Peacetime technology still drives military competition

What drives military technology forward in peacetime, and can new technology make war more likely?

Competition and the military potential of civilian technology keep development moving; new capability can deter war, but it can also create false confidence.

New technology can give a government false confidence and make force seem easier to use. More commonly, states continue development because they see others doing the same and consider how even civilian inventions might be adapted for war. That reciprocal attention can sustain competition during peace without either side deliberately seeking a conflict. Preparing for war may deter an opponent, but the same preparations can also shape perceptions and risk.