A Emerging AI Arms Race Transforming the War in Ukraine

"Such technology represents our future threat," warns a defense consultant, who has just acquired a recently captured enemy unmanned aerial vehicle.

It was far from typical drone as well, he discovered. Assisted by AI, this drone is able to locate and attack objectives autonomously.

Beskrestnov has inspected many drones in his capacity as Ukrainian defence forces consultant.

Unlike previous versions, it didn't send or receive communications, causing it to could not be jammed.

Russian and Ukrainian forces are experimenting with AI in this war, and for certain tasks they are already using it, for finding targets, gathering intelligence and clearing mines.

For the Ukrainian army, AI has become indispensable.

"The military gets more than 50,000 footage feeds [from the front line] monthly that get analysed by artificial intelligence," says the defense official.

"It enables us quickly process this massive data, pinpoint objectives and mark them on a digital chart."

AI-Driven Tech as a Critical Asset

AI-empowered technology is seen as a tool that can enhance strategic planning, optimize resources and in the end protect personnel.

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

Ukrainian soldiers currently employ AI-based software so that unmanned aircraft fix on a target and then operate independently for the last few hundred metres till the mission is over.

Jamming cannot be done and shooting down such a tiny airborne device proves difficult.

In the future these systems will likely evolve into completely independent weapons that are able to detect and destroy targets on their own.

All a soldier must do is tap a button on a smartphone app, explains a tech executive, head of Ukrainian developer.

The drone will do everything else, he says, finding the target, dropping munitions, assessing the damage and afterwards returning to headquarters.

"And it would not even require piloting skills from the user," he adds.

Interceptor Systems and Upcoming Advancements

Interceptor unmanned craft with such autonomous capability could significantly strengthen air defences against enemy remote strike aircraft, like the infamous Shaheds.

"A computer-guided self-operating unit can be superior to a person in numerous aspects," says Azhnyuk. "It can be more perceptive. It detects the objective sooner than a person. It can be more agile."

The deputy defence minister indicates that kind of technology does not exist yet, but he mentions Ukraine is close to finishing its development. "We have partly implemented it in some devices," says the representative.

It's possible there will be many thousands of these technologies deployed by the year 2026, predicts the developer.

Concerns and Dangers of Total Autonomy

But Ukrainian developers are wary of fully making use of defence systems that rely entirely on AI, with no human involvement. The risk is AI may fail to differentiate a Ukrainian fighter from a hostile one, since both could be wearing the same uniform, notes Vadym, who declined to give his surname.

The firm makes remotely controlled automatic weapons, that employ artificial intelligence to automatically detect individuals and track them. Because of worries about accidental attacks, he states they avoid including an automatic shooting option.

"It can be activated, but we must gain further expertise and more feedback from the military units to determine the safe conditions to use this feature."

Moral Concerns and Global Rules

Additionally, there are fears that automated systems could breach the laws of armed conflict. How can they prevent injuring non-combatants, or tell apart soldiers who wish to yield?

According to the official, the ultimate choice in such circumstances must be made by a person, although AI would make it "simpler to choose". Yet it's not certain that nations or militant factions will follow global humanitarian standards.

So neutralizing these systems is increasingly important.

How do you halt a "mass of unmanned craft" when electronic warfare or using aircraft, tanks or rockets is rendered ineffective?

The nation's very effective "Spider Web" operation, when 100 unmanned aircraft targeted Russian air bases in June, was probably assisted by AI tools.

Numerous locals worry that the adversary will copy that tactic, not just on the front line but further afield as well.

Ukraine's leader warned the UN last month that AI was contributing to "the most destructive weapons competition in history."

He urged global rules for the application of AI in armaments, and said the matter was "equally pressing as stopping the spread of atomic arms."