The US Reaper drones, which have long-range radars and can provide command posts with maritime data from great distances. (Source: US Air Force)

Leading military strategists believe that artificial intelligence (AI) will revolutionize modern warfare. Technologists can integrate it into traditional weapons, such as ships and fighter jets, to increase firepower and change the way we fight.

Therefore, many countries with economic potential are willing to spend money to invest and research to produce products with optimal combat capabilities and help the army gain great advantages on the battlefield.

So what are the strengths of integrating military technology into traditional weapons and how are countries around the world competing?

Advantages of AI-equipped weapons

First, thanks to its rapid data processing speed, AI can collect and send information from satellites and radars to military commanders, thereby helping them grasp the developments on the battlefield and make better decisions. For example, with the ability to monitor and analyze images, AI will help drones accurately target important enemy targets, such as high-ranking commanders or important military bases.

In addition, traditional weapons integrated with technology, especially AI-equipped drones, have three other major advantages. First, AI will replace human control, so autonomous aircraft on the battlefield will reduce soldier casualties.

Second, they can perform operations that the human body cannot withstand, such as the increase in air pressure when the plane climbs can cause the pilot to lose consciousness. Therefore, drones do not need to be equipped with oxygen supply equipment.

Third, while manned fighter jets cost tens of millions of dollars, autonomous fighter jets cost only a few million dollars. With such a cost, the military apparatus will save a large amount of money.

AI in modern warfare

The Russia-Ukraine conflict is a stark example of how military technology is changing the battlefield. In a May report from the Special Projects for Competitive Research, Kiev and Moscow are both integrating conventional weapons with AI, satellite imagery, and smart munitions. The use of technology has significantly improved the lethality of artillery and missiles.

In addition, the transition of work between humans and robots is taking place on the battlefield. With manned reconnaissance helicopters vulnerable to attack, commanders in both countries are gradually transferring that role to autonomous aircraft.

Speaking at the Military Technology Conference in Washington on August 28, US Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks noted that the fighting in Ukraine proves that commercial technology products can play a decisive role in modern warfare.

US-China military technology confrontation

The FH-97A is a major achievement of China’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry. With AI control, these new-generation UAVs will greatly enhance China’s defense capabilities. (Source: Reuters)

Recognizing the advantages of technology in military strategy, the US and China are racing to maximize AI combat capabilities and balance power with their opponents.

Since 2010, Beijing has dramatically increased its spending on military technology research, including AI and machine learning. According to Chinese industry and technology research firm Datena, Beijing spent about $3.1 million and $8.5 million on AI and machine learning research in 2011, respectively. By 2019, China continued to pour $86 million into AI and about $55 million into machine learning.

At the Zhuhai Airshow in November 2022, Beijing unveiled the FH-97A autonomous aircraft, which functions like a jet fighter, operating alongside manned fighters to provide intelligence and supplement firepower for the military.

The White House has responded to China’s rapid military technology development. On August 28, US Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks said that Washington will deploy thousands of autonomous systems in the next two years to offset China’s advantage in the number of weapons and people.

Earlier, speaking at a conference in Colorado in March, US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said that Washington was planning to build a fleet of 1,000 unmanned combat aircraft. In August, President Joe Biden's administration signed an executive order banning some new US investments in China, in the field of sensitive military-related technology.

Thus, traditional weapons integrated with modern technology bring many advantages to combat forces, including the ability to process data, analyze images, minimize casualties and protect soldiers, as well as save money.

Therefore, many countries in the world are actively modernizing their equipment to increase firepower and balance power with their opponents.

The confrontation between Moscow and Kiev soldiers on the Ukrainian battlefield is a typical case in which both sides use AI and smart bullets to contain each other.

Not left out of the trend, the US and China are also making efforts to integrate technology into the defense apparatus, especially applying AI to autonomous systems and drones. Due to concerns about China's increasing spending on developing military technology, the US is planning to build a large fleet of autonomous aircraft to meet the current competitive situation.