EVOLVING technologies are rapidly transforming global security dynamics and are expected to fundamentally reshape the nature of warfare and military power, according to Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
Speaking at the opening of the Putrajaya Forum during the Defence Services Asia and National Security Asia 2026 exhibitions on Tuesday, he said collective security in an increasingly complex international environment depends on the ability of nations to understand, adapt and act in concert.
“Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous systems, quantum and space technologies, hypersonic systems, biotechnology, advanced materials, energy systems and next-generation communications will significantly impact future military operations,” he said.
He added that these innovations are fundamentally altering traditional defence paradigms.
“These technologies are disruptive, shifting military power from traditional platforms to interconnected, autonomous systems,” he said.
“Most importantly, their convergence is creating entirely new paradigms and capabilities for warfare,” he added.
The forum was officiated by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah, who also delivered a keynote address.
Khaled said recent global conflicts have demonstrated that modern warfare is increasingly defined by technological capability and system integration, prompting defence planners to reassess how military strength is developed and sustained.
He noted that reliance solely on advanced and expensive weapons platforms is no longer sufficient in high-intensity conflict scenarios.
Instead, he highlighted the growing importance of what is known as “attritable mass”, referring to the deployment of large numbers of lower-cost, expendable systems such as mass-produced drones.
He said this shift reflects a broader transformation in defence thinking, where scale, adaptability and technological integration are becoming as critical as traditional military assets in determining battlefield effectiveness. - April 21, 2026
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