Future Combat Systems: What Is Coming Next?
The military systems of the 2030s and beyond will be fundamentally different from today's platforms, driven by advances in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, directed energy, hypersonics, and biotechnology. Understanding these emerging capabilities is essential for anticipating how warfare will evolve and how nations are positioning themselves for future competition.
The Next Generation Air Dominance programme will produce the US Air Force's sixth-generation fighter, operating as the command node for a family of Collaborative Combat Aircraft. These AI-enabled autonomous wingmen will carry sensors, weapons, and electronic warfare payloads, multiplying the combat power of each manned aircraft. Similar concepts are being pursued in Europe through FCAS and GCAP, and by China through undisclosed programmes.
Ground combat will be transformed by optionally manned vehicles, robotic logistics, and AI-enabled command systems. The US Army's Robotic Combat Vehicle programme is developing light, medium, and heavy unmanned ground vehicles that can scout, carry weapons, and breach obstacles without risking soldiers. The integration of autonomous logistics convoys will reduce the vulnerability of supply lines.
Naval warfare will see increasing use of extra-large unmanned underwater vehicles for mine warfare, intelligence gathering, and potentially weapons delivery. The US Navy's Orca programme explores submarine-scale UUVs that can operate independently for months. Unmanned surface vessels will provide distributed sensing and weapons capacity across larger ocean areas than manned ships can cover.
In space, the proliferation of small satellites and mega-constellations will provide persistent global surveillance and resilient communications. Counter-space capabilities will continue to advance, potentially making the space domain as contested as any other. The integration of space, cyber, and electronic warfare capabilities will define the information advantage that underpins military superiority.