Gunpowder to Drones: Technology Advancements That Changed Warfare

A few significant discoveries have changed the way warfare is conducted. Either intentionally or unwittingly, technological discoveries have advanced the destructive power of weapons. So sit back while we go back in time and look at some of the more important tech advancements made in warfare over the years and what may be in store in the future.

Immortality and Gunpowder

You may know that gunpowder was an invention of the Chinese, but you may not know why. Around 850 AD, during the Tang Dynasty, Chinese alchemists were attempting to create an elixir that provided immortality. Instead, Mother Nature provided a reminder she had other plans.

In particular, what the alchemists didn’t realize is that their mixture of ingredients, if mishandled, would rapidly and spontaneously combust. For their efforts, they received severe burns to their hands and the building they worked in burnt to the ground.

Ultimately, it took about 50 years for the Chinese to figure out how to use gunpowder as a weapon. Case in point: The first rocket was born around 904 AD, which was used by the Song dynasty to defeat the Mongols. By late 11th century, the secret sauce made its way to India, the Middle East and Europe — and warfare would be forever changed.

Hand Cannons Become Small Firearms

Today’s artillery and handguns can be traced back to about 907 AD, when the Chinese first found a use for gunpowder by discovering the technology to make hand cannons. Made of bamboo tubes, the gunpowder was lit by soldiers to fire rocks and clay shards at the enemy.

Eventually, the discovery of bronze and casting methods introduced bronze cannons in the early 15th century. However, these early cannons were prone to inaccuracy, blowing up when fired and were difficult to move around. Today, we use more highly specialized steel like CLARM HBR, CLARM HB3 and CLARM HB7. With the added advancement in heat treating methods, modern artillery delivers a powerful punch.

Small firearms are another offshoot of the early Chinese hand cannons. In particular, the first major advancement in the early 15th century eliminated the need for two people to fire a weapon. The Matchlock was a mechanism used to light the gunpowder when firing. Up until the Matchlock mechanism came along, one person would aim the weapon and another would light the gunpowder with a slow burning stick. Ultimately, the Matchlock made it possible to have more firearms on the field.

The Little Tank That Couldn’t

Trench warfare had become a brutally ineffective military strategy in WWI, as the military vehicles of that era could not handle the rough terrain and trenches. So designers created “Little Willie” in 1915. Though never intended for the battlefield, this prototype tank proved its potential.

The discovery of the rhomboid track frame and cleated tracks would begin the era of mechanized warfare. From there, rapid improvements to tank construction came about quickly. From drive trains and armor to crew size and guns, tanks have become a major force in conducting warfare.

In 1990, the British Challenger II and US Abrams M1A2 came on the scene. Both saw advancements in targeting, firepower and self-protection. Today, we see augmented reality sightings like day and night thermal imaging, or digital targeting controls that provide the military with deadly accuracy while on the move. Not to mention the guns that deliver a variety of ordinance for use in multiple battle conditions. Will the tank of the future become a drone?

Warfare from the Air

Taking the fight to the enemy soon changed when man found out how to get weapons into the air. Today’s cruise missiles and drones are modern weapon creations born back in 1898. The radio-controlled technology was patented by Nikola Tesla. After a successful demonstration of controlling a boat on the water, the military tried and failed to use this technology during WWI. However, the prototypes of flying torpedoes proved it was possible to deliver ordinance from unmanned aircraft.

After WWI, the British Royal Navy was able to develop the DH.82B Queen Bee drone for use in anti-aircraft target practice. In 1919, Reginald Denny created the Radioplane Company. In 1940, Denny’s company supplied the British Army and Navy with 15,000 OQ-2 drones that were used mainly for recon. As a side note, one of the line workers, Norma Jeane Mortenson, became a model for advertising the company’s products. But you might better know her by her stage name: Marilyn Monroe.

The Future of Warfare

Science and technology have taken the lead in warfare advancements. Are the days of hardware like small arms and tanks vanishing? Advances in robotics, autonomous unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, neurosciences, nanotechnology and more have made the race to military dominance razor thin. What will be the next big discovery that will change warfare like the Chinese did with gunpowder? Only time will tell.