Industrial War and Network War: Operational Logics in the Russia–Ukraine War and the U.S.–Israel–Iran Conflict

This working paper compares the Russia–Ukraine War and the 2026 U.S.–Israel–Iran conflict as two distinct operational logics of contemporary warfare. While Russia’s campaign reflects the dynamics of industrial-era warfare centered on territorial control and frontline attrition, Iran’s strategy increasingly resembles a network-oriented approach aimed at imposing systemic pressure on distributed military infrastructure. The paper argues that contemporary conflicts increasingly operate through networked operational systems rather than territorial battlefields. Repeated missile and drone attacks generate cumulative probabilistic pressure on defensive systems, while strikes on operational nodes, such as bases, logistics hubs, and command networks, can produce cascading disruptions across a distributed military architecture. The analysis highlights three broader implications: the growing importance of cost-imposition strategies, the strategic significance of operational nodes within military networks, and the vulnerability of globally deployed powers to cross-regional pressure. Keywords: Industrial warfare; Network warfare; Cost-imposition strategy; Operational networks; Military infrastructure; Russia–Ukraine War; U.S.–Israel–Iran conflict.