The Emergence of a New Military-Tech Complex
The emergence of what can be described as a “military-tech complex” reflects a profound transformation in the organization of war and the institutions that sustain it. The familiar model of the military-industrial complex, forged during the Cold War, revolved around the production and acquisition of heavy weapons systems—tanks, fighter aircraft, missiles, and naval platforms—delivered through long procurement cycles and controlled almost exclusively by state institutions. Today, by contrast, the decisive elements of power lie not only in arsenals but in the speed, precision, and reliability of information flows that allow armed forces to sense threats, coordinate operations, and act effectively across domains. Cloud infrastructures, satellite communication networks, artificial intelligence applications, and algorithmic analytics have become indispensable to contemporary conflict. These capabilities are not peripheral to combat power but are embedded at its core, shaping how wars are planned and fought. As a result, private corporations that own and operate these infrastructures now play an unprecedented role, eroding traditional boundaries between state authority, market actors, and the conduct of military operations.