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Key Technologies Redefining Warfare by 2040 in NATO/EU
Which emerging and disruptive technologies - AI, autonomous systems, quantum, space-based capabilities and directed-energy weapons - do NATO, EDA and RAND foresight studies identify as redefining warfare by 2040?
Key Technologies Redefining Warfare by 2040 in NATO/EU: Foresight studies by NATO, the European. Strategic-technological profile; 19-page sourced DFM PDF repor…
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Original DFM publication · DFM Analysis report · 2025-05-13
Foresight studies by NATO, the European Defence Agency (EDA), and RAND Corporation concur that several emerging technologies will redefine warfare by the year 2040. In particular, artificial intelligence (AI) , autonomous systems , quantum technologies , space-based capabilities , and novel weapons like directed-energy systems are expected to be game-changers.
These technologies, often termed Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDTs), are seen as critical for maintaining military superiority in the coming decades, especially for NATO allies and EU member states.
This analysis answers: Which emerging and disruptive technologies - AI, autonomous systems, quantum, space-based capabilities and directed-energy weapons - do NATO, EDA and RAND foresight studies identify as redefining warfare by 2040? How will each of these EDT families change military capability and interact across domains? Why are these technologies seen as critical for maintaining military superiority for NATO allies and EU member states? What policy and roadmap outlook governs the adoption of these game-changing technologies by 2040?
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Key Technologies Redefining Warfare by 2040 in NATO/EU
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What is Key Technologies Redefining Warfare by 2040 in NATO/EU?
These technologies, often termed Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDTs), are seen as critical for maintaining military superiority in the coming decades, especially for NATO allies and EU member states.
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