War Is No Longer Where You Think It Is
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This text explores the structural transformation of contemporary warfare, where the locus of conflict progressively shifts from the site of physical impact to the space of decision-making. Drawing on recent developments observed in Ukraine and the Middle East, it analyzes the rise of unmanned systems—particularly drones—not merely as tactical tools, but as vectors of a deeper epistemic and operational change. The study highlights the increasing separation between decision, risk, and accountability, as well as the emergence of distributed, algorithmically mediated architectures of action, including drone swarms and AI-assisted command systems. In this evolving landscape, the battlefield is redefined as a network of autonomous interactions rather than a fixed geographic space, challenging traditional notions of visibility, control, and human presence. The argument points toward a broader cultural and strategic shift in which adaptability, integration, and interpretive capacity become central to maintaining relevance in an increasingly autonomous and opaque environment of conflict.
Author: Mociulschi, Adrian Leonard
Institution: National University of Music Bucharest
Language: English
Subfield: Control and Systems Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7165016673
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