Combat robots and drones

Military drones in Russia

Main article: Military drones in Russia

Drones kamikazes

Main article: Kamikaze drones

Military drones in Ukraine

Main article: Military drones in Ukraine

2024

The world's first robotic launcher for launching combat missiles is presented. It is controlled remotely. VIDEO

In mid-October 2024, the South Korean company Hanwha Aerospace introduced an unmanned multi-launch launcher designed for amphibious operations. The novelty was called Unmanned Amphibious Multi-Rocket Launcher. Read more here

In China, presented a flying grenade with remote control. Video

In mid-August 2024, it became known that a hybrid of a small drone and a grenade was created in China. Such flying ammunition can be used to destroy enemy manpower. Read more here.

In Russia, a walking combat robot is presented. He walks faster than a person

In Russia, in September 2024, a new walking combat robot was presented, capable of moving over rough terrain at speeds up to 10 km/h, which is twice the speed of an ordinary person. Read more here.

Russian army uses Courier robots with grenade launchers and missiles

The Russian army is actively using the Courier ground robotic systems (NRTK), equipped with various types of weapons, including grenade launchers and missile systems. This became known in August 2024. These combat robots were successfully tested in the zone of a special military operation and showed high efficiency in real combat conditions. Read more here

The US Army received a cyberdog with a machine gun to destroy drones. Video

In early August 2024, it became known that the US Army received a cyberdog with a machine gun to destroy drones. A related exercise took place on 1 August at Fort Drama, New York, as part of Operation Hard Kill. This site is the leading training center for combating unmanned aerial vehicles. Read more here

Tracked drones "Varan" transferred to the Russian army

The first batch of universal unmanned tracked platforms "Varan" came to the disposal of Russian servicemen participating in a special military operation. This became known at the end of July 2024. Read more here

In Russia, presented a combat robot "Impulse-M"

In June 2024, the Impulse-M combat robot was presented in Russia. The new universal tracked platform "Impulse-M," developed by the company "Gumich" with the participation of "Rostec," successfully passed tests at the landfill. Read more here

In Russia, a reconnaissance and strike complex with missiles, bombs and a machine gun for the destruction of sea and flying drones is presented

In Russia, a new Hunter reconnaissance and strike complex is presented, designed to destroy sea and flying drones. The presentation of the complex, developed by the Belarusian design bureau "Unmanned Helicopters," took place on June 6, 2024 in Moscow. Read more here.

In Russia, ground robots are presented that can overcome defensive barriers "dragon teeth"

Holding "High-precision complexes" of the state corporation Rostec has developed the latest robotic complexes "Dispatch" and "Buggy," which can effectively overcome such defensive barriers as "dragon teeth." Thanks to unique characteristics - compactness, maneuverability and cross-country ability - these remotely controlled vehicles are able to successfully perform combat missions in difficult conditions. This was announced at the beginning of June 2024 by the press service of Rostec. Read more here.

2023

In Ukraine, a combat drone with a Kyivstar SIM card was shot down. The operator confirmed this

At the end of November 2023, it became known that an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based on a modified Iranian combat drone Shahed was shot down in Ukraine. It is reported that the equipment of the affected drone includes additional components for control through the cellular network of the Ukrainian telecommunications operator Kyivstar. Read more here.

A UAV armed with a pistol is presented

In mid-October 2023, Sig Sauer, a small arms manufacturer, unveiled two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) armed with a pistol. Such drones can theoretically be used to neutralize criminals in emergency situations - when there is a high probability of harm to the health of law enforcement officers. Read more here.

Introduced a robot to destroy drones with a cloud of tungsten striking elements

In early October 2023, Rheinmetall unveiled the Ripsaw M5 robotic combat platform with the Skyranger 30 tower air defense system. The complex is capable of hitting fixed and rotorcraft, drones, barraging ammunition and cruise missiles. Read more here.

US Army receives robot dogs to which assault rifles are attached

At the end of August 2023, it became known that the US Army received robot dogs armed with assault rifles. According to The Register, we are talking about the use of the Ghost Robotics Vision 60 Quadruped Unmanned Ground Vehicle (Q-UGV) robotic platform. Read more here.

Kim Jong-un showed Shoigu North Korean drones

The head of the DPRK, Kim Jong-un, during a visit to an arms exhibition in Pyongyang, showed Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu new North Korean unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which are outwardly similar to the American one. The corresponding photos were published by the Central Telegraph Agency of Korea (CTAC). Read more here.

Hackers revealed the data of tankers attacking the Crimean bridge

RaHDit hackers ("Evil Russian Hackers") published the routes of ships from which drones could be launched to strike the Crimean bridge. This was reported on July 20, 2023 by RIA Novosti. Read more here.

A software and hardware complex has been created in Russia that turns any combat vehicles into robots

On July 13, 2023, it became known about the creation by Rostec of a software and hardware complex that allows you to turn any armored personnel carriers (APCs), infantry fighting vehicles (BMPs) or tanks into remotely controlled robotic vehicles. Read more here.

Belarus presented a mobile electronic warfare complex that suppresses drones at a distance of 30 km

On May 18, 2023, the state-owned Belarusian company Belspetsveshtekhnika presented an advanced electronic warfare (electronic warfare) complex with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The system, mounted on the basis of a truck, was called "T." Read more here.

