Army SOF Units Are Getting Smaller, More Self-Reliant as Focus Shifts to China, Russia
New adversaries, warfare concepts, and gear are also driving special operators to become more tech-savvy.
Patrick Tucker
By Patrick Tucker
Technology Editor
May 20, 2021 05:17 PM ET
As the United States pivots away from the Middle East to face China and Russia, U.S. Special Operations Command will need new capabilities in the electromagnetic spectrum, new highly autonomous small drones for reconnaissance and strike, new night vision, and small computers. But special operators themselves will also need to become more technologically competent as they face more high-tech adversaries.
For the past two decades, special operations forces have played a key role in places like Afghanistan and Iraq, finding and disrupting insurgent networks. That counter-terrorism mission will remain a core competency. But bigger potential adversaries actually means a smaller—or at least more subtle—special forces footprint in the field.
https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2021/05/socoms-wish-list-competing-china-and-russia/174208/
