Shaping the Character of the Future Fight

The United States should seek to actively shape the future character of war rather than simply predicting or reacting to it. While the U.S. military has invested in modernization efforts like AI and drones, it is not effectively leading the development of new forms of warfare to gain a clear edge. A major missed opportunity has been the Department of Defense's failure to systematically conduct in-person observations of frontline innovations in Ukraine. Without direct exposure to tactical adaptations in a competitive environment, it is difficult to develop informed doctrine and procurement choices, risking that the military falls behind the cutting edge of tactics and technology.