The recent surprise attacks by Hamas in Israel and ongoing battles in Ukraine have showcased the evolving nature of warfare, where inexpensive, accessible technologies play a pivotal role. This new warfare paradigm employs unexpected tactics and readily available equipment, such as drones and speedboats, to catch more technologically advanced adversaries off guard. While the element of surprise has historically been a powerful strategy in warfare, the modern twist is the use of affordable, commercial technologies that can inflict significant damage to costlier military assets.
  

Key Points: 

1. Surprise attacks, like the one executed by Hamas in Israel, have historically been effective in initiating conflicts, as evidenced by events like the Trojan Horse and Pearl Harbor.
2. The new face of warfare capitalizes on cheap, accessible technologies, such as drones and speedboats. In Ukraine, these technologies have caused significant damage to the Russian Navy.
3. The U.S. Navy’s USS Ford carrier strike group, while technologically advanced, remains vulnerable in crowded regions like the Eastern Mediterranean, where it can be detected and potentially targeted.
4. The use of inexpensive commercial technologies like drones, some undetectable, can cause significant disruptions, if not outright destruction, to billion-dollar military assets.
5. Modern warfare scenarios emphasize that while surprise remains an age-old tactic, the means of executing such strategies have evolved with the availability of cost-effective technologies.

Source: https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/4257190-cheap-and-terrifying-surprise-attacks-are-the-new-face-of-warfare/