"No weapons system is foolproof. We'll always have one or two that go off target." Did you know that unmanned spy planes can detect and track targets, and send data back to battle command as soon as it's gathered? That soldiers of the future may wear an exoskeleton powered by mechanical muscles? So, what does all this mean for the waging of war? Science at the Edge focuses on the developments and theories in science that are giving rise to controversy and public concern.

This series investigates scientific developments and theories that give rise to popular and widespread interest, concern and controversy. Each book looks at a different source of controversy and: introduces the personalities and interest groups; features details of the development or discovery; explains the underlying science and techniques; reviews the issues and opinions involved; and uses a variety of examples and evidence.

From a former senior advisor to Senator John McCain comes an urgent wake-up call about how new technologies are threatening America's military might. For generations of Americans, our country has been the world's dominant military power. How the US military fights, and the systems and weapons that it fights with, have been uncontested. That old reality, however, is rapidly deteriorating. America's traditional sources of power are eroding amid the emergence of new technologies and the growing military threat posed by rivals such as China. America is at grave risk of losing a future war. As Christian Brose reveals in this urgent wake-up call, the future will be defined by artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and other emerging technologies that are revolutionizing global industries and are now poised to overturn the model of American defense. This fascinating, if disturbing, book confronts the existential risks on the horizon, charting a way for America's military to adapt and succeed with new thinking as well as new technology. America must build a battle network of systems that enables people to rapidly understand threats, make decisions, and take military actions, the process known as "the kill chain." Examining threats from China, Russia, and elsewhere, The Kill Chain offers hope and, ultimately, insights on how America can apply advanced technologies to prevent war, deter aggression, and maintain peace.

Describes different biochemical, nuclear, and highly technological weapons and how they are used in war.

This book asks whether just war theory and its rules for determining when war is justified remains adequate to the challenges posed by contemporary developments. Some argue that the nature of contemporary war makes these rules obsolete. By carefully examining the phenomena of intervention, terrorism, and torture from a number of different perspectives, the essays in this book explore this complex set of issues with insight and clarity.

An introduction to military technology, looking at the advanced weaponry and machinery employed by military forces around the world.