Top US General Predicts Much Of The World's Militaries 'Will Be Robotic' In 15 Years

An MQ-9 Reaper on San Clemente Island in California on June 23. 2022.US Air National Guard/Staff Sgt. Joseph Pagan  

Business Insider: Top US general predicts that much of the world's armies, navies, and air forces 'will be robotic' in 15 years, if not sooner 

* The top US general says technology is changing the ways that wars are being fought. 

* He said that robots will play a huge role in the world's armies, navies, and air forces within the next decade or so. 

* Gen. Mark Milley also highlighted the role of artificial intelligence as a military application. 

Technology is changing the ways that war is being fought, and the top US general predicts this will lead to an increasing use of robots in armies, navies, and air forces. 

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley told the Eurasia Group Foundation on a podcast that the world is undergoing a "fundamental change" in the "character of war." 

Unlike the "nature of war," which Milley described to mean human dynamics and intra-country relationships, he clarified that the character of the war incorporates items like tactics, weapons, technologies, organizations, and management.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: Milley Tells House Panel Joint Force Is at 'Inflection Point' (US Department of Defense)  

Update #2: Top US general predicts much of world’s forces ‘will be robotic’ in 15 years (SCMP)  

WNU Editor: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley is correct. Technology is changing the ways wars are being fought, and this is due to advancements in robots/drones, computer networks, and AI/software.

Watch An AI-Powered Tank Shoot Rounds And Blow Up Targets

 

Daily Mail: Rise of the killer robots! Watch an AI-powered tank shoot rounds and blow up targets in the first live fire of the unmanned 'Type-X' robotic combat vehicle 

* A robotics company showed off its AI-powered tank, dubbed Tank-X 

* The tank navigates obstacles on an open field and blows up targets 

* The idea is to let the robot head into battle, while human soldiers stay safe 

* At least 10 countries have already placed orders for the Type-X platform 

Imagine a world where wars are fought by AI-powered tanks, allowing soldiers to stay at a safe distance from the battlefield and yet, still demolish their enemies. 

Although this sounds like something out of a sci-fi film, the scenario is exactly what Milrem Robotics and Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace have shown in a first live fire of the PROTECTOR Remote Turret from the Type-X Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV). 

The unmanned tank, dubbed Type-X,’ features navigation and obstacle detection systems powered by AI and a range of weapons including 50 mm cannons, anti-tank missiles, and even a tethered drone.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Combat robots are showing up in Ukraine .... Ukrainian Combat Robots Join Fight Against Russian Invasion (Forbes).

Russia Begins Trials Of Its Newest Generation Of Unmanned Ground Vehicle

Photo by the Russian Foundation for Advanced Research Projects

Defence-Blog: Russia begins trials of new generation unmanned ground vehicle

Russia has begun trials of the new Marker unmanned ground system, the Russian Foundation for Advanced Research Projects announced on 29 June.

The Marker unmanned ground system is the joint project of the Center and the Android Technics Scientific Production Association. The modular platform is supposed to become the key element for practice of joint operation of ground robots, unmanned aviation and Special Operations forces. The Marker is positioned as a construction set for development of combat models in the future.

The final testing stage of the Marker robot will take place in 2021, then the robot will be handed over to the Russian Ministry of Defense, says Oleg Martyanov, who heads the Russian Foundation for Advanced Research Projects’ National Center for the Development of Technologies and Basic Elements of Robotics.

Read more ....

Update: Don’t Panic, But Russia Is Training Its Robot Tanks To Understand Human Speech (Forbes)

WNU Editor: From what I know. The Russian military still has a long time to go when it comes to unmanned vehicles.

China Unveils Two-Foot-Tall Robotic Tank Equipped With A Machine Gun And An Infrared Night-Vision Camera

Daily Mail: China unveils 'small but lethal' war robot 'Sharp Claw I' that's armed with a machine gun and night vision

* The remote-control ground vehicle can traverse complicated terrains at 6.2mph
* Footage shows it scouting various areas, climbing stairs and firing at targets
* The two-foot-tall tank has been commissioned to the People's Liberation Army
* It's designed to replace human soldiers in dangerous surveillance missions

Meet China's newest army recruit: a two-foot-tall robotic tank equipped with a machine gun and an infrared night-vision camera.

The remote-control machine, described as 'small but lethal', is designed to travel through complicated terrains at a fast speed and replace human soldiers in dangerous scouting missions, according to state media.