Belarusian company presented a strike drone "Lovchiy," rising to a height of 3 km

In May 2023, at the international exhibition of weapons and military equipment in Minsk, the local 558 Aviation Repair Plant OJSC presented the Lovchiy 1UBAK-70 strike drone. The drone allows you to perform tasks to search, detect and destroy enemy ground objects. Read more here.

Chinese J-20 fighter jets to use supersonic drones instead of missiles

In early April 2023, it became known about China's decision to use its Chengdu J-20 fighters in tandem with supersonic unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Read more here.

New underwater drone unveiled

At the end of March 2023, Spektr-Engineering spoke about the creation of an underwater drone called Scat, which is designed for monitoring, reconnaissance and demining. The cost of the drone is 1.5 million rubles, said Andrei Bratenkov, executive director of the design bureau. Read more here.

Production of combat drones began in Georgia

In early March 2023, it became known about the launch of the production of military unmanned aerial vehicles at the Delta-WB plant, founded in 2022 by the Georgian company Delta and the Polish WB Electronics S.A. The company is located near Tbilisi. Read more here.

The US Air Force begins to build a fleet of military transport aircraft that can fly and land without human control

In mid-February 2023, the American company Reliable Robotics signed a contract with the US Air Force for the implementation of a project to convert multi-engine transport jet aircraft into a robotic fleet capable of independently performing all stages of flight without human control - from the take-off of a military transport aircraft to landing. Read more here.

Pentagon allows use of independently killing human combat robots

On January 26, 2023, the Pentagon said it did not object to the creation and use of lethal autonomous weapons using AI "subject to proper oversight." Thus, the US Department of Defense has officially dispelled the widespread belief that there is a certain ban on such weapons systems. Read more here.

US Army awarded $66 million contract to develop microwave weapons to burn drones

At the end of January 2023, the US Army will begin developing and integrating powerful microwave devices to combat small drones. Epirus won a $66 million contract for the development of microwave weapons for burning drones. Read more here.

2022

Iranian Navy receives new drones with 2,000 km range

On November 22, 2022, the commander of the Iranian naval forces, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, announced that new attack helicopters and long-range unmanned aerial vehicles were being adopted. Read more here.

A flying kamikaze drone has been created that knows how to hide and attack only armed people

In mid-November 2022, the Israeli defense company Elbit Systems released an autonomous kamikaze drone Lanius. The device is a maneuverable racing quadcopter with a number of AI-based reconnaissance, mapping and target classification capabilities, as well as the ability to explode when necessary. Read more here.

A kamikaze drone of the future was shown in Taiwan

On November 15, 2022, Taiwan unveiled the Teng Yun kamikaze drone, which has been under development by the Chung Shang National Institute of Science and Technology for several years. Drones can destroy enemy radars located at sea or on land. Read more here.

The announcement in China of a combat robot dog with an automatic gun

In early November 2022, at one of the exhibitions in China dedicated to aviation and aerospace development, the Chinese manufacturer introduced a robotic combat dog with an automatic gun on its back. Read more here.

Taiwan allocates $1.6 billion for drones to protect against China

On November 9, 2022, it became known about the decision of the Taiwanese authorities to allocate NT $50 billion (about $1.6 billion) for the development and production of unmanned aerial vehicles in order to protect the island from a possible invasion by China. Read more here.

Presented a Chinese military drone that can carry 2 tons of missiles at a distance of more than 10 thousand km

On November 6, 2022, a domestically produced military drone with an estimated flight range of more than 10 thousand km was presented in China. Read more here.

Announcement of a cyberdog in China with a machine gun on its back, which is landing from a drone

At the end of October 2022, a robotic dog with a machine gun was introduced in China, which can be transported using a drone. Read more here.

Unmanned artillery tower presented to destroy swarms of drones

On October 19, 2022, the companies Nexter Thales and as part of a temporary consortium presented an artillery tower RAPIDFire created to combat unmanned aerial vehicles, enemy aircraft and helicopters, ships, drifting mines and other things. More. here

NATO deployed the first tank-like robots with machine guns in Holland

On October 14, 2022, the Ministry of Defense of the Netherlands announced the adoption of unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) of the tracked type. We are talking about modular robotic complexes THeMIS (Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry Systems) manufactured by the Estonian defense company Milrem Robotics. Read more here.

Introduced the world's first unmanned tank

In early October 2022, General Dynamics unveiled the world's first unmanned tank, the AbramsX, to replace the M1 series tanks. At the same time, AbramsX is called the transition between the M1A2 tanks of versions SEPv3 and SEPv4 and a promising completely new machine. The U.S. Army plans to purchase 504 vehicles projected to be in service for at least 30 years, with the bulk of the procurement due to be completed by 2035. Read more here.

A robot "sharpened" for a special operation is being created in Russia

At the end of September 2022, it became known about the creation of a new version of the Marker.ru robot to help in a military special operation that Russia is conducting in Ukraine. An informed source told RIA Novosti about the refinement of the technology. Read more here.

The first Russian unmanned military truck presented

In mid-August 2022, the Ural Automobile Plant presented the first Russian unmanned military truck. It is designed for use by the armed forces of the Russian Federation in order to transport goods in dangerous areas, for example, on the front line. Read more here.

Russia began to use a robot sapper in Ukraine on a tank chassis

On July 20, 2022, it became known that Russia, as part of its military special operation in Ukraine, began to use a robot sapper on a tank chassis. We are talking about the new Russian remotely controlled robotic demining complex "Passage-1." Read more here.

