Unmanned Force

Col Mandeep Singh (retd)

In December 2023, the United States (US) Army started integrating robots in select infantry platoons in an unprecedented effort towards greater human-machine integration. In a first, Manoeuvre Center of Excellence (MCOE) Experimental Company, 1st Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment, 316th used robots to lead an urban assault during a validation exercise. Four robotic vehicles were paired with a platoon of 20 soldiers with four robotic vehicles that not only created a screen using smoke generators but also jammed enemy signals and extended the soldiers’ network by deploying with tethered drones.

Robotic ground vehicles with cameras were dropped by small drones atop buildings to scout the interior while even smaller aerial drones entered windows, scanning the inside of the structure, and transmitting back a ‘blueprint’ of the building to soldiers on the ground. Meanwhile, robot ‘dogs’ with cameras of their own, entered the building looking for hazards and seeking out enemy troops.

In another programme, the US Army is planning to form a human-machine integrated platoon with opposite force trainers at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California for deployment with mechanised formations. The initial focus would be on robotic platforms carrying out defensive tasks till the robotic platforms are developed enough to keep up with the fast-moving mechanised formation. These are just some of the numerous ongoing projects to achieve human-machine integration to integrate robots with humans for eventual deployment on the future battlefield.

Robotics and AI-powered (artificial intelligence) technologies are transforming the landscape of the battlefield, introducing new possibilities and challenges. As warfare is changing rapidly with AI being the most important accelerator of this change, one of the most profound changes has been in the field of manned-unmanned teaming (M-UMT). The unprecedented transformation in hybrid human-machine architectures has been driven by advances in micro-miniaturization, robotics and sensors powered by AI as it combines the robustness and flexibility of human intelligence with the precision and reliability of automation. The autonomous robots being developed hope to bring immense military benefits, including improved intelligence, reduced casualties and increased speed and efficiency.

While the general emphasis and public spotlight have been on M-UMT in aerial vehicles, there is more to human-machine integration than just smart drones and loyal wingmen. There is tremendous progress in man-machine integration in ground systems and some of them have even been tried out in recent conflicts such as the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War and the two ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine. The war between Azerbaijan and Armenia has been called the first war in history to be won primarily by robotic systems, specifically through the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and loitering munitions. The second war, still ongoing in Gaza, has seen an unprecedented use of AI by Israel to totally dominate the conflict. Earlier in 2021, Israel had won the conflict in 11 days by a ruthless application of AI-driven technology. While the Israelis claimed that it was the first war in history to be won by AI, it was more of a hybrid human-AI effort. The Russia-Ukraine conflict is witnessing both a war of attrition and the application of the mini and micro-UAVs in hundreds every day to hunt down the adversary.

The leader in the use of AI and robotics in combat, by a distance, is Israel which has been experimenting, with and employing robots in Gaza for years. It became the first country in the world to use robots for border patrolling when it deployed the Guardium along its border with Syria in the north and the Gaza Strip in the south. The Guardium is based on a Tomcar dune-buggy-like vehicle and is equipped with a range of sensors, cameras and weapons. It can be driven by a soldier sitting in a command centre miles away or receive a pre-designated route for its patrol, making it completely autonomous.

Other UGVs in use include the Segev, which is based on a Ford F-350 pickup truck. Israel also uses robotic snakes that can slither into underground passageways and enemy headquarters. They then map out the structures, giving soldiers an accurate picture of a battle area before the place is stormed.

In 2022, Israel began testing the medium robotic combat vehicle (M-RCV), a new robotic unmanned combat vehicle that integrates several cutting-edge technologies. It has an anti-tank missile launcher, a system for transporting and receiving drones, the ability to carry heavy loads and advanced manoeuvring capabilities. While the drone is used for forward reconnaissance missions, the array of passive sensors is also incorporated for increased situational awareness.

Military Robots Already Deployed

One of the most promising examples of military robots today is the robot dog, Spot, developed by Boston Dynamics. The four-legged robot can speak, navigate complex terrain, climb stairs and perform various field tasks, including carrying equipment. The US Armed Forces have deployed Spot in combat zones, where it collects data and provides situational awareness, among other roles. The robot can also communicate with other systems including drones and work collaboratively with human soldiers. Incidentally, Spot has also been deployed by an Indian construction firm in Gurugram to help in timely hazard detection and implementing safety protocols.

Meanwhile, the US Marines have conducted a proof-of-concept test of a quadruped robot firing an M72 rocket launcher. In 2020, a St Petersburg company offered a rocket-armed robot dog to the Russian military; apparently based on the same robot used by the Marines, which is a type made in China.

Another well-known military robot is Talon SWORDS (Special Weapons Observation Reconnaissance Detection System) a weaponised version of a remotely operated, tracked military robot designed for missions ranging from reconnaissance to combat. The robot is composed of a weapons system mounted on the standard Talon chassis. The weapons carried by the SWORDS include the M16 rifle, 5.56 millimetre SAW M249, 7.62 millimetre M240 machine gun, .50 calibre M82 Barrett rifle,