🔗 Share this article

"Such technology represents the coming danger," cautions a defense consultant, that recently obtained a recently captured Russian unmanned aerial vehicle.

This proved to be far from typical drone as well, he discovered. Assisted by artificial intelligence, the drone can locate and attack objectives on its own.

The consultant has examined numerous drones in his capacity as the nation's defence forces consultant.

In contrast to other models, it didn't send or receive any signals, so could not be jammed.

Russian and Ukrainian forces are experimenting with AI in this war, and in some areas are now using it, for target identification, intelligence collection and clearing mines.

And for the nation's military, AI has become essential.

"The military receives more than 50,000 video streams [from the battlefield] every month that get analysed by artificial intelligence," states Ukraine's deputy defence minister.

"It helps them quickly handle huge volumes of information, identify targets and place them on a digital chart."

AI-Driven Tech as a Strategic Tool

AI-empowered tech is seen as a instrument that can enhance strategic planning, optimize assets and ultimately protect personnel.

However when it comes to autonomous armaments, it is also transforming the warzone.

The country's troops already use AI-based software enabling drones lock on a target and then operate independently for the final segment till the mission is over.

Signal disruption cannot be done and destroying such tiny airborne device proves difficult.

Ultimately such technologies will likely become fully autonomous weapons that are able to detect and destroy objectives by themselves.

All a soldier will need to do is press a button on a smartphone app, notes a tech executive, head of a local developer.

It handles the rest, he says, finding the objective, dropping explosives, evaluating the impact and afterwards coming back to base.

"And it would not even require piloting skills from the soldier," he continues.

Defensive Drones and Future Developments

Interceptor unmanned craft with such autonomous capability could significantly strengthen defensive systems against Russian remote strike aircraft, like the infamous certain models.

"An AI-driven autonomous system can be better than a person in numerous aspects," explains Azhnyuk. "It can be more perceptive. It detects the objective faster than a person. It can be more agile."

The official indicates such a technology is not yet available, but he mentions the country is nearing completing its creation. "We have partially integrated it in some devices," says the deputy defence minister.

There could even be many thousands of such systems in place by the year 2026, predicts Azhnyuk.

Concerns and Risks of Total Autonomy

However Ukrainian developers are cautious about fully making use of defence systems that rely entirely on AI, with no human involvement. The danger is that AI may fail to differentiate a Ukrainian soldier from a Russian combatant, as they may be wearing the same uniform, notes an engineer, who asked to remain anonymous.

The firm makes remotely controlled machine guns, that use AI to autonomously identify individuals and track them. Due to concerns over friendly fire, he states they avoid including an auto-fire option.

"It can be activated, but we need to gain further expertise and additional input from the ground forces in order to understand the safe conditions to employ this capability."

Moral Issues and International Rules

Additionally, there are fears that automated systems could breach the laws of armed conflict. How will they avoid injuring non-combatants, or distinguish personnel who wish to yield?

For the deputy defence minister, the ultimate choice in such circumstances must be made by a human, although AI could make it "simpler to choose". But there are no guarantees that nations or armed groups will adhere to international humanitarian norms.

So neutralizing these systems becomes even more critical.

How do you stop a "swarm of drones" when jamming or using aircraft, tanks or rockets proves useless?

The nation's very effective "Web" mission, when 100 unmanned aircraft targeted Russian air bases last June, is believed to be supported by AI tools.

Numerous locals worry that Moscow may replicate this approach, not just on the battlefront but further afield too.

Ukraine's president cautioned the UN recently that AI was contributing to "the worst weapons competition in human history."

He urged international regulations for the use of AI in armaments, and stated the matter was "just as urgent as stopping the proliferation of nuclear weapons."