The Kill Chain
Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare
-
-
4.3 • 93 Ratings
-
-
- $11.99
-
- $11.99
Publisher Description
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.
Customer Reviews
Kill Chain
Absolutely mind bending, captivating and thought provoking work until Chapter 6. Then the writing style changes the too frequent use of words like “indeed”, “Military Internet of Things” and a couple others. The following chapters bury the reader in never ending rancor of the military/industrial etc. complex. One oddity is the use of the term Chinese Communist Party defining China while we are America. If our adversary is defined by its social system shouldn’t we be called “American Capitalist Party”? Sadly, much of this important book devolves in the end to hope.
America is not Sparta
The author could concerns himself only with China overwhelming the USA. A civilization must have a balance of many parts to survive. A working republic is messy. In the long term, it outperformed dictatorships.
To limit its argument only conventional warfare is frustrating. If bushwhacked, we have always assumed total war. That power, at present day, is unstoppable.
The military is gaining newer weapons. Of course, will match us. Go for good walk.
From a military officer
A very sobering read. As a military officer, this book began as vindication for the struggles we face day-to-day. Unnecessary problems and roadblocks that serve as “no” so often that many requests aren’t even asked for. We know it would just be a waste of time.
After the thrill of my sense of vindication wore off, the book became very hard to read. I see this book. I feel it every time I go to work. It’s heavy, unpleasant, many times painful. I wonder how future generations will remember us, those who have failed this country. Have all but foundered it.
There is a a sliver of hope to right the course, but it would take cooperative action. Mr. Brose finished this book towards the end of Trump’s presidency, and noted the political divide in this country. Does anyone think it has gotten better?
This book should be a mandatory read for every student, leader, person of power, but it’s not. I hope that it is well known enough to influence real change, but the realist in me says isn’t.
China won’t give us a Pearl Harbor moment. They’re too smart for that. They will continue to erode our society until we are so sick of each other we just hand over the keys. We’ve already given them access to so much, I could laugh about it. If I was Chinese.