A New Way of War
The Swarmers
David Montingelli
1
https://doi.org/10.36304/ExpwMCUP.2022.11
9 September 2022
Abstract: It seems that the future of warfare is in the hands of technology:
drones and machines in general are likely to be among the major players in
tomorrow’s battlefield. However, those who believe that human beings will
be completely deprived of the art of war are mistaken. In the future,
humans will not be mere players from behind the scenes. The human factor
will be decisive, just as it was in the days of Alexander III, Julius Caesar, and
Napoleon Bonaparte. Obviously a “new military figure” is needed, one who
is capable of combining different ideas in an efficient and successful way.
This article seeks to outline this figure on the basis of two fundamental
concepts. Consideration will be given to swarming, a tactic used since
antiquity and now used primarily for drones, and human-machine teaming,
a concept that is gaining momentum in the fields of military science and
technology. The intent here is to understand if these ideas can generate a
new player capable of interpreting—and winning—future warfare.
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Davide Montingelli is a lieutenant in the Italian Air Force with two degrees in political
science and international relations from the University of Milan, Italy. He specializes in the
research areas of military strategy, military history, and international relations.
