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Lethal Autonomy: The Future of Warfare Whether We Like It or Not
A broad and thorough coverage of the future of warfare across all military domains—including space and cyberspace—that presents a clear, compelling, and well supported description of how lethal autonomous platforms will transform warfare.
The proliferation of the use of drones in the Russia-Ukraine conflict provides some indication of how warfare is changing, but Lethal The Future of Warfare goes much further, presenting compelling descriptions of how artificial intelligence and autonomous weaponry are going to transform conventional warfare, rendering current militaries almost entirely obsolete.
Beginning with a description of the attributes that have characterized advances in military technology and impacted operational concepts and organizations, Frank Kendall discusses the features that matter in warfare and the analytical basis for assessing new concepts. For each traditional military domain ground, sea surface, sea subsurface, and air as well as for space, cyberspace and multi-domain operations, he provides a detailed description of the concepts, building blocks, and complexities that have to be considered in designing forces incorporating lethal autonomy.
The proliferation of the use of drones in the Russia-Ukraine conflict provides some indication of how warfare is changing, but Lethal The Future of Warfare goes much further, presenting compelling descriptions of how artificial intelligence and autonomous weaponry are going to transform conventional warfare, rendering current militaries almost entirely obsolete.
Beginning with a description of the attributes that have characterized advances in military technology and impacted operational concepts and organizations, Frank Kendall discusses the features that matter in warfare and the analytical basis for assessing new concepts. For each traditional military domain ground, sea surface, sea subsurface, and air as well as for space, cyberspace and multi-domain operations, he provides a detailed description of the concepts, building blocks, and complexities that have to be considered in designing forces incorporating lethal autonomy.
- GenresNonfiction
Audible Audio
Published August 11, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Frank Kendall’s new book, Lethal Autonomy, is a detailed and thorough look at the future of warfare and the changes our military services must undertake now to prepare for that future.
Kendall has exactly the background necessary to lay all this out.
An engineer by trade and inclination, he held jobs that give him unique insight into the process of government development and acquisition of complex weapon systems as well as the policy and budget aspects of training and equipping our military services. His additional training as an attorney allows him to argue his “case” and lay out the facts in a way that is understandable to people not steeped in the business of the military.
Is there a more hide-bound system than how we develop and procure weapons and the means of delivering them? Probably not. There will be practitioners of that system who disagree with some of Kendall’s specific recommendations in each of the domains he covers: land, sea surface, sea subsurface, air, space and cyberspace. But he credibly argues that developments in technology are profoundly changing the way we will fight future wars.
And his prescience cannot be denied in his section on a potential sea surface mission of interest, “…to provide continuous control of key maritime terrain where we might not have proximate land access – choke points, for example. In this situation, we are trying to prevent an adversary from transiting an operationally significant waterway. We may also be trying to protect the transit of friendly shipping.” Sound like any real-world situations we’re facing right now?
If you’re interested in where the future of warfare is headed, this is the book for you.
Kendall has exactly the background necessary to lay all this out.
An engineer by trade and inclination, he held jobs that give him unique insight into the process of government development and acquisition of complex weapon systems as well as the policy and budget aspects of training and equipping our military services. His additional training as an attorney allows him to argue his “case” and lay out the facts in a way that is understandable to people not steeped in the business of the military.
Is there a more hide-bound system than how we develop and procure weapons and the means of delivering them? Probably not. There will be practitioners of that system who disagree with some of Kendall’s specific recommendations in each of the domains he covers: land, sea surface, sea subsurface, air, space and cyberspace. But he credibly argues that developments in technology are profoundly changing the way we will fight future wars.
And his prescience cannot be denied in his section on a potential sea surface mission of interest, “…to provide continuous control of key maritime terrain where we might not have proximate land access – choke points, for example. In this situation, we are trying to prevent an adversary from transiting an operationally significant waterway. We may also be trying to protect the transit of friendly shipping.” Sound like any real-world situations we’re facing right now?
If you’re interested in where the future of warfare is headed, this is the book for you.
September 18, 2026
Kendall's book explores in great detail how the US military can evolve to greater use of unmanned weapons in the continuing rivalry with China. He presents how each aspect of the armed forces needs to proceed, in surface, submarine, ground, and space, etc. It's a peek into strategic thinking that I as a layman found fascinating.
His recent prominence through op-eds and television interviews has focused on his criticisms of the Trump Administration. The book conveys the gravitas of his ability and character.
His recent prominence through op-eds and television interviews has focused on his criticisms of the Trump Administration. The book conveys the gravitas of his ability and character.
August 20, 2026
This is an excellent book that paints a clear picture of how the future of warfare will likely unfold across the domains of war. A methodical analysis, that is structured in a way that is easy to understand and can almost serve as a reference. Good insight at the end of the book on the best way to proceed in a deliberate and reasoned way into the future. Highly recommend for all enthusiast concerning national defense matters.
August 20, 2026
The book has good content and certainly explains his view of the future. For those in the industry, we have seen this coming for a long time. The book is written at a pretty technical level and can be tough to underatand or picture. It's written more like a technical paper than a book. Worth reading if you are interested in this type of discission.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews