The UK, in conjunction with the US and Australia, has trialled futuristic AI-enabled uncrewed aerial vehicles enabling human operators to locate, disable and destroy targets on the ground.
The ground-breaking initiative, including experts from the Government’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), is the first use of autonomy and AI sensing systems in a real-time military environment – and marks a significant landmark for landmark trilateral AUKUS defence pact signed in 2021.
The successful trial focused collaborative AI and autonomy with British allies, aimed at reducing the time it takes to identify enemy targets and operate with reduced risk to life.
This included several drones from each nation operating together in the same airspace to achieve a common outcome, whilst being augmented by an AUKUS AI team.
What the Ministry of Defence calls a “seamless exchange of data and control between the three nations” has demonstrated the progress that has been made by AUKUS over the course of the last three years.
Commodore Rachel Singleton, Head of the Defence Artificial Intelligence Centre (DAIC), and UK lead for AUKUS AI and Autonomy Working Group, explained: “Resilient and Autonomous Artificial Intelligence Technologies provides the opportunity to develop, test and trial AI models on autonomous systems.
“The AUKUS partnership is key to ensuring that the systems designed by each nation are interoperable into the future. Service personnel from one nation will be supported by capabilities that have been developed across all three nations.”
The trial, part of a series named AUKUS Resilient and Autonomous Artificial Intelligence Technologies (RAAIT).
AUKUS is continuing to develop and deploy AI and autonomy technologies in a safe and responsible manner with the aim of ensuring “context-appropriate meaningful human control”.
The technology has been developing at a rapid pace and once proven, will be incorporated onto national platforms, with the MoD hoping it will provide the military with an operational advantage through a quicker response to current and future threats.
Via the pact, new capabilities are being tested to protect platforms. For instance, protecting armoured vehicles from electronic warfare, laser and GPS attacks.
An MoD spokesman explained: “Working across the AUKUS nations in this way means our militaries have greater interoperability and access to the most advanced AI across all three nations.
“It also opens up opportunities for sovereign industry partners.”
AUKUS is a pioneering defence and security partnership between Australia, the UK, and the US that supports both Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security and the rules-based international order.
It consists of two so-called “pillars”. Pillar 1 focuses on supporting Australia to acquire its first conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet.
Pillar two aims to deepen cooperation on a range of “cutting-edge military technologies” to enhance military edge for the UK and its allies.
The spokesman added: “This makes sure we have the capabilities needed to defend against rapidly evolving threats.”