Footage aired on state TV shows the so-called 'robot warrior' inspecting the surroundings, climbing various stairs, monitoring the enemy at night and firing at targets in a demonstration.

Read more ....

Update: China unveils 'small but lethal' war robot armed with machine gun and night vision (Daily Star)

WNU Editor: I am sure that the Chinese are going to be upgrading this "war robot" in future versions.

Nations Cannot Agree On Rules To Regulate The Use Of 'Killer Robots' In Future Wars

ARCHIVE PHOTO: A model of ECA Robotics' K-Ster Mine Killer is displayed at the MAST Asia 2015, defence exhibition and conference in Yokohama, south of Tokyo May 13, 2015. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

Reuters: Nations dawdle on agreeing rules to control 'killer robots' in future wars

Nations are investing in developing lethal autonomous weapons systems which can identify, target, and kill a person all on their own - but there are no international laws governing their use.

NAIROBI, Jan 17 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Countries are rapidly developing "killer robots" - machines with artificial intelligence (AI) that independently kill - but are moving at a snail's pace on agreeing global rules over their use in future wars, warn technology and human rights experts.

From drones and missiles to tanks and submarines, semi-autonomous weapons systems have been used for decades to eliminate targets in modern day warfare - but they all have human supervision.

Nations such as the United States, Russia and Israel are now investing in developing lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS) which can identify, target, and kill a person all on their own - but to date there are no international laws governing their use.

"Some kind of human control is necessary ... Only humans can make context-specific judgements of distinction, proportionality and precautions in combat," said Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The genie is out of the box on this one.

U.S. Army Awards Contracts To Build Robotic Combat Vehicles

Photo courtesy of FLIR Systems

Defence Blog: U.S. Army to award contracts to QinetiQ-NA and Textron for robotic combat vehicles

The U.S. Army has announced on Friday that QinetiQ North America and Textron will receive contacts to build Robotic Combat Vehicles.

The U.S. Army CCDC Ground Vehicle Systems Center and the U.S. Army Next Generation Combat Vehicles Cross Functional Team intends to award an Other Transaction Agreement to QinetiQ North America to build four Light and Textron to build four Medium Robotic Combat Vehicles.

The Army’s selections for both the RCV Light and RCV Medium agreements were announced in coordination with its partner, the National Advanced Mobility Consortium today. Pending successful negotiations, the Army intends to award the final OTA for both variants by mid-February.

Read more ....

Update: Army Selects QinetiQ & Textron To Build Robot Tank With Chain Gun (Zero Hedge).

WNU Editor: Here is an easy prediction. this is the first of many contracts for robotic combat vehicles.

U.N. Efforts To Ban 'Killer Robots' Through International Law Will Fail

DW: UN impasse could mean killer robots escape regulation

It's no longer the stuff of science fiction: Wars could soon be decided by lethal autonomous weapons systems. But a concerted effort to ban "killer robots" through international law at the UN appears to have hit a wall.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has labeled autonomous weapons "politically unacceptable and morally repulsive," and called for them to be banned under international law. "Consider the consequences if an autonomous weapons system can independently select people as targets and attack them," Guterres has repeatedly told the international community, whose representatives are currently debating a ban on so-called killer robots in Geneva. Agreement, however, is not in sight. In fact, as one of the participants told DW, the talks are making no progress.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The genie is out of the bottle. Autonomous weapons are the future, and nothing is going to stop it.

U.S. Air Force Can Now Turn Any Plane Into A Robot Plane

Defense One: Air Force Tests Contraption That Can Turn Any Plane Into a Robot Plane

Scientists say new ROBOpilot completed a two-hour test flight, essentially turning a manned plane into a drone.

Air Force scientists have announced that they had tested a robot kit that can turn virtually any plane into a self-piloting drone, through a program called ROBOpilot.

Why is that important? For starters, planes and drones are expensive. The drone shot down over Iran last month cost $220 million. For years the military has rushed to fund fabulous, exquisite drones of all shapes and sizes. Some, like the $15 million MQ-9 Reaper from General Atomics, are cheaper than manned military aircraft. But the big ones are more expensive than many types of civilian sport aircraft.

Read more ....

Update: ROBOpilot makes maiden flight in US Air Force tests (New Atlas)

WNU Editor: Expect this technology to be applied to more expensive planes and fighters in the future.

U.S. Navy Wants To Build The World's Largest Robot Warship

Popular Mechanics: The U.S. Navy Wants To Build the World's Largest Robot Warship

The Large Unmanned Surface Vehicle will augment manned warships, providing extra sensors or firepower.

The U.S. Navy is calling on industry to present ideas for its Large Unmanned Surface Vehicle (LUSV) ship. The Navy wants ten LUSV ships in five years. The ships would function as scouts for the main battle fleet, carrying sophisticated radar and sonars or floating magazines packing extra anti-air and cruise missiles.

Above all, the ships will do what proponents call the “3D work”: dull, dirty, and dangerous work.

Read more ....

Update: US Navy to build £330m world’s largest robot warship to patrol the most dangerous seas (The SUN)

WNU Editor: The specs on what the US Navy wants can be read here .... Large Unmanned Surface Vessel (LUSV) (FedsBizOps)

U.S., Russia, And Others Oppose Banning 'Killer Robots'

The Guardian: UK, US and Russia among those opposing killer robot ban

UN delegates discuss restrictions to lethal autonomous weapons systems that use AI

The UK government is among a group of countries that are attempting to thwart plans to formulate and impose a pre-emptive ban on killer robots.

Delegates have been meeting at the UN in Geneva all week to discuss potential restrictions under international law to so-called lethal autonomous weapons systems, which use artificial intelligence to help decide when and who to kill.

Most states taking part – and particularly those from the global south – support either a total ban or strict legal regulation governing their development and deployment, a position backed by the UN secretary general, António Guterres, who has described machines empowered to kill as “morally repugnant”.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The Pentagon position is very .... The Pentagon is ‘Absolutely Unapologetic’ About Pursuing AI-Powered Weapons (NextGov).

Yup .... Killer Robots Already Exist, And They've Been Here a Very Long Time (Science Alert).

More News On The Movement To Ban "Killer Robots"

US and Russia leading opponents of ban on killer robots -- Digital Journal
US, Russia Lead Efforts to Prevent Global Ban on Killer Robots -- Antiwar.com
Japan Calls For Stricter Control on AI Killer Robots -- Interesting Engineering
Resistance to killer robots growing -- DW
Scientists plead to stop creation of killer robots: We're at 'the brink of a new arms race' -- FOX News
Ban killer robots, while you still can: Nobel prize winners call for UN to outlaw autonomous weapons before 'a third revolution in warfare' is waged by criminals and terrorists -- Daily Mail
He Helped Create A.I. Now, He Worries About ‘Killer Robots.’ -- The New York Times
Killer robots: ‘do something’ or ‘do nothing’? -- Simon Bradley, Swissinfo

Russia Claims It Has Built An Army Of Killer Robots

Daily Mail: Russia claims it has built an army of KILLER ROBOTS including self-driving tanks that follow the aim of a soldier's rifle and swarms of deadly drones that drop bombs from the sky

* Kremlin footage showcases robot technology which includes killer robots
* These come in the form of cat-sized drones and AI-controlled driverless tanks
* For now, the robots will still require to be controlled by a human in the infantry
* But Russia's Advanced Research Foundation (ARF) said the ultimate goal is to have an army of robots entirely controlled by Artificial Intelligence algorithms

An army of 'killer robots' that will assist infantry on the battlefield has been unveiled in propaganda footage released by Russia

The video, released by the Kremlin, appears to showcase the state's latest drone technology.

That includes and AI-controlled driverless tank that follow the aim of a soldier's rifle to obliterate targets with its own weaponry.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Countries like Germany are pushing a different agenda .... Germany urged to champion global treaty to ban 'killer robots' (Euronews).

More News On Russian claims That It Has Built A "Killer Robot Army"

This Video Might Be the Future of Russia's Army: Armed Ground Robots -- National Interest
Russia building ‘ground force’ of killer robots – including deadly swarm of cat-sized ‘bomber drones’ and self-driving TANKS -- The SUN
Russia Is Planning A “Ground Force” of Armed Military Robots -- Futurism

The Penhtagon Wants Robot Tanks And Ground Drones That Can Operate Independently

Soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division explain the capabilities of the multipurpose unmanned tactical transport.

We Are The Mighty/Warrior Maven: The Army wants robot attack tanks and ground war drones

The Army is engineering high-tech autonomy kits designed to give "robot" tanks and other armored combat vehicles an ability to operate with little or no human intervention, bringing new tactical and operational dimensions to the future of ground combat.

Unmanned systems, utilized in a fast-evolving, high-threat ground combat operation, could enable robot vehicles to carry supplies, test enemy defenses and even fire weapons — all while manned vehicles operate at a safer distance.