Russia uses remote-controlled robot machine gun in Ukraine

On July 13, 2022, it became known about the use Russia robots of bullets as part of a military special operation on. To Ukraine The system has remote control, which allows the operator to monitor the situation while safe. More. here

Indian Defense Ministry unveils military drone with Russian engine

On July 1, 2022, India successfully carried out the first flight of an autonomous technological military drone with a Russian engine. It is developed by Bangalore-based Aeronautical Development Establishment, run by the government-run Defence Research and Development Organisation of India. Read more here.

Production of Turkish combat drones capable of flying at an altitude of 9 km begins in Kazakhstan

On May 11, 2022, it became known that the Turkish the company (Turkish Aerospace Industries TUSAŞ) and the Kazakh state enterprise Kazakhstan Engineering signed an agreement on the production of drums in the UAV ANKA territory. Kazakhstan More.. here

UAE territory attacked by drones

On January 17, 2022, the capital of the United Arab Emirates was attacked with unmanned aerial vehicles. The targets of the attack were three fuel trucks that were destroyed, in addition, a fire broke out at a construction site near Abu Dhabi airport, local police said. Read more here.

2021

World's first drone with laser weapons created

In December 2021, it became known about the creation of the world's first drone with laser weapons. The model called Eren was developed by the Turkish state research institute Tübtak and a private company Assguard in conjunction with the forensic department of the Main Directorate of Security. Turkey More. here

Announcement of a combat cyberdog with a weapon on the back

On October 11, 2021, Ghost Robotics and SWORD introduced a robot dog armed with a rifle. The system, dubbed the Special Purpose Unmanned Rifle (SPUR), uses a 6.5mm Creedmoor rifle on one of Ghost Robotics (Q-UGV)'s four-legged unmanned land vehicles. Read more here.

Announcement of a stealth drone developing a speed of 1000 km/h

In early October 2021, the China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) introduced a stealth drone that flies at a speed of 1000 km/h. The demonstration of the novelty took place at the Airshow China 2021 exhibition. Read more here.

Boeing drone refueled F-35 fighter jet for the first time in the air

On September 13, 2021, Boeing's MQ-25 T1 Stingray unmanned tanker successfully refueled a US Navy F-35C Lightning II fighter for the first time, demonstrating that a robotic aircraft could support a 5th generation fighter. Read more here.

The Ministry of Defense at the West-2021 exercises for the first time used the Uranus-9 and Nerehta robots

In mid-September 2021, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced the first exercises of combat robots with humans. During the strategic exercises of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus "West-2021" at the Mulino training ground (Nizhny Novgorod region), the strike systems "Uran-9" and "Nerehta" were used.

Thus, "Urans" in the framework of the strategic exercises "West-2021" suppressed the manpower and armored vehicles of the conditional enemy at a distance of three to five kilometers, using the missile systems "Attack," jet infantry flamethrowers, 30 mm guns and machine guns.

The Nerehta robots, which are armed with a 12.7 mm Kord machine gun and a 30 mm AG-30M grenade launcher, were used for reconnaissance and fire support of the units.

Also, to make passages in minefields, the Uran-6 demining complexes were used. The impact robots were assisted by the Quarry laser complex, which allows "to detect and suppress optical means of reconnaissance and surveillance of tanks, other armored vehicles and enemy small arms."

It also became known about the use of Platform-M robots in the West-2021 exercises. Robots acted in conjunction with paratroopers and motorized rifle units in urban conditions.

The military at the exercise also used the Orlan and Outpost drones to adjust the fire of artillery and tank units. It is reported that drones helped significantly reduce the search for targets and track several targets at the same time, even in camouflage conditions, while remaining unnoticed.

New attack drones from the Lastochka complex were also used by the Russian military during the main episode of the Zapad-2021 exercise. They inflicted a fire defeat on the openly located manpower and destroyed the armored target of the conditional enemy with fragmentation and cumulative ammunition.^[1]

In Israel, presented a military robot that can carry wounded and shoot machine guns

In mid-September 2021, the Israeli state-owned company Israel Aerospace Industries introduced the REX MKI robot. The remotely controlled armed robotic vehicle is the latest addition to the world of unmanned technology that is rapidly changing the modern battlefield. Read more here.

Hyundai began deliveries of unmanned military vehicles

In mid-July 2021, Hyundai Rotem, a subsidiary of the South Korean automobile group Hyundai, began supplying unmanned military vehicles to the South Korean army for six months of testing. The company provided the military with two multipurpose self-driving ground vehicles weighing two tons, capable of transporting supplies, searching battlefields and evacuating patients. Read more here.

Israel first in the world to use AI-controlled combat drone group

In early July 2021, it became known that Israel was the first in the world to use a group of combat drones controlled by artificial intelligence. The operation itself took place two months earlier - in May.

South Korea launches robots on rails to control DPRK border

At the end of June 2021, it became known that South Korea was launching self-learning robots on rails to control the border with the DPRK. The South Korean military plans to add "mobile robots" as part of an "artificial intelligence-based surveillance system," according to Korean news outlet Yonhap. The article cites a $2.5 million contract from the Office of the Korean Defense Procurement Program (DAPA) to deploy bots and an AI surveillance system by the end of 2021. Read more here.

