Force designs built around a single revolutionary technology rarely survive contact with the history of warfare. Aircraft did not abolish artillery, and renewed demand for tube artillery and naval guns reflects the value of shells that can be delivered repeatedly at comparatively low cost. The April 2025 assessment questions claims for highly manoeuvrable hypersonic missiles because high speed produces wide turn radii and the more ambitious manoeuvres lack demonstrated operational viability. Effective forces combine enough high-end quality with enough affordable quantity to produce the required effect. Wonder-weapon claims still have to withstand tests of physics, cost, and force balance.
Notable Point · 57:30-1:01:16
New technology usually joins warfare instead of replacing it
The return of artillery and naval guns, alongside the cost and physics of hypersonic weapons, supports balancing advanced systems with affordable mass.