Historically, biological weapons were often dismissed by nation-states due to the high risk of collateral damage to their own forces. Pathogens have a nasty habit of moving around, and targeting enemies and allies alike.
However, the landscape is changing. Advances in biotechnology, particularly in the field of engineered pathogens, are presenting new strategic opportunities and challenges in warfare. As artificial intelligence continues to develop and CRISPR technology becomes simpler and more cost effective, the report states that the idea of creating an engineered pathogen that targets specific individuals with certain genetic markers is quickly leaving the realm of science fiction.
There is a big caveat here, and it circles around access. In order to create such biotechnological weapons, the actor will either need to build it themselves using very expensive and high level technology, or steal it from what will be highly secured laboratory environments. While many Western countries like the United States, or near-peer adversaries like Russia and China will have the resources to effectively build such weapons, the vast majority of other countries won’t.
The report ultimately argues that the human body will itself become a warfighting domain, much like land or sea. Whether countries utilize genetic engineering to maximize a soldier’s performance or enhance their abilities with technology, with time, they will also be able to create biotechnology that can target specific genes for the purpose of an attack. While non-state actors will have different goals, the general risk is the same; using people’s DNA against them.
thedebrief.org
However, the landscape is changing. Advances in biotechnology, particularly in the field of engineered pathogens, are presenting new strategic opportunities and challenges in warfare. As artificial intelligence continues to develop and CRISPR technology becomes simpler and more cost effective, the report states that the idea of creating an engineered pathogen that targets specific individuals with certain genetic markers is quickly leaving the realm of science fiction.
There is a big caveat here, and it circles around access. In order to create such biotechnological weapons, the actor will either need to build it themselves using very expensive and high level technology, or steal it from what will be highly secured laboratory environments. While many Western countries like the United States, or near-peer adversaries like Russia and China will have the resources to effectively build such weapons, the vast majority of other countries won’t.
The report ultimately argues that the human body will itself become a warfighting domain, much like land or sea. Whether countries utilize genetic engineering to maximize a soldier’s performance or enhance their abilities with technology, with time, they will also be able to create biotechnology that can target specific genes for the purpose of an attack. While non-state actors will have different goals, the general risk is the same; using people’s DNA against them.
"Synthetically-Generated Genomically Targeted Plagues" Will Be the Future of Warfare, says New Defense Report - The Debrief
In a new report, researchers explored the potential for engineered pathogens to become instruments of warfare.
thedebrief.org
