The Pace of Technological Change in Conflict | First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins

Why It Matters

Accelerating tech cycles force militaries to rethink procurement and innovation, directly affecting national security and defence industry competitiveness.

Key Takeaways

• Ukrainian drones require daily upgrades to counter Russian jamming
• Technological advancement now measured in days, not years
• Future conflicts demand agility, adaptability, and rapid innovation
• Removing regulations accelerates deployment of new systems for war
• Risk‑taking mindset essential to stay ahead of adversaries

Summary

First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins warned that the tempo of technological change in modern warfare has accelerated to a point where days, not years, define innovation cycles. He highlighted Ukraine’s relentless need to upgrade drones daily to evade Russian jamming, illustrating how quickly battlefield tools become obsolete.

Jenkins argued that agility, adaptability, and rapid innovation are now decisive factors in conflict outcomes. He called for a wholesale shift in defence procurement: cutting red tape, embracing risk, and shortening the gap between testing and fielding new systems. The speaker emphasized that the current pace is the slowest the sector will ever experience.

Notable remarks included, “This is as slow as it gets,” and the plea to “change our entire mindset” to stay ahead of adversaries. He urged leaders to ruthlessly eliminate unnecessary regulations that hinder swift deployment of emerging technologies.

The implications are profound: defence ministries must overhaul acquisition processes, the defence industry faces pressure to deliver faster, and allied forces must adopt more flexible, innovation‑centric doctrines to maintain strategic advantage.

Original Description

The inaugural RUSI Lord Fisher Lecture was delivered by General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff, Royal Navy on 29 April 2026. He discussed his vision to redefine UK naval operations through rapid technological innovation.

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