Military powers large and small are seeking advanced autonomous systems for attack and defence, fundamentally altering the way force is exerted and efficiently levelling many previous overmatch capabilities on the battlefield.
The advancement of artificial intelligence has further improved the efficiency and accuracy of these systems – reinforcing the idea that embracing emerging technology will have a game-changing and outsized impact on military power.
Today’s challenges to global security aren’t just changing – they’re accelerating faster than ever before. Adversaries are highly adaptive and confront nations from land, air and sea as well as from the electromagnetic spectrum.
Many countries are facing an ever more lethal and asymmetric battlefield, with conflicts being conducted at increasing speed and reach, from close combat and throughout overseas theatres. With AI at the crux of modern warfare, it is critical that advanced technology companies and defence manufacturers invest heavily in research and development to innovate the next generation of efficient, accurate and interoperable systems that can ensure mission success.
The use of remotely piloted and autonomous aircraft has increased dramatically over the past two decades and has generated a debate on whether they are merely one more tool of defence or a revolution in warfare. Recent global conflicts have illustrated the advantage of using unmanned aerial systems to target air defence systems, deployed forces, strategic installations and armoured vehicles with relatively inexpensive air capabilities.
Designed to avoid enemy air defence systems by virtue of their compact size, they offer smaller and less-equipped states major advantages in conventional conflicts. Clearly, these have changed the character of warfare, and innovative uses of drones and loitering munitions demonstrate the evolutionary next step, with a low cost and a high reward potential.
As observed 20 years ago, the initial uptake of drones was slow as armed forces adapted their concept of operations and doctrines early in the product life cycle. Today, we can draw parallels to unmanned ground vehicle, or UGV, technology maturing, with numerous countries undergoing intensive testing and evaluation with plans to initiate larger-scale adoption and use.
According to market analysis from BIS Research, the global UGV market is expected to reach $9.06 billion this year. While the study found that the North American UGV market will pioneer its large-scale deployment, the market is certainly shifting towards European and Asian economies showing major demand for UGVs.
Such systems have the potential to transform operational efficiency and flexibility, and reduce human intervention in various skilled tasks like logistics, explosive ordnance disposal and intelligence-gathering – enabling hitherto impossible tasks.
While the maritime industry has been comparatively slow to adopt these technologies, the industry is certainly evolving and diversifying, and the rising popularity of unmanned surface vehicles – USVs – and unmanned underwater vehicles – UUVs – is prompting an increase in procurement and deployment from many navies and border security organisations around the world.
With AI at the crux of modern warfare, it is critical that advanced technology companies and defence manufacturers invest heavily in research and development
As R&D accelerates, these maritime unmanned vehicles will play a very significant role in protecting human operators, securing national waters and assisting naval missions. AI will certainly drive many advancements, enabling the degree of human control to gradually decrease.
With such developments, sea platforms will become a key technology for assignments in uncertain and dangerous marine environments, from reconnaissance missions to mine counter measures, border patrols and emergency responses.
Electronic warfare capabilities provide additional options for persistently competing with adversaries, while also enhancing and contributing to the capabilities of any platform using them across air, land and sea.
AI and machine learning are set to usher in a new generation of cognitive electronic warfare systems that learn how to categorise and respond to new threats, reducing the burden on combatants. For instance, deep learning will benefit from large amounts of data to create patterns for decision making.
Designed to support fast, low false alarm rate detection and identification of unknown threat signals, deep-learning techniques will be adopted in dense and congested electromagnetic environments, allowing for the rapid evaluation of situations as well as a fast automatic decision process. Only through vast and varied signal data can electronic warfare systems become exceptionally smart and, ultimately, automated.
Aircraft, ships and ground-vehicles forces today, both manned and unmanned, collect an abundance of information that contributes to the future of autonomous warfare. Processing and analysing that amount of data is a challenge, especially when factoring in multiple levels of security at which those systems operate.
More from Faisal Al Bannai
However, tomorrow’s missions will leverage today’s data and every input is set to amplify the power of AI. As we advance further in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the key to effective overmatch lies in optimising the functionality and interoperability of land, sea, air and electronic warfare systems to rapidly turn data and intelligence into mission-winning action.
Integrating data from a wide range of sensors, such as unmanned surface vehicles or drones, will help deliver critical system support under severe time constraints, as well as recommend alternative courses of action to help human operators navigate a labyrinth of decision points.
Forces must be equipped to present adversaries with several operational or tactical engagement strategies, the employment of multi-domain formations and the convergence of capabilities across environments.
Ultimately, modern battles are a race against time, where the side agile enough to make swift decisions and move quickly to execution will prevail.
Interoperable autonomous and autonomy-enabled systems will greatly help to prevent hostilities, shape the security environment, protect critical infrastructure and safeguard borders and coastlines – thereby contributing to greater safety and security, which are critical for development and growth.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The five pillars of Islam
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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On the menu
First course
▶ Emirati sea bass tartare Yuzu and labneh mayo, avocado, green herbs, fermented tomato water
▶ The Tale of the Oyster Oyster tartare, Bahraini gum berry pickle
Second course
▶ Local mackerel Sourdough crouton, baharat oil, red radish, zaatar mayo
▶ One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Quail, smoked freekeh, cinnamon cocoa
Third course
▶ Bahraini bouillabaisse Venus clams, local prawns, fishfarm seabream, farro
▶ Lamb 2 ways Braised lamb, crispy lamb chop, bulgur, physalis
Dessert
▶ Lumi Black lemon ice cream, pistachio, pomegranate
▶ Black chocolate bar Dark chocolate, dates, caramel, camel milk ice cream
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The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
THE SPECS
Touareg Highline
Engine: 3.0-litre, V6
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 340hp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh239,312
The specs: 2018 Jeep Compass
Price, base: Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.4L / 100km
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Sour%20Grapes
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The specs: 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman
Price, base / as tested Dh222,500 / Dh296,870
Engine 2.0L, flat four-cylinder
Transmission Seven-speed PDK
Power 300hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque 380hp @ 1,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.9L / 100km
Score
Third Test, Day 2
New Zealand 274
Pakistan 139-3 (61 ov)
Pakistan trail by 135 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the innings
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Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETuhoon%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EYear%20started%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJune%202021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFares%20Ghandour%2C%20Dr%20Naif%20Almutawa%2C%20Aymane%20Sennoussi%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERiyadh%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Ehealth%20care%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESize%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E15%20employees%2C%20%24250%2C000%20in%20revenue%0D%3Cbr%3EI%3Cstrong%3Envestment%20stage%3A%20s%3C%2Fstrong%3Eeed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EWamda%20Capital%2C%20Nuwa%20Capital%2C%20angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Directed by: Craig Gillespie
Starring: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry
4/5
The biog
Favourite car: Ferrari
Likes the colour: Black
Best movie: Avatar
Academic qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in media production from the Higher Colleges of Technology and diploma in production from the New York Film Academy
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