"A kit of hardware and software can be installed into different ground platforms to increase the level of autonomy," Osie David, Chief Engineer for Mission Command, Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center, told Warrior Maven in an interview.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The Russians already have a robot tank .... Russia Just Showed Off Its New Robot Tank — And Confirmed It Was On The Ground In Syria (Task & Purpose/National Interest).

The Pentagon Wants More Robots

Zero Hedge: Pentagon Spends $1 Billion To Acquire More War Robots

According to a new report from Bloomberg, the Pentagon is spending approximately $1 billion over the next several years for a variety of robots designed to complement combat troops on the modern battlefield.

In addition to scouting and explosives disposal, these new war robots will reportedly be able to perform more complex tasks, including surveillance missions, detection of chemical or nuclear agents, and even have the ability to transport soldiers’ rucksacks.

“Within five years, I have no doubt there will be robots in every Army formation,” said Bryan McVeigh, the Army’s project manager for force protection. He applauded the efforts of the Pentagon to field more than 800 robots over the past 18 months.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: I am surprised that they are only spending one billion.

Kalashnikov Showcase Their Robot Tank, New Gear, And Weapons

Task & Purpose: The Maker Of The AK-47 Just Released Footage Of Its Robot Tank In Action

Kalashnikov Concern may be known for its ubiquitous and durable AK-47 assault rifle, but the Russian defense contractor’s been cooking up some other exciting weaponry and vehicles in recent months. A slick new handgun! A pop-up riot shield! Toy guns, even!

But the most exciting futuristic murder gadget on the legendary weapons manufacturer’s radar might be its BAS-01G Soratnik “Comrade-in-Arms,” an autonomous unmanned combat vehicle designed to tear assholes every which way — at least, according to a new sizzle reel published on March 6.

Read more ....

WNU editor: Task and Purpose's analysis (and video) on what the Kalashnikov Concern is doing is a must read.

In A Decade AI & Robotics Will Dominate The Defense Industry

© U.S. Pacific Command

PR Newswire: AI & Robotics to Dominate the Defense Industry

Artificial Intelligence & Robotics are going to dominate the expenditures in de defense market the next decade, this is the conclusion from the new market study launched by MarketForecast.com. Enormous potential of Natural Language Processing, Computer Vision and Robotics among other technologies are going to dominate the defense industry for the next 10 years.

The global Artificial Intelligence & Robotics in the Defense industry market, is valued at US $39.22 billion in 2018, is projected grow at a CAGR of 5.04%, to value US $61 billion by 2027. The cumulative market for global expenditure on AI & Robotics Defense Systems is valued at US $487 billion over the forecast period.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Some believe China is ahead .... Seeking to outsmart US, China races ahead on artificial intelligence (McClatchy), but my money is on the U.S..

Israel Has Built A Robot Army

Anti-Media: Israel Has Built A Robot Army (And It Should Scare The Sh*t Out Of You)

As Israel prepares for yet another war directly on its border, the truth about Israel’s vast military capabilities has been largely absent in the corporate media.

However, if one were to be fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to be able to travel to Israel’s border with Syria in the north and the Gaza strip in the south, they might see what looks more or less like a scene from RoboCop.

Israel is the first country in the world to use unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) to not only patrol its borders but also to replace soldiers on missions, as well. The new Border Patroller model can be armed with remote-controlled weapons, reconnaissance means, and additional components that cannot be fitted on the traditional Guardium model it had been using for years prior.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Below are some more links over the past few years on Israel's drive to build a "robot army".

Why Israel has the most technologically advanced military on Earth -- NYPost
The Israeli army is trading its llamas for robots -- Quartz
Israeli Army to Use Robots Instead of Llamas to Carry Equipment on Battlefield -- Haaretz
The future of war: Israel first to deploy fully automated military robots -- The Mainichi
Israel Building a Robot Army -- Haolom
Introducing: Israeli 12-Kilo Killer Robot -- Defense News
Robot patrol: Israeli Army to deploy autonomous vehicles on Gaza border -- FOX News
Israel's Killer Robots -- VICE

Is 'Killer Robot' Warfare About To Become The 'New Arms Race?'

Russian arms maker Kalashnikov is developing a suite of fully automated weapons

Mark Smith, BBC: Is 'killer robot' warfare closer than we think?

More than 100 of the world's top robotics experts wrote a letter to the United Nations recently calling for a ban on the development of "killer robots" and warning of a new arms race. But are their fears really justified?

