Climate change is offsetting the US high-tech advantage

Extreme weather conditions caused by climate change are having a negative impact on the high-tech systems that give the US Army its edge.

Here's What We Know

Severe weather can interfere with navigation systems, such as GPS or sensors on precision munitions. Heavy rain can interfere with piloting aircraft or UAVs, heat waves can exhaust soldiers, and dust storms can damage the engines of tanks and other armoured vehicles.

It is important to have a clear understanding of weather conditions in order to formulate strategies and action plans. This is important for both adapting to climate change and reducing its impact on military operations and campaigns. As James Regens noted in a recent essay for the Royal United Services Institute, weather "forecasting" is becoming a key factor in the success of military operations.

The history of military conflicts shows that unforeseen weather conditions have always been an obstacle to any operation. For example, unexpected rain before a battle could significantly change military tactics, as happened during Napoleon's Battle of Waterloo. Dust storms damaged helicopters during the American hostage rescue operation in Iran in 1980.

However, these accidents were the result of short-term weather changes, while climate change is a long-term phenomenon. Although climate change has become a highly politicised issue, there is general agreement among scientists that the Earth's climate is getting warmer.

Technology is now gradually evolving towards accurate short- and long-term weather forecasts.

Source: Business Insider