Pentagon begins using laser to transmit data from space to MQ-9 Reaper drones

At the end of June 2021, the US Space Development Agency announced the launch of satellites into low Earth orbit, which will have to communicate with the MQ-9 Reaper drone through optical channels or lasers. If the pilot is successful, it would pave the way for new, less hacking-prone communications between drones, jets and other weapons, and between commanders and operators. Read more here.

Drones began to refuel planes in the air

On June 7, 2021, Boeing demonstrated the first aerial refueling of the aircraft using an unmanned aerial vehicle. The head of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, Lynn Caret, called this event historic and noted that it happened thanks to the joint work of the company and the US Navy. Read more here.

Combat drones began to track down and attack the enemy without human intervention

At the end of May 2021, it became known that the combat quadcopter Kargu-2 first tracked down and attacked the enemy without an operator's command. At the time of the attack, the drone was in the air in fully autonomous mode. Read more here.

Start of serial production of combat robots in Russia

At the end of May 2021, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced the mass production of military robots in the country capable of fighting in automatic mode. The corresponding statement was made by the head of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation at the New Knowledge marathon.

Not just experimental samples appeared, but the mass production of combat robots began. These are robots that can really be shown in fantastic films, "Shoigu said.

At the same time, the minister did not name the timing of the appearance of these robots in public or the start of their use in the army. He only added that a lot of work is underway to create "weapons of tomorrow."

Earlier, Shoigu said that the Ministry of Defense will continue to work on expanding the line of military robotic systems. According to him, equipping the Armed Forces with such machines is one of the priority areas.

By the end of May 2021, several Russian defense enterprises are preparing combat robots for the army at once. Thus, the Kalashnikov concern creates a machine as part of the development work "Companion." Its main tasks, according to military expert Viktor Murakhovsky, will be territory protection and intelligence.

Earlier in the scientific and production concern Tehmash"" - the manufacturer of multiple launch rocket systems "Grad," "Tornado" and "Solntsepek" - told RBC about the beginning of design work on the project of a robotic MLRS. The development of a small-caliber robotic reactive system will cost Tehmash at least 100 million, rubles the first sample will be prepared by approximately 2022.

According to RIA Novosti, by 2025, Russia may create a group of robots that, among other things, are capable of solving combat missions with minimal intervention by operators.^[2]

US Air Force uses drones from which other drones launch

At the end of April 2021, the US Air Force reported successful results of testing unmanned aerial systems (ALS), in which a small UAV was launched from a larger drone. Read more here.

2020

South Korea invests $2.3 billion in drones with rifles and grenade launchers

On September 15, the South Korean Defense Procurement Program Administration (DAPA) announced the country's intention to invest $2.3 billion over the next 10 years in the development of military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). They are expected to be equipped with rifles and grenade launchers. Read more here.

UK could ditch tanks in favour of cyber weapons

The UK government is looking into getting rid of an ageing fleet of armoured vehicles after the Ministry of Defence called for more investment in cyber weapons, space and other advanced technology^[3].

As Air Chief Marshal Jock Stirrup told The Times in August 2020, the armed forces should not be seen as an "easy option" to cut costs as part of the government's current defense and security review, which could also lead to a significant reduction in troop numbers and the closure of some air bases.

The cost of upgrading Britain's ageing fleet of 227 Challenger 2 tanks and 388 Warrior armoured fighting vehicles will require a huge amount of funding. And while the Ministry of Defence budget is currently capped at 2% of GDP, UK GDP is forecast to shrink significantly as a result of the ongoing economic downturn.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has previously denied reducing the overall size of the army, but a source told The Times that "bold decisions" needed to be made to balance defence interests and confront new threats facing the UK.

The final decision is being discussed in military circles and has not yet been made, various options are being considered, including the modernization of the aforementioned tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, as well as the purchase of Leopard-2 tanks from Germany. In case of abandonment of Challenger tanks, they will all be sent to storage bases.

AI defeats F-16 pilot in virtual aerial combat

Artificial intelligence defeated the F-16 pilot in five rounds of virtual air combat, writes The Daily Telegraph in August. Moreover, AI completed all five rounds in its favor as part of the confrontation organized by the Office of Advanced Research Projects of the Ministry of Defense USA () DARPA DT:^[4]

The competition, at the start of which there were eight teams with various artificial intelligence programs, was broadcast on YouTube, and the Heron Systems team won. As the newspaper notes, Heron is a California defense contractor specializing in AI.

In the final of the competition, which culminated in a confrontation between Heron and an American pilot with the call sign Banger, the AI won in each round, and the aircraft it controlled reached a speed of 800 km/h and experienced overloads of 9g.

The head of the program at DARPA, Dan Jaworsek, said that this outcome does not mean an unambiguous victory for the cars.

"We pilots never trust any simulations and simulations," he said in an interview after the competition. "I think at the end of this program we got a chance to see how AI came of age."

The victory of Heron is another success of AI in the fight against human rivals, writes The Daily Telegraph. As the publication reminds, in 1997, the Deep Blue computer defeated the world chess champion. And later, the self-learning Deepmind system surpassed the world's best Go player.

Rostec showed the control system of combat robots

On August 24, 2020, the Roselectronics holding of Rostec State Corporation demonstrated an automated intelligent system for controlling the formations of robots based on neural networks. The application of the solution is designed to increase the efficiency of combat systems by more than 3 times by minimizing human participation in the control process. Read more here.

Tests on voice control of combat robots began in Russia

In Russia, tests of voice control of combat robots are being carried out, the commander gives orders to the automated complex in the same way as to soldiers, said Oleg Martyanov, head of the National Center for Technology Development of the Advanced Research Foundation^[5].

