In this essay for The Atlantic, Elliot Ackerman examines the sinking of the Russian cruiser Moskva and asks whether Ukraine’s use of anti-ship missiles marks the beginning of a new age of warfare.
Using the debate over the U.S. Marine Corps’ Force Design 2030 as a frame, Ackerman explores the shift from platform-centric warfare to anti-platform systems built around missiles, drones, and long-range precision fires.
The Moskva and Modern Warfare
Ackerman places the loss of the Moskva alongside earlier turning points in military history, from ironclads to aircraft carriers, when new technologies made older assumptions obsolete.
Force Design 2030
The essay examines the Marine Corps’ controversial transformation under General David Berger, including the decision to divest tanks and legacy capabilities in preparation for a potential conflict with China.
Platform Warfare and Its Future
At its center, the piece asks whether the war in Ukraine validates a future of anti-ship missiles, anti-tank weapons, drones, and small, distributed forces capable of defeating larger military platforms.