What Are The Military Threats Of The Future?

Could sci-fi become reality? The Terminator was a cyborg assassin played by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Cyber warriors or specially enhanced human soldiers could be a potential threat in the future, according to a new report from a Ministry of Defence (MOD) think tank.

The 'Future Starts Today' report is an attempt to identify the kinds of challenges facing the UK in the decades ahead.

It warns the world is becoming more volatile, with increasing threats from terrorism, climate change and the rapid advance of technology.

The document, worked on with experts from allies around the world, examines potential developments including wars fought by robots or "enhanced" humans and the need for the Government and military to respond.

It warns of an increasing risk of the use of nuclear or chemical weapons and the potential for "new areas of conflict" including in space and cyberspace. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

"This report makes clear that we are living in a world becoming rapidly more dangerous, with intensifying challenges from state aggressors who flout the rules, terrorists who want to harm our way of life and the technological race with our adversaries

 "Identifying these threats means we can continue to build an armed forces that can stay ahead of them."

The document, the sixth edition of the Global Strategic Trends report, has been developed by the MOD's think tank, known as the Development Concepts and Doctrine Centre. It said:

"Whilst it is envisaged that humans will continue to be central to the decision-making process, conflicts fought increasingly by robots or autonomous systems could change the very nature of warfare, as there will be less emphasis on emotions, passion and chance."

The report, compiled with partners in Sweden, Australia, Finland, Germany, France and the Netherlands, examined the possibility of "human enhancement", including "gene editing, physical and cognitive prosthesis, and pharmaceutical enhancement".

Their development over the next 30 years is likely to offer

"Profound expansion of the boundaries of human performance" and "the application of these technologies and the integration of human and machine on the battlefield present opportunities to enhance military capability".

The willingness to adopt these technologies could confer a competitive advantage over adversaries, but "moral, ethical and legal thresholds" would need to be defined.

The report also suggested a "hybrid" approach could go beyond military or economic attacks and open up "new arenas of conflict, including in space, cyberspace, sub-oceanic and, potentially, augmented and virtual reality".