In this issue

We admit it: previous end-of-year prediction articles from the GDT team have been a bit hit or miss, forecasting, as they have, years where we'd see railguns, lasers, exoskeletons and AI weapons. If there’s one thing we’ve learnt, it’s that the near future will be shaped more closely by what’s happened during the previous year, rather than lofty sci-fi ideas. With that in mind, we take a look back at the technology themes that have dominated this past year to see how they might progress into 2021. (There's still a lot of exciting tech involved, though!)

Also in this issue, we explore the military component of the UK's new National Cyber Front, hear about thow the country can make the most of the recently announced defence spending boost, and look at why a post-Brexit strategy for Britain's space capabilities is essential.

Elsewhere, we find out what the incoming Biden administration's policies will mean for future US participation in the Open Skies treaty, how soon we could see hypersonic technologies in service with the US Navy, and why we should look beyond the headlines and pay attention to some of the less talked-about weapons under development in Russia. 

In tech, we take a look at four next-generation fighter jets to watch, and hear from QinetiQ about mairitime training systems that help prepare ship crews for piracy swarm attacks. 

And, in a very special Q&A, we speak to former F-14 RIO, Topgun instructor and advisor to the original Top Gun movie Dave 'Bio' Baranek about his career, the F-14 and his books.

We hope you enjoy our last edition of 2020. Happy holidays from the GDT team!

Susanne Hauner, publisher