The following article first published in 2018

Summarised today after 7 Yrs and Major Regional Wars.

Current Military Applications from the Paper (Ukraine, Middle East Conflicts)

The concepts described in the “Future of Intelligent Decision Making within Armaments & Warfare” paper are actively happening today in the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Below is a breakdown of key aspects and how they are currently being used.

1. AI & Automation in Warfare

How It’s Described in the Paper:

• AI-driven autonomous decision-making in war.
• Integration of AI to process battlefield data faster than humans.
• AI-assisted surveillance, targeting, and weapon systems.

Current Real-World Examples:

• Ukraine Conflict:
  • The Ukrainian military is using AI-powered surveillance tools, such as Palantir’s AI-driven battlefield intelligence, to predict Russian troop movements and optimize artillery targeting.
  • AI-powered loitering munitions (suicide drones) like the Switchblade 300/600 and Lancet drones (used by Russia) use AI to track and identify targets autonomously.
  • AI-assisted intelligence gathering through satellite and drone imagery, processed in real-time to aid battlefield strategy.
• Middle East Conflicts:
  • Israel has employed AI-driven battle management systems to process intelligence and automate target selection during operations against Hamas and Hezbollah.
  • The Israeli Iron Dome missile defense system uses AI to distinguish between real threats and non-threats, optimizing defensive responses.
  • AI-powered facial recognition is being used in counterterrorism operations to track and neutralize high-value targets.

2. Drone Warfare & Autonomous Systems

How It’s Described in the Paper:

• Use of UAVs (drones) for surveillance, attack, and logistics.
• AI-driven swarm drones that coordinate attacks autonomously.
• Loitering munitions that hunt targets before striking.

Current Real-World Examples:

• Ukraine Conflict:
  • Both Ukraine and Russia have extensively used drones, including commercial FPV drones modified for explosive attacks.
  • Ukraine has deployed Bayraktar TB2 drones for strikes on Russian armor and logistics.
  • Russia has used Iranian Shahed-136 drones in kamikaze attacks against Ukrainian infrastructure.
• Middle East Conflicts:
  • Israel has been using autonomous drone swarms for intelligence and attacks.
  • Iranian-backed militias have deployed drone swarms against US and Israeli targets in Iraq and Syria.
  • Turkey’s AI-powered Kargu-2 drones have been tested in Libya, capable of autonomous attacks.

3. Cyber Warfare & AI-Driven Surveillance

How It’s Described in the Paper:

• AI being used for hacking, electronic warfare, and cyberattacks.
• Advanced facial recognition and tracking systems.
• AI-assisted automated monitoring of communications and signals intelligence (SIGINT).

Current Real-World Examples:

• Ukraine Conflict:
  • Russia and Ukraine are engaged in cyber warfare, with AI being used to analyze hacked data, track movements, and disrupt enemy communications.
  • AI-driven propaganda and disinformation campaigns on social media.
• Middle East Conflicts:
  • Israel’s AI-powered surveillance tracks Palestinian movements and potential threats in real time.
  • Iranian cyber units have used AI-driven cyberattacks against Israeli infrastructure.

4. Smart Weapons & AI-Assisted Targeting

How It’s Described in the Paper:

• AI-controlled automated missile and defense systems.
• Precision-guided artillery and missiles using AI to improve accuracy.
• Fire-and-forget smart weapons that operate with limited human oversight.

Current Real-World Examples:

• Ukraine Conflict:
  • HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) uses AI-assisted targeting to strike Russian positions with pinpoint accuracy.
  • Russia has deployed autonomous land mines and smart missiles that can track moving targets.
• Middle East Conflicts:
  • Israel’s Iron Dome and David’s Sling missile defense systems use AI to analyze threats and optimize defensive missile launches.
  • Iran’s AI-enhanced cruise missiles have improved precision-guided capabilities.

5. Exoskeletons & Augmented Soldiers

How It’s Described in the Paper:

• Exoskeletons for soldiers to improve endurance, strength, and resilience.
• Wearable biometric and health-monitoring sensors.
• Brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) for controlling devices with thought.

Current Real-World Examples:

• Ukraine Conflict:
  • Ukrainian special forces have received augmented reality helmets and AI-assisted targeting optics to improve situational awareness.
  • Russian combat medics are using wearable health monitors for injured soldiers.
• Middle East Conflicts:
  • Israeli special forces have experimented with exoskeleton suits to assist in carrying heavy loads.
  • Some US troops stationed in the region are using AI-enhanced night vision and combat wearables to track health metrics.

6. Automated War Decision-Making

How It’s Described in the Paper:

• AI coordinating large-scale military strategies with real-time updates.
• Automated war planning using big data and predictive analytics.
• AI-driven battlefield simulations and war-gaming.

Current Real-World Examples:

• Ukraine Conflict:
  • AI-driven battlefield analysis is being used to predict Russian troop movements.
  • NATO and Ukraine are using AI-powered wargaming simulations to test battle strategies.
• Middle East Conflicts:
  • The US and Israel use AI-assisted intelligence analysis to detect threats before they materialize.
  • Predictive analytics used to assess risks and preempt terrorist attacks.

7. Future Implications:

The paper’s prediction that AI will increasingly take over warfighting decisions is already unfolding. If current trends continue, we may soon see:

• Fully autonomous drones making lethal decisions without human oversight.
• AI-enhanced robotic soldiers in combat roles.
• Automated AI-driven cyber warfare on a massive scale.
• AI war planners coordinating entire military campaigns in real time.

Final Thought:

We are already living in the AI-driven warfare era. The concepts in the paper are not just theoretical—they are unfolding right now on the battlefields of Ukraine and the Middle East. The question is how much further AI and automation will go before human oversight is entirely removed from the decision to kill.