Development and functional relationship The United States 3rd Offset Strategy22 and Russian non-linear war23 With the resurgence in Russian military effectiveness, the United States of America (US) has had to once again examine how it might ‘offset’ the asymmetrical aspects of adversaries’ development. For the 3rd Offset Strategy the Department of Defense took a more holistic approach asking ‘who are our pacing competitors, what are they doing, how can they affect the US and how can we counter the effects?’ Once understood, force development and capability development can focus on the problem. Currently, the US Department of Defense’s five key technology areas for exploitation are: 3 • • • • • autonomous learning systems; human-machine collaboration; assisted human operations through technology; advanced human-machine combat teaming; and network-enabled autonomous weapons and high-speed weapons. Notably, all of these use the electromagnetic spectrum and cyberspace and therefore open up novel attack vectors and present novel vulnerabilities. Interestingly, the Russian non-linear war seeks to exploit and protect similar attack vectors and vulnerabilities, leaving the West to determine whether it is once again in an arms race. mcdc22 23 22 More information is available at http://csbaonline.org/research/publications/towarda-new-offset-strategy-exploiting-u-s-long-term-advantages-to-restore 23 Non-linear war or hybrid war is a military strategy that blends conventional warfare, irregular warfare and cyber warfare. By combining kinetic operations with subversive efforts, the aggressor intends to avoid attribution or retribution. More information is available at https://inmoscowsshadows.wordpress.com/2014/07/06/the-gerasimovdoctrine-and-russian-non-linear-war/ 26 JDN 1/18