Commanding General of US Army, Europe and Africa: 'The Battlefield Is Transparent'

Why It Matters

The briefing signals a strategic pivot toward ultra‑fast decision making and transparent‑battlefield doctrines, reshaping defense investments and NATO interoperability.

Key Takeaways

• War's character is evolving faster than any previous era
• Battlefield transparency makes visible assets instantly vulnerable to strikes
• Decision cycles have shrunk from hours to mere seconds
• Joint US Army Europe‑Africa must accelerate coordination to match pace
• New systems deliver large effects cheaper, reshaping force mass concepts

Summary

The commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa warned that the nature of war is transforming at an unprecedented speed, driven by emerging technologies that render the battlefield increasingly transparent. He emphasized that traditional concepts of mass and protection are being upended as visible assets become immediate targets.

He highlighted three core shifts: decision cycles have collapsed from hours to seconds; battlefield effects can now be generated at scale with systems that did not exist five years ago; and the cost of delivering such effects has dropped dramatically. These dynamics turn the very mass armies once relied upon into liabilities.

Quoting, "What can be seen can be struck. What can be fixed can be defeated," the general cited ongoing demonstrations in Europe and the Middle East, where adversaries exploit transparency to disrupt U.S. forces. He pointed to recent engagements where rapid sensor‑to‑shooter loops have neutralized high‑value targets within seconds.

The implication is clear: U.S. and allied forces must synchronize faster than the environment evolves, adopting agile command structures, integrated data networks, and procurement cycles that keep pace with technological change. Failure to do so could erode deterrence and operational effectiveness across the Euro‑African theater.

Original Description

In this excerpt from the Kermit Roosevelt Lecture, General Christopher Donahue explains how warfare is evolving faster than ever before, from collapsing decision cycles to the rise of cheap, scalable battlefield technologies.

Drawing on lessons from Europe and the Middle East, the Commanding General of US Army, Europe and Africa asks a critical question: can allied armies adapt faster than the battlefield itself is changing?

From the lecture: Modernizing Land Power for The Next Fight: The Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative and the New Forms of Mass.

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