He noted that at first the control of robotic complexes was worked out using an electronic tablet, then voice control technology was used, when the unit commander gives commands to subordinates and robots, the Russian Information Agency reports to TASS in June.

Martyanov also noted that in 2021 the control tests of the combat robot "Marker.ru" will be held, after which the robot will be transferred to the Russian Ministry of Defense.

"Summing up the results of how we managed to solve the problems of autonomy, group control, technical vision, goal recognition, increasing the speed and accuracy of aiming, we are ready to transfer the results of our work to customers next year," said the head of the center.

At the same time, Martyanov noted that the Advanced Research Fund (FPI) is creating unmanned aircraft systems for vertical take-off and landing for ships.

"This is a very interesting task - the drone must take off, complete the task, return and board a ship that swings on waves, in crosswind conditions, in conditions of ship movement," he said.

Also, strike mini-drones capable of independently hitting the target, as well as reconnaissance drones, will be part of Russian combat robots.

US Army creates drone helicopter to launch from grenade launcher

In April 2020, the US Army Military Research Laboratory CCDC Army Research Laboratory announced the development of micro-drones launched from the M203 40 mm grenade launcher. Such a grenade launcher is attached to firearms - carbines, rifles, machine guns, machine guns - and is located under the main barrel of weapons. The project was named Grenade Launched Unmanned Aerial Systems (GLUAS) - "Unmanned aerial systems with launch from a grenade launcher." Read more here.

Theft of 29 million rubles during the creation of a military robot in Russia

On April 10, 2020, it became known that the Main Military Investigation Department of the Investigative Committee of Russia (GVSU TFR) is investigating a joint criminal case on embezzlement of budget funds when creating Russian military intelligence robots. Read more here.

Boeing introduced an unmanned aircraft covering combat fighters

In April 2020, Boeing announced the completion of the development of the Loyal Wingman unmanned aerial vehicle, which is designed to cover combat fighters. Read more here.

US unveils smart submarine that can attack without military orders

In early March 2020, the US Navy announced the creation of a submarine controlled by artificial intelligence, which can attack without orders from the military.

The project is administered by the Office of Naval Research and has been described as an "autonomous submarine weapon system" (CLAWS), New Scientist reported. Detailed information about the underwater robot was provided as part of the 2020 budget documentation.

By March 2020, little is known about this project, except for the fact that the new submarine will use sensors and algorithms to independently perform complex tasks. The CLAWS system is expected to be installed on new Orca-class robotic submarines, which have 12 torpedo tubes and are being developed for the Navy by Boeing.

First seen using 'swarm' of military drones

In early March Turkey 2020, for the first time, she used a "swarm" of drones to strike at Syrian forces. According to a senior Turkish official, such an application drones previously had no precedent and proves Turkey's technological capabilities on the battlefield.

Ankara used drones in response to a Syrian airstrike that killed 33 Turkish soldiers. It was the first time the country had controlled airspace in such a large area using a "swarm" of drones, the official said.

The Turkish military said dozens of remote-controlled drones carried out a coordinated strike on Syrian bases and chemical depots. Turkey has also detected and destroyed some Syrian missile defense systems, raising questions about the effectiveness of Russian-made equipment designed to prevent such air attacks.

USA Charles Lister, director of the Middle East Institute's Program for the Study of Extremism and Counterterrorism, published a video shot by a Turkish drone. According to him, Turkey is conducting an "air campaign fully controlled by armed drones supported by heavy missile artillery."

The Turkish Defense Minister said that since the start of Operation Spring Shield in Syria (February 27-March 2), the Turkish military has shot down two combat aircraft and eight helicopters, and also destroyed five air defense systems and more than 2.5 thousand soldiers and officers who fought on the side of the Syrian government troops.

Syria responded to the Turkish airstrike by closing airspace over Idlib.

Any aircraft that violated Syrian airspace will be considered a hostile object that should be shot down, the country's authorities said.[6]

Pentagon has developed principles for using artificial intelligence technologies on the battlefield

At the end of February 2020, the Pentagon adopted new ethical principles for the use of artificial intelligence technologies on the battlefield. According to these recommendations, AI should be "responsible," "proportionate," "understandable," "reliable" and "manageable."

These principles require people to "exercise an appropriate level of caution" when deploying and using AI systems, such as systems that scan aerial photographs to find targets. It is also noted that decisions made by automated systems must be "traceable" and "manageable," that is, "there must be a way to disable or deactivate" them if necessary.

US begins to use grasshopper cyborgs to search for explosives

In February 2020, the US authorities announced the use of grasshopper cyborgs to search for explosives. They are developed by researchers at the University of Washington who used the olfactory senses of an American grasshopper, Schistocerca americana, to build biological bomb analyzers. Read more here.

2019

Killer robots become reality

In mid-November 2019, the Dutch nonprofit Pax, which fights for world peace, released a new report warning readers - killer robots are already becoming reality.

In this case, deadly autonomous weapons systems are meant that can independently decide to kill the enemy, without human control. Pax calls their appearance a wake-up call, the "third revolution in military technology" after the invention of gunpowder and the atomic bomb. Both activists and military leaders are calling for international arrangements governing the production of such weapons, or even banning them directly, but key governments such as the US and Russia have so far resisted introducing such laws.

