MOSAIC WARFARE

Mosaic warfare is a military concept developed by DARPA that represents a fundamental shift in how military operations are conducted. Instead of relying on a few large, expensive, and highly capable platforms (like aircraft carriers or advanced fighter jets), mosaic warfare emphasizes creating a "mosaic" of many smaller, distributed, and interconnected systems that work together.
The key principles include:
  • Distributed Architecture: Rather than putting all capabilities into a few high-value targets, mosaic warfare spreads functions across numerous smaller platforms - drones, sensors, weapons systems, and command nodes that can operate independently or in coordination.
  • Dynamic Composition: These distributed elements can be rapidly reconfigured and recomposed based on mission needs, much like rearranging tiles in a mosaic to create different patterns. Units can be mixed and matched for specific objectives.
  • Speed and Adaptability: The approach emphasizes rapid decision-making and adaptation, often leveraging AI and machine learning to coordinate the many moving pieces faster than human operators could manage alone.
  • Resilience Through Redundancy: If some nodes in the network are destroyed or compromised, the remaining elements can continue operating and adapt to fill gaps, making the overall force more survivable.
  • Cost Effectiveness: Many smaller, simpler systems can often be more cost-effective than fewer complex ones, and losses are less catastrophic to overall capability.
    The concept draws inspiration from how complex systems in nature (like swarms) and technology (like the internet) achieve resilience and effectiveness through distributed, interconnected networks rather than centralized control.

MOS001 - Technical Architecture
MOS002 - Command and Control
MOS003 - System Integration
MOS004 - Operational Flexibility
MOS005 - Decision Cycle
MOS006 - Technology Enablers
MOS007 - System Survivability
MOS008 - Network Resilience
MOS009 - Economic Analysis
MOS010 - Resource Optimization
MOS011 - Implementation Challenges
MOS012 - Future Developments
MOS013 - Comparative Analysis
MOS014 - Research Methods