Beyond Decision Superiority: The Role of Intelligence in Innovation & Adaptation

Wars are won when weapons effectively destroy targets, not just through superior decision-making, necessitating that intelligence drives military innovation and adaptation. Historical examples, such as Allied codebreaking in WWII and espionage during the Cold War, demonstrate how technical intelligence on enemy systems led to crucial military advantages. Wartime adaptation, like studying a captured Japanese Zero fighter, also allowed for rapid improvements to U.S. military hardware and tactics. Current U.S. acquisition policies risk creating ineffective weapons by over-prioritizing decision speed and must be reformed to better integrate hard intelligence into the development process.