Rethinking Warfare: Why Militaries Must Train for the Age of Cheap, Asymmetrical Conflict

Abstract

The face of modern warfare is shifting beneath our feet, and the evidence lies scattered across battlefields from Ukraine to Syria and beyond. Conflicts once defined by towering budgets, cutting-edge technology, and symmetrical force-on-force engagements are giving way to a messier reality - one where ingenuity, improvisation, and low-cost solutions wield outsized influence. The Russo-Ukraine War and the Syria-Rebel forces conflict have thrust this evolution into stark relief, showcasing how asymmetrical warfare, powered by commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) drones, vintage bombs retrofitted with glide kits, and makeshift air defense systems, can disrupt traditional military paradigms. Yet, despite these glaring lessons, global militaries - particularly those of major powers like the United States, NATO allies, and even rising players like China - continue to train predominantly for conventional wars that may never come. The question looms: why aren't we rethinking military exercises to mirror these chaotic, resource-driven scenarios? The answer may lie in a mix of institutional inertia, budgetary priorities, and a reluctance to embrace the unglamorous truth of 21st-century conflict. It's time for a new type of military exercise - one that doesn't just nod to asymmetry but immerses forces in it.