In a world undergoing unprecedentedly swift changes, traditional battlefields are giving way to a complex, multidimensional, and technologically driven arena. Future wars will integrate advanced technologies, cyber warfare, and emerging strategic threats alongside conventional military forces such as tanks, aircraft, and ground troops. In this dynamic reality, the crucial question arises: What will future wars look like, and what character will the new battlefield take?
The current arena: Geopolitical turbulence and its impact
The world is currently experiencing significant geopolitical upheaval. Rapid shifts in foreign policies, particularly from global powers like the United States, are causing profound alterations in power balances and the international rules of engagement. Changes in attitudes towards countries like China, Iran, Russia, and Turkey, along with new policy initiatives concerning conflict areas such as the Gaza Strip, directly affect combat patterns and global security perceptions.
Key trends in the future battlefield
In the future battlefield, political, military, and social leaders will face complex and diverse challenges, including psychological warfare, the strategic exploitation of civilians, the empowerment of women in key roles, integration of advanced technologies and autonomous systems, Europe’s growing strategic autonomy, the advancement of offensive capabilities, handling asymmetric warfare, controlling evolving narratives, and preparing for conflicts of varying durations.
Leaders will need exceptional mental agility, creativity, and responsibility to swiftly recognize new threats and develop effective solutions to prevent global catastrophes and foster a stable, secure world.
The battlefield of psychological warfare
The next war won’t just be fought on borders, it will be fought in the mind. We are living in the age of cognitive warfare. No longer is it solely a struggle over territory, but a battle for public opinion. For truth. For the narrative. Psychological information warfare has become a powerful weapon wielded by hostile states and organizations, aiming to destabilize nations from within, without firing a single shot.
The October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israeli communities marked a turning point in the use of psychological warfare. The coordinated assault, which included the killing of 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of 250 civilians and soldiers, was accompanied by the real-time dissemination of horrific footage that Hamas filmed atrocities using the smartphones of victims and hostages and sent them in real time to their contacts.
These images were not only intended to terrorize but also to fracture Israeli society and erode its collective resilience.
This harrowing reality deeply distresses Israeli society: approximately 70 percent of Israelis demand the immediate return of all hostages. Deep divisions have emerged within society regarding the strategy to conclude the war and dismantle Hamas. The presence of hostages in enemy territory and the periodic release of hostage videos by Hamas significantly complicates military actions, posing a genuine threat to their lives with every offensive.
This form of cognitive warfare, where the mind is targeted rather than the body, has become a central feature of modern conflict. Hostile actors such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran employ fake news, staged videos, and manipulated social media content to deepen societal divisions and undermine trust in institutions.
Defending the cognitive front
In cognitive warfare, the people themselves become the target. The aim is to cause Israelis to lose faith in their leaders, their institutions, the military, and even themselves. To make us view one another as enemies. When trust collapses, so does cohesion, governance, and national response capability.
To counter these threats, nations must invest in societal resilience. This includes promoting digital literacy, enhancing public awareness, and fostering inclusive dialogue. Governments must also develop rapid response mechanisms to detect and neutralize foreign influence operations. Transparency, credibility, and unity are essential in maintaining public trust and national cohesion.
In the wars of tomorrow, it won’t just be cities that are destroyed, it will be the faith of citizens in their own countries. That is the real threat. Confronting it demands a deep cognitive shift: understanding that the heart of a nation is not only geographic, but also psychological. And when we protect the mind, we protect the homeland.
Digital and autonomous battlefields
As warfare becomes increasingly digital, with AI, drones, and autonomous systems playing central roles, the human element remains indispensable. The events of October 7 underscored that while technology enhances precision and reduces risk, it cannot replace soldiers on the ground, who can interpret complex realities and make ethical decisions in real time. Victory still requires physical presence, cultural understanding, and moral judgment.
Technology is a force multiplier, not a substitute. Integrated systems combining advanced weaponry with traditional forces will define future battlefields. Laser-based defense systems, for example, offer cost-effective protection and complement existing tools like the Iron Dome or the Arrow missile defense systems.
Meanwhile, nations are shifting from defensive postures to proactive offensive strategies. Israel’s reliance on defense alone proved inadequate, as seen in the October 7th attacks. Offensive capabilities, including military, cyber, and psychological, are essential for deterrence and strategic advantage. See the Israeli attack on Iran on June ,13th ,2025.
Following the Russia-Ukraine war, European countries significantly increased defense budgets, developing offensive alongside defensive capabilities. Japan, traditionally committed exclusively to defense post-World War II, now similarly adopts offensive military capabilities.
Cyberattacks have also transitioned from isolated incidents to legitimate state-level warfare strategies. Countries like Iran, China, and the U.S. invest heavily in cyber capabilities to target economies, sophisticated weapons systems, and public perceptions. Enhanced offensive capabilities have become critical in redefining global defense strategies.
Ultimately, success in modern warfare depends on blending technological innovation with human insight, strategic clarity, and the ability to adapt across physical and digital domains.
Leadership in the age of future warfare
The evolving character of warfare demands a new kind of leadership. Military and political leaders must exhibit mental agility, creativity, and a deep understanding of both technological and human dimensions. They must be capable of recognizing emerging threats, adapting to rapidly changing environments, and coordinating responses across multiple domains—physical, digital, and psychological.
The growing global recognition of women’s roles in national security, conflict management, and strategic decision-making underscores the value of their diverse perspectives. Despite this, Israeli women remain significantly underrepresented in leadership, with minimal presence in government ministries and the Knesset. The increased female participation in conflict resolution, such as in the Ukraine-Russia or Israel-Hamas conflicts, could foster a more humanitarian, collaborative, and multidimensional approach. Women are often associated with diplomatic crisis management, a broader societal lens, and an emphasis on post-conflict rebuilding alongside tactical considerations.
Conclusion
The battlefield of the future is not confined to geography. It extends into cyberspace, information networks, and the collective consciousness of societies. Victory will no longer be measured solely by territorial gains but by the ability to preserve societal cohesion and psychological endurance. As warfare becomes more sophisticated and multidimensional, the nations that prioritize adaptability, unity, and resilience will be best positioned to navigate the challenges ahead.
And what about hope? Hope exists, not as a cliché, but as a strategy. Hope is in the laser that intercepts a rocket at low cost. In the hope that more and more women will enter the circles of decision-making, bringing with them a broader, healing voice. In the hope that an Israeli boy and a Lebanese girl will no longer fear the sky. In the hope that we realize that we will not win forever with tanks alone, but with ideas, with ethics, with the ability to imagine a different future.
How do we protect what is invisible—trust, resilience, hope? Because in a world where wars are evolving, perhaps the answer lies not only in knowing how to fight, but in knowing when to stop, how to heal, and with whom to dream.
The original article can be found here.
Colonel (Ret.) Adi Bershadsky is a member of Forum Dvorah, which promotes women in Israel’s foreign and defense policy community.