Plagues, Cyborgs, and Supersoldiers: The Human Domain of War
Abstract
A complex, high-threat landscape is emerging in which future wars might be fought with humans controlling hyper-sophisticated machines with their thoughts; the military-industrial base is disturbed by synthetically generated, genomically targeted plagues; and the future warfighter goes beyond the baseline genome to become an enhanced warfighter who is capable of survival in the harshest of combat environments. The authors of this report examine the existing and potential future uses of biotechnology in warfare and battle and look at the human body as a warfighting domain. They envision a future in which biotechnology is used by both state and nonstate actors to affect warfighting. Sophisticated future actors may use pathogens, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), genomic enhancements, and wearable technology to supplement and strengthen warfighters.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2024
- Accession Number
- AD1218163
Entities
People
- Brandon De Bruhl
- Christopher A. Eusebi
- Daniel Elinoff
- Luke J. Matthews
- Mary Lee
Organizations
- RAND Corporation