The US military already uses fully autonomous on AI some defensive platforms, such as Aegis NAVAL FORCES the US missile defense system, which is designed to intercept enemy fire. So far, the military has not tried to deploy the ranks of killer robots to the battlefield, at least in an attack. But Pax has identified at least 30 global weapons manufacturers who are not opposed to developing such weapons systems, and are already doing so ahead of the law. These companies include American defense firms, and Lockheed Martin, Boeing RTX Corp (formerly Raytheon) Chinese state conglomerates AVIC and, CASC Israeli firms, Elbit and IAI Rafael, Russian Rostec and Turkish. STM

Until the international community has introduced laws to regulate these weapons or, ideally, a proactive ban on their production, the possibility is very real that companies will continue to develop killer robots and eventually begin to produce them, said Frank Slijper, author of the report.

Drone attack on Saudi Aramco oil facilities

On September 14, 2019, Saudi Aramco's oil facilities  were attacked by drones. Due to the explosions, production operations at these facilities were temporarily suspended. Read more here.

The United States began to fine for launching armed drones

In late August 2019 Federal Aviation Administration USA , the (FAA) issued an official warning to all drone owners prohibiting the manufacture, sale and purchase of drones equipped with weapons. Violators of the law face a fine of $25 thousand. More. here

Drones with explosives attacked oil deposits and made it more expensive

On August 17, 2019, equipped with unmanned aerial vehicles explosives, they attacked the Sheib oil field of the Saudi state oil company Saudi Aramco. Sabotage led to an increase in oil prices.

Houthi rebels from the Shiite Ansar Allah movement used 10 drones to attack the oil refinery and Sheiba field, Reuters reported. It is the Houthi's biggest attack on sites far from Saudi Arabia's border with Yemen.

As a result of the terrorist attack, a fire broke out at the Saudi Aramco gas processing plant, which was quickly eliminated, which avoided serious consequences for the field. There were no casualties.

Oil production and gas condensate processing at one of the largest fields in Saudi Arabia are proceeding normally, Saudi Aramco said.

Khalid al-Falih, Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources of the Kingdom and Chairman of the Board of Saudi Aramco, told Al Arabiy TV channel that this terrorist attack is aimed at undermining not only the kingdom's exports, but also world oil supplies.

Following the attack on the Saudi Aramco field, oil prices rose more than 1% on August 19, 2019.

This is not the first time drones have attacked Saudi oil industry facilities. In May 2019, drones with explosives hit the East-West oil pipeline, after which pumping was stopped in Saudi Arabia.

  Yemen's civil war has been ongoing since August 2014, when Houthi rebels ousted the country's president, Mansour Hadi, and seized much of the state, including the capital, the city of Sana'a. In 2015, Saudi Arabia and its led coalition intervened in the conflict, leading to an escalation of violence.^[7]

The US Army is adopting a robot that transports soldiers in a combat zone

In mid-July 2019, the US Army announced the conduct of combat tests of a new robot for the combat zone. The Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCVS) is designed to transport ground forces personnel and their fire support. Development testing should demonstrate technologies that will subsequently be implemented on military platforms. Read more here.

2018

Pentagon allocated $800 million for underwater unmanned aerial vehicles

In early August 2018, it became known that the US Department of Defense allocated $800 million for underwater unmanned aerial vehicles.

The Pentagon has signed contracts with 23 companies, between which the tasks of research, development and production of drones will be divided. Each of the organizations will be provided with tasks related to "the purchase of materials and services used for the development, construction, manufacture and support of unmanned underwater systems." Work on the contract is scheduled to be completed by July 2023.

Experts interviewed by Stars and Stripes say that this contract for the production of unmanned underwater self-propelled vehicles emphasizes the interest of the US authorities in the development and creation of various kinds of self-driving systems. According to the International Association of Unmanned Self-Propelled Systems, for fiscal year 2019, the ministry requested $9.6 billion for such developments. This is 28% more than a year earlier.

The association's president, Brian Wynn, says unmanned equipment and robots have become key technologies by which the US can combat more threats. Moreover, the Pentagon is most actively investing funds and resources in the development of drones for the Navy

The newspaper also says that approximately 50% of all projects for the development of unmanned vehicles - air, land and sea - fall on orders from the American naval forces.^[8]

It is possible that one of the main tasks of US underwater drones is to confront the Russian Poseidon underwater unmanned system, which, according to the statement, Ministry of Defense of Russia will be able to carry a warhead with a capacity of up to 2 megatons. The development of the Poseidon unmanned underwater vehicle, originally known as the Status-6, first became known in November 2015. In March 2018, the president Russia Vladimir Putin officially confirmed the existence of such weapons.

South Korea replaces some soldiers with robots

In May 2018, it became known about the decision of the South Korean Ministry of Defense to replace soldiers with robots due to the demographic crisis.

According to the Yonhap news agency, citing South Korean Minister of National Defense Son Yon    , earlier in 2018, the military studied the consequences of creating an armed force consisting of people and robots.

The Ministry of Defense came to the conclusion that the formation of mixed units from robots and people will support the combat power of the armed forces against the background of a decrease in the birth rate and a decrease in the population.

According to forecasts of the United Nations, by 2100 the population of South Korea will decrease to 38.7 million people from 50 million in 2018. Reducing the number of residents naturally leads to a lack of serviceable people.

