The age of war-fighting robots is upon us

Published on August 30, 2023

The United States military plans to deploy thousands of autonomous weapons systems in the next two years to counter China's growing military capabilities, according to US Deputy Secretary of Defence Kathleen Hicks. Named the Replicator initiative, the program aims to produce high volumes of affordable autonomous systems for various branches of the military, capable of operating on land, sea, air, and space. The robots are designed to be "attritable," meaning they are affordable enough to be risked and easily replaced if lost in high-priority missions. This move is seen as a fundamental shift in the nature of warfare, making the U.S. the first nation to deploy such technology on a large scale. Concerns remain about whether these autonomous systems can adhere to the laws of armed conflict.

https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/the-age-of-war-fighting-robots-is-upon-us

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