Opportunities and Risks of the Technological Development of the Hungarian Defence Forces in the Light of Emerging and Disruptive Technologies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35926/HDR.2025.2.4Kulcsszavak:
emerging and disruptive technologies, quantum technology, artificial intelligence, military innovationAbsztrakt
The security environment of the 21st century is characterised by an unprecedented acceleration of scientific and technological progress. Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDTs) are fundamentally reshaping the nature of warfare, the structure of military capabilities, and the security landscape. For the Hungarian Defence Forces, the strategic importance of these technologies is twofold: on the one hand, they offer opportunities to enhance combat capabilities, maintain interoperability, and exploit national innovation potential; on the other hand, they pose serious challenges in terms of asymmetric threat propagation, ethical and legal dilemmas, and the risk of technological backwardness.
The study provides a comprehensive overview of the main technology categories – artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, quantum technology, biotechnology, advanced materials, energy weapons, hypersonic systems, space technology, and new tools for cyber and information warfare – and analyses their military applications. Particular emphasis will be given to the strategic opportunities relevant to the Hungarian Defence Forces and the potential threats.
The aim of the publication is to contribute to the conscious shaping of the technological development of the Hungarian Defence Forces, their close integration into NATO and EU alliance frameworks, and the development of the Hungarian defence innovation ecosystem. The analysis makes it clear that states that can proactively and consciously integrate EDTs into their military capabilities will retain their relevance in the security space in the future.
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