2020 DEFENSE OF JAPAN Defense White Paper DIGEST Chapter 3 Trends Concerning New Domains and Relevant Challenges Facing the International Community Military Science and Technology ● ● ● ● As civilian technologies have been rapidly developing, further technological innovation is expected to dramatically change battle scenes in the future. It has been pointed out that the rapid AI progress has been exerting a great impact on the military field, including the application for autonomous unmanned vehicles and the cyber domain, in addition to the improvement in data processing capacity. The United States indicates that China and Russia are developing advanced hypersonic weapons that challenge existing missile defense systems. High-power energy weapons, such as electromagnetic railguns, high-power laser weapons, and high-power microwaves, are being expected as a means to counter various airborne threats. A manned aircraft and an autonomous unmanned vehicle flying in harmony [Russian Ministry of Defence] Space Domain ● ● ● Major countries make efforts to enhance the capabilities of a variety of satellites and launch them for the purpose of enhancing C4ISR (command, control, communication, computer, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) functions. In outer space, various countries are promoting use thereof in order to maintain their own peace and Long March 5, which China security. It has also been noted that China and Russia have been enhancing capabilities to impede the successfully launched in December United States and its allies from using outer space. 2019 [Avalon/Jiji Press Photo] In order to respond to these threats, countries are restructuring space-related organizations within their forces. Cyber Domain ● ● ● Information and communications technology (ICT) advancements are further increasing the dependence of military forces on information and communications networks. For this reason, cyber attacks are recognized as an asymmetrical means to impede the military activities of adversaries at low cost. Many foreign military forces are developing offensive capabilities in cyberspace. It has been pointed out that China and Russia are bolstering the offensive cyber capabilities of their militaries for the purpose of obstructing the network of adversaries’ military forces and destroying their infrastructure. Cyber attacks have frequently been carried out against information and communications networks of not only government organizations and military forces but also business corporations and academic organizations in various countries. Attacks attempting to steal critical technologies, secrets or personal information have also been confirmed. Electromagnetic Domain ● ● ● Securing use of the electromagnetic spectrum is indispensable for the operation of communication equipment and radar systems. Major countries recognize electronic attacks for interrupting adversaries’ use of electromagnetic spectrum as an asymmetrical means to effectively hamper adversaries’ military performance, enhancing electronic warfare capabilities. China regularly conducts force-on-force exercises to effectively accomplish missions in complicated electromagnetic environments, thereby improving practical capabilities. It is reported that Russia used various electronic warfare systems in eastern Ukraine and Syria to interrupt adversaries’ command and control traffic and radar systems, LMADIS, which allegedly shot down an improving electronic warfare capabilities. Iranian drone over the Strait of Hormuz in 2019 [U.S. Marines] COVID-19 Infection ● ● ● ● The COVID-19 infection poses not only sanitary problems but exerts influence broadly on society and economy of respective countries, revealing the vulnerability of supply chains and causing serious damage on local economies and concerns over prolonged economic sluggishness worldwide. Respective countries are utilizing their military forces' sanitary capabilities and transportation capacity to deal with the infection domestically, and have also been contributing to the prevention of global spread of the infection. In the meantime, military training or bilateral/multilateral exercises have been suspended or postponed, and the infection has brought about diverse impacts and restrictions to military activities as well. If the spread of infection is further prolonged, this may exert various impacts on countries' military capability. It is said that while actively providing medical goods and dispatching medical experts to countries where the infection is spreading, China has been making propaganda efforts in various manners, including the spread of disinformation, amid growing social uncertainties and confusion due to the spread of infection. The COVID-19 pandemic may expose and intensify strategic competition among countries intending to create international and regional orders more preferable to themselves and to expand their influence. We need to closely watch such moves with great concern as security issues. Seafood market in Wuhan city, Hubei Province, China, closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic Digest 22