Shadow Logistics: Military Vulnerability Through Civilian Dependence

Gilles Paché
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Gilles Paché: CERGAM - Centre d'Études et de Recherche en Gestion d'Aix-Marseille - AMU - Aix Marseille Université - UTLN - Université de Toulon

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Abstract: The rapid evolution of civilian-origin technologies repurposed for defense is reshaping the foundations of logistical advantage and altering the conditions under which armed forces operate. Modern missions rely on an extensive ecosystem of infrastructures-port terminals, cloud services, data platforms, and civilian contractors-whose reliability frequently lies beyond the authority of public institutions. This environment gives rise to shadow logistics, a network of civilian systems largely absent from conventional doctrine yet capable of producing significant operational disruptions when failures occur. Case studies show that some dark assets, whether physical or informational, can act as multipliers of effectiveness while simultaneously creating systemic vulnerabilities exploitable by state and non-state actors, including terrorist groups. Research on critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, and supply chain governance reveals how civilian systems may become instruments of leverage or coercion, sometimes unintentionally. The analysis also exposes a persistent blind spot in planning processes, notably the limited consideration given to extraterritorial digital services, commercial data brokers, and globally distributed cloud architectures that underpin essential functions. Strengthening logistical resilience requires more precise mapping of interdependencies, more robust public-private partnerships, fuller integration of civilian systems into multi-domain operations, and sovereign capabilities capable of sustaining continuity during periods of geopolitical tension.

Keywords: Critical infrastructure; Dark assets; Security vulnerabilities; Shadow logistics; Civilian contractors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-05
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Published in Journal of Strategic Security, 2026, 19 (2), pp.185-203. ⟨10.5038/1944-0472.19.2.2650⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05640624

DOI: 10.5038/1944-0472.19.2.2650

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