ABSTRACT
Cyber warfare today is arguably at the peak of this inflated discourse, where its importance is recognised but its implications remain poorly understood beyond the limited community of technical specialists. A more thorough examination of the mechanics of cyber warfare renders much of this military discourse highly hyperbolic. This chapter seeks to explain how cyber attacks function and suggests their likely trajectory on the future battlefield. In considering the impact of cyber warfare on future operations, militaries are clearly correct to be taking the security of their systems seriously. Offensive cyber operations offer opportunities to gain contextual tactical advantage by disrupting the functioning of enemy systems and undermining the adversary’s confidence in their equipment. Finally, the opportunities offered by offensive cyber capabilities are difficult to guarantee at a specified time and place, and so cannot be relied on as a foundational capability in deterrence terms. Cyber warfare is real and cannot be ignored.
