The December 2025 edition of the IRMO Brief, authored by Viktor Trumbetaš, deals with modern global warfare that has recently undergone an accelerated transformation, not yet seen since the end of the Cold War. While conventional military weaponry such as tanks, artillery, and air forces still remain significant, their role is increasingly intertwined with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV – drone), cyber, and autonomous systems. Given the growing number and increasing sophistication of both drones and cyberattacks, it is becoming clear that in modern conflicts, drones and cyber operations are not merely an additional threat, but a key dimension of warfare that requires the development of new protection strategies and response mechanisms. In this context, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in modern warfare is becoming increasingly prominent. The author also analyses how the ongoing conflicts such as the war in Ukraine is serving as testing grounds for a new military-industrial revolution.
21st Century Warfare: How Drones, Cyber Operations and AI Are Changing Combat
