AI and robots get a bigger role in the future battlefield.

The AI successfully flew the F-16 for 17 hours. 

The next-generation version of the fully automatized war machines is probably the AI-controlled jet fighter. The AI control can be useful in kamikaze- drone fighters that can be retired fighters that would be scrapped anyway. And that kind of drone is suitable for kamikaze missions. The kamikaze drones can also use sub-missiles against air defense or some other targets in their route. 

Still today human pilot wins the AI. But the fact is that AI is under development. The R&D process requires information collected from the tests. And the tests and follow-up data analysis with a multi-professional team where pilots, AI developers, and other technical and military specialists analyze data and then make the next plans and changes in systems. 

The major problem with the systems is that they are mechanically repeating. When a human pilot learns the mechanical and frequently repeating moves that target is easy to shoot down. But AI advances. And the success of drones in Ukraine is making it necessary to re-estimate the drones. Even if the drone's primary role is target recognition and fire control. It can equip with missiles. 

That forces the air defense to shoot the drone. Small-size quadcopters that drop hand grenades to enemy positions are also effective tools. Those drones can communicate with controllers by using radio systems or they can use laser communication. And laser communication tools can use for target marking and laser sights. 

Above: GLSDB

The laser sight is also suitable for laser microphones. And that makes this system a multipurpose tool. They can search for snipers from the roofs. And if those systems are armed, they can be extremely dangerous. Those quadcopters can take out snipers and destroy enemy positions. And that system can also detect enemy vehicles for artillery and aircraft. 

The quadcopter can drop from satellites, and if they have satellite-based communication that allows them to locate and attack targets, and observe secured areas. That location is on the other side of the world. The system can try to drop the bomb inside the hatches of missile silos. And that can damage or destroy the rocket inside its silo. 

In the future, the SDBs (Small-Diameter Bombs) can be shot against enemy targets from thousands of kilometers away from their targets with pinpoint accuracy. And those systems can terminate even single tanks or other vehicles from another side of the world. 

AI is the game changer. The next-generation versions of the Maverick missiles can have fire-and-forget mode. That kind of system is possible to create, by driving the similar guidance system that Javelin missiles use to those old-fashion missiles. 

Satellites can also point targets by using lasers. Or they can drop the GPS-controlled drone on the target's roof. And then those drones can aim at the position of the target. Another possibility is that drone sends radio signals for radar-homing missiles. That means drones operate like transponders. That thing can give even naval missiles good accuracy. And it's luck that Russians don't use that technology. 

The new tool on the battlefield is Ground-Launched Small-Diameter Bomb or GLSDB. The missile can shoot a small-diameter bomb to 250 kilometers away from the launch site. A similar technology used in GLSDB can install in ICBM missiles. That makes it possible to destroy targets with pinpoint accuracy from thousands of kilometers. 

There is the possibility that the conventional glide bombs. That is equipped with heat shields that can drop from orbiting trajectories. Also, modern nuclear weapons can use similar technology. That is used in pinpoint accurate bombs. The JDAM with nuclear detonator already exists. And the most modern nuclear weapons are very small. 

General Petraeus predicts that the use of robots become more general. And that means many tactics that are made for military and police work must be re-estimated. In the wrong hands, those tools are extremely dangerous weapons. They can use for searching for things like weapons and in the same way, as soldiers use them, they are suitable for the mafia and other kinds of criminals. So criminal organizations can use small drones as strikes. 

Robot aircraft are not a new thing.

Robot aircraft are not a new thing. But independently operating AI-controlled jet fighters are the new thing. Remote-controlled drones used for a long time for a strike, recon, and target missions. There are mainly three types of robot aircraft. The two first are in service or entering service very soon. The third one is just under development. 

Cruise missiles are also kamikaze drones. And they should be easy to shoot down. But those weapons are still in use, even if the human pilot should shoot them like in targeting practice. The bomber drone is the only modified cruise missile that drops smart bombs like JDAMs or SDBs to target. 

X-47

1) Remote-controlled drones. Those drones are radio-controlled aircraft. That requires time for communication between the drone and its operator. The multi-channel- or laser-based communication systems make those systems a little bit more complicated to jam than in movies. 

2) Semituatomatic drones. The killer drones are mainly this type of system. The drone will get flight parameters to some area, and when it recognizes something suspicious it tells that an operator. 

Semi-automatic drones can also be manned aircraft where an active radar-based altimeter keeps the right distance to the ground. So the system corrects the errors that the pilot can make. 

One version of that kind of system is the aircraft-operating ASAT. The military command center's supercomputers control the missile and the aircraft. There the computer calculates the impact point of the missile and satellite. Then the command center the aircraft's course which makes it possible to hit the satellite at the right point. 

Also, things like optical-seeker bombs can have semi-automatic launching systems. The mission downloaded to the weapon. And if the seeker notices a hostile target that system opens fire. The system is similar to face recognition software. And it can be found in Israeli Spice-class glide bombs. Or developers can easily modify those systems for that purpose. 

3) Full automatized AI-controlled drones. Those drones are not yet suitable for complicated missions. But R&D work around those systems is going on. That means the game is changing. And those systems are powerful tools. Even if there are many problems with prototypes, the purpose of tests is to collect data for the developers so that they can fix errors in the code and find the problems. 

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/14/opinions/petraeus-how-ukraine-war-ends-bergen-ctpr/index.html

https://www.foxnews.com/science/aviation-milestone-artificial-intelligence-flew-modified-f-16-fighter-jet-17-hours

https://defensescoop.com/2023/02/14/ai-agents-take-control-of-modified-f-16-fighter-jet/

https://www.saab.com/products/ground-launched-small-diameter-bomb-glsdb

https://www.kauppalehti.fi/uutiset/kokenut-amerikkalaiskenraali-cnnlle-ukrainan-sota-paljastaa-sodankaynnin-muutoksen-seuraukset-voivat-olla-karuja/500ef635-737c-4558-bd7c-b6c7a5193954

Link to  Gen. Petraeus interview: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=1Lb2mAJ3bQs

https://changeanditsmanagement.blogspot.com/