The South Korean Ministry of National Defense concluded that the use of only unmanned reconnaissance robots will replace between 500 and 600 people in the troops. The use of autonomous combat turrets on self-propelled howitzers K9 Thunder will free up two thousand soldiers in the navy and ground troops, therefore, as the source of the publication in the Ministry of Defense noted, the use of mixed military formations (robots plus people) is mandatory.

The National Army has already begun using unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, UAVs, robotic mine search equipment, etc. The Navy is also going to purchase unmanned ground and underwater vehicles, and the Air Force - unmanned anti-aircraft guns. In addition, the Agency for Defense is developing self-propelled tanks and advanced drones.

In addition to South Korea, almost all major countries are working to create robots or artificial intelligence that could work in the military sphere.^[9]

2017

MQ-25 Stingray (carrier-based tanker drone)

In December 2017, Boeing introduced a carrier-based unmanned aerial vehicle designed to refuel military aircraft. It was developed as part of the MQ-25 Stingray project.

Main article: MQ-25 Stingray

Disposable military drones will appear in the United States

The American company Yates Electrospace Corp. set about developing disposable gliders that can more efficiently deliver ammunition and provisions to detachments that are in difficult-to-reach areas. The order came from the United States Marine Corps.

The project was named Silent Arrow. According to the contract, Yates Electrospace Corp. will create unmanned aerial vehicles that, depending on the series, will be able to deliver cargo weighing from 227 to 454 kg; these devices will be destroyed at the destination, which is much more efficient than the methods used now.

The currently existing methods of delivering supplies to hard-to-reach zones, although they have been tested for decades, can no longer fully meet modern requirements - for example, parachute systems are not able to plan over long distances. New technologies will help cover a much larger range; the device will plan and land no further than 45 meters from the designated point^[10].

Tiny killer drones can carry out mass attacks on people (video)

In November 2017 , University of California Berkeley professor Stuart Russell presented a video showing a world in which nuclear weapons are replaced by a swarm of autonomous tiny killer drones. The scientist said that these drones are already reality.

The video takes the viewer to the audience, where a speaker from the stage demonstrates an unmanned aerial vehicle the size of a small bird.

Such drones are able to independently plot a route to the target, recognize it  in the face, and then shoot through the head with a directed explosion and cause brain injuries incompatible with life. Data on the goal robots is obtained from Internet  social networks, where people themselves have been posting all the necessary information about themselves and their lives for years.

The video was created at the Future of Life Institute, which is supported by Stephen Hawking and  Elon Musk. The video was presented by Professor Russell at a meeting of members of the United Nations on modern weapons, which was held in Geneva.  

Working as a team, drones can penetrate buildings, cars, trains and still evade opposition. They cannot be stopped, "says the person in the video.

He adds that for $25 million, you can create a whole swarm of such tiny "ruthless killers" who can destroy half a city.

The potential of artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity is enormous, especially in defense. The widespread use of machines taught to kill people will be devastating to our safety and freedom. Thousands of my fellow researchers agree. But the ability to act is slipping away quickly, "Stuart Russell reported.[11]

Plan for the adoption of the combat robot "Nerehta"

The Russian army will adopt the combat robot "Nerehta," created by the Plant named after V. A. Degtyarev in cooperation with the Foundation for Advanced Research. This was announced to the Interfax news agency in October 2017 by the head of the innovative research department of the Main Directorate for Research and Development (GUNID) of the Ministry of Defense, Colonel Oleg Pomazuev^[12]

The danger of combat robots

On August 21, 2017, a group of 116 executives of companies engaged in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies issued an open letter to the United Nations (UN), in which they warned about the danger of combat robots and called for a ban on their creation.

As soon as deadly autonomous weapons appear, armed conflicts will take on unprecedented proportions and will unfold with speed unimaginable for people, the letter says, signed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of DeepMind, Google's artificial intelligence division.

In the appeal, excerpts from which USA TODAY publishes, the authors fear that dictators and terrorists may send robotic weapons against civilians. In addition, hackers can seize control of it and use it for undesirable purposes.^[13]

We don't have time for delay. As soon as Pandora's box opens, it will be very difficult to close it later, experts emphasize.

The letter was published ahead of a meeting of a UN-created subgroup to discuss the use of robotic weapons, including combat drones, unmanned tanks and machine guns. The meeting, originally scheduled for Monday, August 21, was postponed to November, CNBC reports.^[14]

Warnings about the danger of robotic weapons are not the first time. Earlier, in 2015, more than 1,000 representatives of the technology industry, scientists and experts made a similar appeal, including Professor Stephen Hawking, one of the founders of Apple Steve Wozniak and Elon Musk.

The latter especially persistently draws attention to the threat posed by artificial intelligence. The head of Tesla calls on the authorities to strictly control this area, as potentially dangerous for all mankind.

Israeli army to replace its combat llamas with robots

The Israel Defense Forces will replace the llamas, which are used by the military to transport equipment, ammunition and food, with robots. The military decided to abandon llamas because of their slowness - the animals prevented the operational movement of soldiers^[15].

Remotely controlled robots will be able to carry loads weighing up to 500 kilograms, reach speeds of up to 10 km/h and work for 8 hours without recharging. They will begin to be introduced into the army in September.

The Israeli army has used llamas to transport ammunition since the 2000s. Llamas are not afraid of loud sounds, quickly get used to the new environment and easily move around mountainous terrain. Prior to that, camels, donkeys and mules were used in the army.

