Hybrid Warfare
Encyclopedia
Hybrid warfare is a military strategy
that blends conventional warfare
, irregular warfare
and cyberwarfare. In addition, hybrid warfare is used to describe attacks by nuclear
, biological
and chemical
weapon
s, improvised explosive device
s and information warfare
. This approach to conflicts
, is a potent, complex variation of warfare. Hybrid warfare can be used to describe the flexible and complex dynamics of the battlespace
requiring a highly adaptable and resilient response.
Lt. Col. Bill Nemeth’s defined hybrid warfare as “the contemporary form of guerrilla warfare” that “employs both modern technology and modern mobilization methods.”
Nathan Freier of the Center for Strategic and International Studies
was one of key people that originally defined hybrid warfare involving four threats: (1) traditional; (2) irregular; (3) catastrophic terrorism; and (4) disruptive, which exploit technology
to counteract military superiority.
Retired United States Army
Col. Jack McCuen defines hybrid warfare as the focus of activity of asymmetric warfare
, fought on three decisive battlegrounds: (1) within the conflict zone population; (2) home front population; and (3) international community.
David Kilcullen
author of the book “The Accidental Guerrilla ISBN 0195368347” states hybrid warfare is the best explanation for modern
conflicts, but highlights that it includes a combination of irregular warfare, civil war
, insurgency
and terrorism
.
The journalist
Frank G. Hoffmani defines a hybrid warfare as any enemy
that uses simultaneous and adaptive employment of a complex combination of conventional weapon
s, irregular warfare, terrorism and criminal behaviour
in the battlespace to achieve political
objectives.
In November 2005, USMC Lieutenant General James N. Mattis, and USMCR Lieutenant Colonel Frank Hoffman
, (Ret.) called "Hybrid Wars" an extension of the Three Block War
to a Four Block War.
Undersecretary of the Navy Robert O. Work
has said that hostile forces would use “hybrid warriors” hidden in civilian populations.
Military strategy
Military strategy is a set of ideas implemented by military organizations to pursue desired strategic goals. Derived from the Greek strategos, strategy when it appeared in use during the 18th century, was seen in its narrow sense as the "art of the general", 'the art of arrangement' of troops...
that blends conventional warfare
Conventional warfare
Conventional warfare is a form of warfare conducted byusing conventional military weapons and battlefield tactics between two or more states in open confrontation. The forces on each side are well-defined, and fight using weapons that primarily target the opposing army...
, irregular warfare
Irregular warfare
Irregular warfare is warfare in which one or more combatants are irregular military rather than regular forces. Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare, and so is asymmetric warfare....
and cyberwarfare. In addition, hybrid warfare is used to describe attacks by nuclear
Nuclear warfare
Nuclear warfare, or atomic warfare, is a military conflict or political strategy in which nuclear weaponry is detonated on an opponent. Compared to conventional warfare, nuclear warfare can be vastly more destructive in range and extent of damage...
, biological
Biological warfare
Biological warfare is the use of biological toxins or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi with intent to kill or incapacitate humans, animals or plants as an act of war...
and chemical
Chemical warfare
Chemical warfare involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons. This type of warfare is distinct from Nuclear warfare and Biological warfare, which together make up NBC, the military acronym for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical...
weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
s, improvised explosive device
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
s and information warfare
Information warfare
The term Information Warfare is primarily an American concept involving the use and management of information technology in pursuit of a competitive advantage over an opponent...
. This approach to conflicts
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
, is a potent, complex variation of warfare. Hybrid warfare can be used to describe the flexible and complex dynamics of the battlespace
Battlespace
Battlespace is a term used to signify a unified military strategy to integrate and combine armed forces for the military theatre of operations, including air, information, land, sea, and space to achieve military goals. It includes the environment, factors, and conditions that must be understood...
requiring a highly adaptable and resilient response.
Other definitions
United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
Lt. Col. Bill Nemeth’s defined hybrid warfare as “the contemporary form of guerrilla warfare” that “employs both modern technology and modern mobilization methods.”
Nathan Freier of the Center for Strategic and International Studies
Center for Strategic and International Studies
The Center for Strategic and International Studies is a bipartisan Washington, D.C., foreign policy think tank. The center was founded in 1962 by Admiral Arleigh Burke and Ambassador David Manker Abshire, originally as part of Georgetown University...
was one of key people that originally defined hybrid warfare involving four threats: (1) traditional; (2) irregular; (3) catastrophic terrorism; and (4) disruptive, which exploit technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
to counteract military superiority.
Retired United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Col. Jack McCuen defines hybrid warfare as the focus of activity of asymmetric warfare
Asymmetric warfare
Asymmetric warfare is war between belligerents whose relative military power differs significantly, or whose strategy or tactics differ significantly....
, fought on three decisive battlegrounds: (1) within the conflict zone population; (2) home front population; and (3) international community.
David Kilcullen
David Kilcullen
David John Kilcullen F.R.G.S is an Australian author and consultant who is a leading theorist on counterinsurgency and counterterrorism. In 2007 he served as the Senior Counterinsurgency Adviser to the Commander of the Multi-National Force - Iraq responsible for planning and executing the Joint...
author of the book “The Accidental Guerrilla ISBN 0195368347” states hybrid warfare is the best explanation for modern
Modern warfare
Modern warfare, although present in every historical period of military history, is generally used to refer to the concepts, methods and technologies that have come into use during and after the Second World War and the Korean War...
conflicts, but highlights that it includes a combination of irregular warfare, civil war
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
, insurgency
Insurgency
An insurgency is an armed rebellion against a constituted authority when those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents...
and terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
.
The journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
Frank G. Hoffmani defines a hybrid warfare as any enemy
Enemy
An enemy or foe is a being that is seen as forcefully adverse or threatening. The term is usually used within the greater context of war, to denote an opposing group as a threat.Enemy or Enemies may refer to:-Literature:...
that uses simultaneous and adaptive employment of a complex combination of conventional weapon
Conventional weapon
The terms conventional weapons or conventional arms generally refer to weapons that are in relatively wide use that are not weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. Conventional weapons include small arms and light weapons, sea and land mines, as well as ...
s, irregular warfare, terrorism and criminal behaviour
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
in the battlespace to achieve political
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
objectives.
In November 2005, USMC Lieutenant General James N. Mattis, and USMCR Lieutenant Colonel Frank Hoffman
Frank Hoffman
For the Louisiana politician, see Frank Hoffmann.For the 19th-century baseball player, see Frank Hoffman .Frank Hoffman was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1978....
, (Ret.) called "Hybrid Wars" an extension of the Three Block War
Three Block War
The Three Block War is a concept described by U.S. Marine General Charles Krulak in the late 1990s to illustrate the complex spectrum of challenges likely to be faced by soldiers on the modern battlefield. In Krulak's example, soldiers may be required to conduct full scale military action,...
to a Four Block War.
Undersecretary of the Navy Robert O. Work
Robert O. Work
Robert Orton Work is the current United States Under Secretary of the Navy.-Biography:Work attended the University of Illinois and earned a B.S. in Biology. Work would later earn an M.S. in Systems Management from the University of Southern California; an M.S...
has said that hostile forces would use “hybrid warriors” hidden in civilian populations.