Entire regiments of unmanned tanks; drones that can spot an insurgent in a crowd of civilians; and weapons controlled by computerised "brains" that learn like we do, are all among the "smart" tech being unleashed by an arms industry many believe is now entering a "third revolution in warfare".

"In every sphere of the battlefield - in the air, on the sea, under the sea or on the land - the military around the world are now demonstrating prototype autonomous weapons," says Toby Walsh, professor of artificial intelligence at Sydney's New South Wales University.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The introduction of AI (artificial intelligence) weapons platforms is a truly revolutionary development in warfare .... and I do agree with the growing view that we are entering a "third revolution in warfare". These platforms will not only replace human soldiers from doing dangerous tasks, but they will also be infinitely more lethal when it comes to quickly targeting and eliminating opponents on the battlefield at a pace that humans cannot match. Drones, robot sentries, mobile ground weapons, naval drones .... this is just a start.

Tech Leaders Call On The UN To Ban 'Killer Robots'

DW: 'Autonomous weapons': Tech leaders warn UN of killer robots

With significant advances in robotics and AI, technology leaders have called for safeguards to avoid "destabilizing effects." They warned that "once this Pandora's box is opened, it will be hard to close."

More than 100 leaders in the industries of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics signed an open letter on Monday warning of a "third revolution" in warfare, when the UN's Conference of the Conventional Weapons was scheduled to meet to discuss the subject.

"As companies building the technologies in artificial intelligence and robotics that may be repurposed to develop autonomous weapons, we feel especially responsible in raising this alarm," said the letter.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The open letter to the UN calling for the ban of "killer robots" is here .... An Open Letter To The United Nations On Certain Conventional Weapons (Future of Life).

More News On Tech Leaders Calling On The UN To Ban 'Killer Robots'

Tech leaders warn against 'Pandora's box' of robotic weapons -- AFP
Elon Musk leads 116 experts calling for outright ban of killer robots -- The Guardian
Elon Musk calls for ban on killer robots before 'weapons of terror' are unleashed -- Washington Post
Elon Musk leads 116 experts calling for outright ban of killer robots -- The Guardian
Elon Musk and AI experts urge UN to ban artificial intelligence in weapons -- Los Angeles Times
The world's top artificial intelligence companies are pleading for a ban on killer robots -- Business Insider
Killer robots are coming, and Elon Musk is worried -- Ars Technica
Sorry, Banning 'Killer Robots' Just Isn't Practical -- WIRED

Top U.S. General Voices His Fears On The Rise Of 'Killer Robots'

The Hill: Top US general warns against rogue killer robots

The second-highest-ranking general in the U.S. military on Tuesday warned lawmakers against equipping the armed forces with autonomous weapons systems that humans could lose control of and advocated for keeping the "ethical rules of war" in place.

In a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, Gen. Paul Selva responded to a question from Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) about a Defense Department directive that requires a human operator to be involved in the decision-making process when it comes to taking lives with autonomous weapons systems.

Selva warned lawmakers that the military should keep "the ethical rules of war in place lest we unleash on humanity a set of robots that we don't know how to control."

Read more ....

Update #1: Sentient killer robots could go rogue, warns top US general (International Business Times)
Update #2: Sentient killer war robots could turn on humans and must NOT be 'unleashed' on the battlefield, warns top US general (Daily Mail)

WNU Editor: General Paul Selva's testimony begins at the 35 minute mark in the above video.

Russia Wants To Develop Artificial Intelligence And Robotics For Warfare

Patrick Tucker, Defense One: Russian Weapons Maker To Build AI-Directed Guns

Kalashnikov’s upcoming product shows how the US and Russia are on wildly different paths to autonomy.

The maker of the famous AK-47 rifle is building “a range of products based on neural networks,” including a “fully automated combat module” that can identify and shoot at its targets. That’s what Kalashnikov spokeswoman Sofiya Ivanova told TASS, a Russian government information agency last week. It’s the latest illustration of how the U.S. and Russia differ as they develop artificial intelligence and robotics for warfare.

The Kalashnikov “combat module” will consist of a gun connected to a console that constantly crunches image data “to identify targets and make decisions,” Ivanova told TASS. A Kalashnikov photo that ran with the TASS piece showed a turret-mounted weapon that appeared to fire rounds of 25mm or so.

Kalashnikov did not respond to a request for comment before press time.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: On a side note .... How to persuade a superintelligent AI NOT to kill you: Researchers reveal how they would deal with a machine uprising (Daily Mail).