US Army ditches Chinese drones over cybersecurity concerns

The US Army has banned its units from using unmanned aerial vehicles manufactured by the Chinese company DJI due to security problems.

According to a memorandum published by Lieutenant General Joseph Anderson, experts from the Army Research Laboratory have discovered a number of vulnerabilities in drones, so it is necessary to immediately stop using them. As stated in the memorandum, the military is required to stop using drones, remove batteries and removable storage devices from them, and abandon all other DJI products.

DJI (Da-Jiang Innovation Corporation) is headquartered in Shenzhen, and according to Goldman Sachs and Oppenheimer, the company owned 70% of the entire consumer-grade commercial drone market in 2016.

The management of the company made the decision of the US Army with great surprise and disappointment. As the director of the public relations department of DJI Michael Perry told sUAS News, the US military did not agree on its sudden decision with the manufacturer himself. The company intends to contact representatives of the US Army and clarify what kind of vulnerabilities are discussed in the memorandum.

Recall that in 2016, DJI agreed to provide data received from its drones to the PRC authorities. It was about location information, flight records and video footage uploaded by users to the company's servers^[16].

Belarus: Arms exports against drones

Belarus may become the second country in the world to export weapons against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The country will compete with China in its own development of a gun that allows drones to be shot down. The gun generates interference on the UAV control channel and drowns out its satellite navigation - GPS and Glonass.

One of the developers of the gun, an employee of the Radar design bureau Anton Krivitsky, told Digital.Report that Belarus plans to establish the export of unusual weapons. "Mass production of the anti-drone gun is planned, but so far we have not decided on its final design and shape. In addition, work is underway to select the range of impact on unmanned vehicles. Most likely, we will reach the form and characteristics that will be approved by specific special services, "he said^[17].

Korea offered to shoot down drones with sound

At the Usenix Enigma 2017^[18] conference], Professor of the Korean Institute of Advanced Technologies Yongdae Kim made a presentation on the deception of passive and active sensors in various devices^[19].

Passive sensors, such as gyroscopes and magnetometers, simply assess the environment and report their "observations" to the device. Active sensors, such as radars and sonars, in turn, send signals outward and in their work rely on the readings received with the return of the signal. Kim demonstrated that both can be hacked.

As a first example, the researcher took gyroscopes that are used in mass-produced drones. Many materials have a so-called resonant frequency that makes them vibrate (this is how you can provoke an "explosion" of a glass glass using a very high note). The only question is the selection of the desired frequency. Kim and his team managed to find the right frequency for 7 of the 15 commercial drones studied, including STMicro and InvenSense hardware. The frequency range used by the researchers ranges from sounds heard by the human ear to sounds indistinguishable by humans, but they all lead to one result: the drone drops due to problems with the gyroscope and gyrostabilizer (inertial measurement unit).

The problem was clearly demonstrated right on stage, during the report. Kim and his assistant caused the quadcopter to fall, "shooting" it with a sound at the right frequency. The video can be found here^[20]. Such an attack requires the attacker to be close enough, but the area of ​ ​ destruction can be expanded by increasing the output power.

As a second example, medical sensors were taken, which are used in "smart" droppers (or medical infusion pumps) and regulate the supply of drugs. It turned out that such a sensor can be confused using a regular laser pointer. If you shine a pointer on the sensor, it will lose the ability to estimate the number of drops entering the patient's body. Kim said that during the tests, the dropper managed to "deceive," forcing her to give the patient a double dose of the drug, as well as cut the dose by 45%. Moreover, the radius of such an attack is limited only by the laser power, so the only condition that must be observed is that the sensor is in the line of sight of the beam, and the distance can be almost arbitrary. As a result, the researcher recommended closing the transparent elements of the infusion pumps with at least ordinary opaque tape.

Testing'jammer machine guns' to protect against drones at Davos forum

Swiss police conduct a test of anti-drone devices in Davos at the World Economic Forum (WEF) - "jammers" that look like light^[21].

Anti-drone guns are designed to ensure safety at the forum that began on January 17, 2017. About 3 thousand people from more than 70 countries of the world became participants in the forum at the ski resort, among them about 30 leaders of states.

According to Bloomberg, anti-drone weapons are designed to neutralize drones that potentially carry out spy missions. jammers do not shoot down drones in the literal sense, they interrupt the signal sent by the UAV by its operator. The drone becomes uncontrolled, but does not fall to the ground, but freezes in the air. The UAV itself also cannot transmit a signal, for example, video broadcasting. At this stage, the security forces launch their UAVs with a special network that catches a "criminal" drone.

Drones can be used to photograph and map police posts, conduct surveillance, or even a physical attack. The jammers were produced by the German company H.P. Marketing & Consulting Wüst, which has been engaged in the production of devices to ensure the safety of security forces for about 30 years.

2016: Americans combine a hundred microdrones into a pack

The Office of Strategic Capabilities of the US Department of Defense, together with the command of aviation systems of the Navy, conducted new tests of miniature unmanned aerial vehicles Perdix. According to Defense Talk^[22], 103 drones were launched from three F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters during tests, which then merged into a flock^[23].

See also on the topic of defense industry

• Russian Armed Forces
• Weapons in Russia
• Army of Ukraine (Ground Forces)
• IT for the military-industrial complex (Russian market)
• Global IT Market for Defense Industry
• Review: Information Technologists in the Military-Industrial Complex
• Technological trends in IT for the Russian defense industry

Notes