Constant surveillance is pushing NATO to ‘scatter the force’ to survive, top commander says
NATO is rethinking its command and control structures to adapt to the constant surveillance of the modern battlefield. Top commanders are pushing for the dispersal of forces to avoid being targeted by drones and long-range precision strikes.
Why it matters
The shift reflects lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, where persistent drone monitoring has made large troop concentrations highly vulnerable.
Constant surveillance is pushing NATO to change its command and control. US Army Reserve photo The modern battlefield is constantly monitored by drones, satellites, and other surveillance tools. Large troop gatherings or fixed command posts are becoming increasingly vulnerable to long-range strikes. The threat has pushed NATO to rethink command and control and how to scatter forces. Persistent surveillance over the modern battlefield is forcing NATO leaders to rethink command and control and disperse unnecessarily large troop formations that could be easy targets for enemy airstrikes. French Adm. Pierre Vandier, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, told Business Insider in a recent interview that constant surveillance and the growing risk of strikes far behind the front are forcing militaries to "scatter the force" and avoid "useless concentration."
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