ledger; and The Asian Aspiration (all published by Hurst), among others.

Eerik-Niiles Kross is a Member of Parliament in Estonia and has served as his country’s chief of intelligence.

Basil Gavalas is an entrepreneur and founder of the Athens Defence Summit.

Lieutenant-General Sir Ralph Wooddisse KCB CBE MC is the former commander of the British Field Army (April 2021–February 2024).