Overview

Technology and its proper use constitute key components in the strength of any armed forces. However, battlefield technologies constantly evolve in the quest for competitive advantage, with the rate at which new concepts and devices appear steadily increasing. In the world of technological intelligence, militaries worldwide not only seek to advance their technologies but to gather information about the latest technological and scientific developments of present and future adversaries, evaluate their possible impacts, and prevent as much as possible, the advantages gained by technological surprise—that sudden appearance of novel weapon systems that can tilt the success of an operation, battle, or even war. While ample documentation circulates on operational intelligence—defined as information about an enemy's order of battle and intentions—and “operational surprise,” technological intelligence (and consequently technological surprise) receives far less attention than today’s military reality merits. In Ready for Battle: Technological Intelligence on the Battlefield, Azriel Lorber rectifies this slant towards operational intelligence, engaging through historical example and policy prescription technology's role in modern warfare, and the dangers presented by technological inferiority on the one hand, and technological surprise on the other. Throughout, he offers examples of well-kept technological secrets that turned the tides of battle—as well as less well-hidden efforts that failed in their effect. Ready for Battle analyzes the challenges presented and possible methods for addressing questions of technological surprise, drawing on historical examples of failure and success and offering insights into the intricacies of technological deception. This work will interest military historians and officers, security analysts, and defense industry professionals.

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9781442239302

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Reviews

Winning conflicts requires multiple levels of intelligence-operational, tactical, strategic, cultural, and environmental, to name a few. There is also 'technological intelligence'-knowledge about the tools, instruments, devices, and techniques one's adversary possesses or is developing. In this book, an 'adapted translation' from Hebrew, Lorber thoroughly explores technological intelligence using past examples such as the British deciphering of Germany's Enigma machine and the US breaking of Japanese code, as well as British engagements against Zulu warriors in Africa and Israeli air defense struggles. Each historical example is well presented, leaving readers convinced that winning a conflict requires embracing all aspects of the enemy. Two chapters focus on military intelligence failures. Prejudices, preconceptions, and assumptions regarding an enemy's capabilities must be set aside. Intelligence must be gathered using all methods, ranging from the simplest boots-on-the-ground approach to sophisticated eyes in the sky. Winners will think faster, analyze all possibilities for action, and work increasingly outside the box to ensure an adversary cannot gain a tactical, operational, strategic, or technological edge. Lorber makes a convincing demonstration and argument for the need of robust technological intelligence in this interesting work. Summing Up: Recommended. Academic and general military history and history of technology collections. CHOICE

Author Information

Azriel Lorber served as infantry and in the reserves of the armor corp of the Israeli Defense Forces, from which he retired as a Major. He holds degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and in aerospace and ocean engineering from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He worked in the Israeli aircraft and military industries and for the Israeli government. In addition to his labors as a consultant and instructor on various topics in military technology, he has authored some fifty papers and articles in the professional and military journals and authored several book-length works on military technology.

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