There are many works of science fiction trying to predict the future. And future is shaped, we like it or not, by military applications of technology. Each Great War in human history has improved radically previous technologies as well as introduced new ones. For instance, the tank was invented and introduced in World War I. In the same conflict, for the first time in history, airplanes also were used for the first time in a large-scale combat.
Both the airplane and the tank were radically improved by World War II. They both had a huge role in the conflict. One of the reasons was the fact that spectacular advances in mass production made possible for the first time to build and develop these new machines at an incredible scale.
The German army gained supremacy in Europe in the initial stages of the World War II not only because its vast superiority technology, but also due to its innovations in the tactics using air power and tank technology. At the time war planes gained huge advances in terms of range and speed.
Fighter planes and long-range bombers brought for the first time the ability to bring war rapidly to war supplies manufacturing centers and civilian populations. Among the new technologies of the World War II are included self-propelled missiles, jet propulsion for airplanes, and the nuclear bomb. They all still shape today our world's balance of power.
Considering the past, we can only wonder what could the World War III look like? Researchers and military analysts consider that two new domains will be essential for a future great conflict: cyberspace and the outer space. The next war will still be fought on land, air, and sea, but besides that it will move the conflict in the outer space and in the virtual world of cyberspace.
While the abilities of the American agencies in cyber tactics are extremely strong, analysts point out the fact that the U.S. may be vulnerable due to the size of cyber-attacks they could face. Against a hostile army of thousands of hackers conducting attacks on a variety of private and government systems, nothing much can be done.
We all remember how the recent Sony hack has led to huge economic loss for Sony. If would be to multiply the scale of Sony hack many times in a war scenario, the entire economic activity of the United States could grind to a halt.
Each new military technology in past wars brought political, ethical, and moral considerations. The same goes for today and tomorrow's weapons technology. At the moment the trendy weapon of the day seems to be the drone, already used with great success by the U.S. in targeted situations.
The autonomous drone is the next step in its evolution. Much in the same way Google's autonomous car does, the drones of the future will use artificial intelligence to be able to discern unfriendly targets. Military robots using artificial intelligence will be used in operations or as support in dealing with the mine fields.
The simple idea of using in war machines that can "think" and control themselves will create great debate among political leaders.
