Shunyata Lysenko

The Cost Imbalance of Modern War: The Necessity of Reform

Low-cost autonomous weapons systems are changing the dynamics of modern warfare and exposing a critical vulnerability in U.S. defense and national security. The War in Ukraine and recent operations in the Gulf demonstrate that adaptability and cost-efficiency determine capability just as much as raw technological superiority, a lesson that applies as much to American private sector defense contractors as it does to government agencies. The United States must take bold steps to invest in affordable, scalable solutions across both public and private sectors if it hopes to keep up with the pace of modern warfare.