Warfare on a Budget: How AI and Inexpensive Tech Are Rewriting Combat Tactics

Warfare has always been shaped by technology. From bows and arrows to swords and shields to drones and artificial intelligence (AI), how battles are fought reflects the tools soldiers have at their disposal.

But what happens when you mix cutting-edge AI with inexpensive, off-the-shelf tech? The result is a new era of modern combat, where speed, adaptability, and ingenuity reign supreme.

We’re seeing this play out in real-time with the US Army’s 101st Airborne Division, which recently demonstrated how simple tech solutions are being used to outsmart the enemy and gain an edge on the battlefield.

Here’s our take on how low-cost technology and AI are rewriting the rules of warfare.

The Power of Low-Cost Technology

What’s the price of a circuit board? For the soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division, about $30. And that’s all it took to create a decoy that mimicked the electronic signature of a command post.

Simple, affordable, and—most importantly—effective.

During a recent training exercise at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) in Louisiana, soldiers used these low-cost boards to throw off enemy forces by making them think they were attacking a high-value target.

The trick worked—enemy artillery spent half its firepower attacking dirt where the decoys were placed.

This clever use of inexpensive tech isn’t just a one-off trick. It’s becoming a critical part of how modern military units operate. Gone are the days when only high-budget, high-tech solutions could make a difference in combat.

Now, soldiers are getting creative with what’s available and using these tools to their advantage in ways that are just as effective.

AI and the Shrike App: Speeding Up the Kill Chain

Low-cost solutions are just one piece of the puzzle.

On the other end of the spectrum is AI, which is quickly becoming a game-changer for military operations.

Enter “Shrike,” an AI-powered app that drastically speeds up the process of identifying and targeting enemies.

What used to take 15 minutes—scanning for targets, assessing the situation, and sending a fire mission—now takes under a minute.

According to reports, here’s how it works: soldiers fly a drone over enemy territory, and Shrike uses artificial intelligence to analyze the video feed in real-time. The software can spot a camouflaged vehicle from just a peek of a bumper or a flash of a windshield. Once it identifies a target, the app automatically generates a fire mission, which a human operator can approve or deny. But it doesn’t stop there—once the fire mission is executed, the drone can circle back and assess the damage, even initiating follow-up strikes if needed.

This level of efficiency and automation is a massive leap forward in combat operations.

Transforming Traditional Tactics

With AI and low-cost tech at their disposal, soldiers are transforming the way they fight.

What once took a whole team of specialists is now streamlined with a few clicks and a drone flight.

The old ways of warfare—long, drawn-out targeting processes, waiting for intelligence to trickle in—are being replaced by rapid, tech-driven solutions.

In addition to quicker targeting, soldiers are getting smarter about countering enemy tech, too.

Drones aren’t just for reconnaissance anymore—they’re becoming key players in electronic warfare.

During the exercise, 101st soldiers set up a counter-drone defense system, trying to lure enemy drones into a trap. While they didn’t snag the drone in the net, they managed to shake it off their command post, preventing an attack.

Being adaptable and thinking creatively are essential in today’s warfare. Soldiers must stay one step ahead of the enemy as technology advances, using their own tools and clever strategies to outsmart them.

The Bigger Picture: A New Era of Combat

This blend of high-tech AI and affordable, off-the-shelf tools isn’t just a neat trick—it’s changing the landscape of electronic warfare.

It’s more decentralized, faster, and far more adaptable than it’s ever been. And while it’s easy to get caught up in the shiny new tech, the real magic is how soldiers are using it on the ground.

They’re combining old-school tactics with cutting-edge tools to create a new way of fighting—one that’s efficient, cost-effective, and lethal.

The big takeaway here is that modern combat isn’t just about having the biggest budget or the fanciest gear anymore. It’s about how creatively and effectively you can use what you’ve got.

As this kind of tech spreads, we’re going to see battles that are quicker, more precise, and way harder to predict.

What’s Around the Corner for Modern Warfare?

We’re just scratching the surface of what AI and low-cost tech can do for the military.

As soldiers and commanders continue to embrace these tools, we’ll likely see even more innovations that will reshape how wars are fought.

AI will only get smarter, and as it integrates further into military operations, we can expect to see it playing a role in everything from logistics to decision-making on the battlefield.

At the same time, the use of low-cost solutions like decoys and circuit boards will continue to evolve, giving soldiers even more ways to stay ahead of the enemy without breaking the bank.

This is the future of combat—where adaptability, creativity, and tech come together to give our troops the upper hand, no matter what they’re up against.

Final Thoughts

In the fast-paced world of modern combat, it’s often the simplest tools and smartest tactics that make all the difference.

Whether it’s a $30 circuit board tricking enemy artillery or AI speeding up fire missions, today’s soldiers are proving that adaptability and resourcefulness are just as crucial as ever.

The battlefield is constantly shifting, but one thing remains true: the future belongs to those who can stay sharp, think quickly, and use whatever they’ve got to outwit the enemy.

In many ways, it’s the same mindset that’s been ingrained in military culture for generations—just with a few more high-tech tricks up our sleeves.

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Disclaimer: SOFREP utilizes AI for image generation and article research. Occasionally, it’s like handing a chimpanzee the keys to your liquor cabinet. It’s not always perfect and if a mistake is made, we own up to it full stop. In a world where information comes at us in tidal waves, it is an important tool that helps us sift through the brass for live rounds.