Military Applications of AI
AI is foundational to ISR - Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance
Modern warfare theories, defenses, strategies and tactics are evolving as a result of the peer-to-peer SMO in Ukraine, so far under somewhat restrained war operations. Military education will change and books will be written about the shifting practices as American military power competes with Russia in existential conditions on both sides. The stakes and investments are extremely high. The integration of AI into ISR and weaponry is one of the most important technological advances driving this evolution. ISR is commonly referred to in blogs about the Ukraine SMO.
Technology is changing the nature and content of power structures in military conflicts. The scientific development and educational level of a country influences its creation of military weapons and equipment, as well as its economic potential. Modern military science must be dynamic, rather than static. It should incorporate new concepts, learn from mistakes along the way, and complete historical reviews of each conflict.
AI – General Scope
The introduction of AI into warfare in terms of scale and effectiveness is revolutionary and has been compared to the advent of nuclear missile systems. AI systems have already been adopted by numerous countries in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), weapons, tanks, ships and systems for processing complex information. The US DOD had at least 600 AI projects under development at a cost of $2.5 billion in 2021. China spends $1.6 billion annually on AI enabled systems. Russia has now centralized its AI development within the Russian Ministry of Defense’s Main Directorate of Innovative Development for the purpose of introducing high technological products for military defense.
AI systems are not simple robots or automated control systems that operate strictly according to a given program. AI is not limited in its decision making by rigid algorithms.
AI is able to make independent decisions without human participation. It processes information and solves problems using intellectualization instead of automation. It can make decisions in conditions of uncertainty, with incomplete information, or with frequently changing situations outside of expected parameters. It draws its own conclusions based on the results of its data collection and analysis and even creative functions.
An important quality of AI is its capacity for self-learning and adaptation to various conditions. It can independently change its original software embedded within it, carrying out self-programming. It can process data and make decisions far faster than the human brain. This is an advantage that allows it to solve unforeseen problems and evolve, but may also be its greatest danger if it competes rather than collaborates with humans. It does kill humans in warfare by design.
ISR
Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) is foundational for all military operations and advanced warfighting capabilities with increasing lethality, range and speed. It supports command decision making and planning. Its principles have been used in warfare for centuries.
· Intelligence = analytical result of surveillance & reconnaissance combined with data
· Surveillance = continuous observation of a target
· Reconnaissance = collection of data for a specific military target or question
The goal of ISR is to provide decision-makers and action-takers on the ground with minute-by-minute situational awareness of battle conditions on the ground, in the air, at sea, in space and in the cyber domain. IRS systems collect and process data sources from multiple layers and sources, from hand-held electronic devices to satellites. Military services and allies collaborate to collect, analyze and share information for maximal effect.
Sources of data include:
· Ground – Soldier’s reports, human intelligence teams, special operation forces, spies, sensory data on tanks & armored vehicles, fixed cameras, various sensors, weather monitoring
· Air – UAVs & drones, AWACS surveillance aircraft, NATO’s AGS system, electrical communications and intercepts, radar, optical & infrared imaging. Drones are equipped with cameras, sensors, radar, navigation systems.
· Sea – Sensors & radar on ships and submarines, underwater drones, divers, trained dolphins and sealions, listening devices, wind and temperature buoys.
· Space – Both civilian and military satellites look down to earth and up into space. Used for images of Earth, communications, position navigation, time, meteorology, oceanography, topography, anti-satellite functions, weapons. US considers space a military domain as well as commercial domains.
· Cyber networking - ISTAR integrates data from several sources into a combined format. More systems are being added to combine data from allies currently.
· Decision makers – military commanders, political leaders, intelligence analysts, imagery analysts, encryption specialists
ISR and AI
ISR produces far more unstructured data than can be reviewed manually. The data and insights derived from it not only need to identify and monitor targets but be shared with ground and air commanders and entered into weapons systems. Without AI, the workforce to do this would be enormous, slow, filled with human errors and missed items of importance.
To meet the demands of the global strategic environment, AI becomes an essential component of ISR. AI accelerates the analysis of unstructured data, decision making and actions taken. Here are its functions:
· Processes unstructured data at scale to generate useful insights for a command center.
· Accelerates video footage review.
· Reduces the number of human analysts required.
· Shortens decision making time.
· Reduces human errors.
· Classifies, detects, categorizes and tracks objects or humans in images and videos over time.
· Extracts insights from unstructured data in the form of photos, videos, text to support field decisions through classification of data into algorithms
· Locates, fixates, identifies elusive targets hidden in difficult to access locations.
· Improves situational domain awareness for border security, enemy movements, maritime compliance, military operational outcomes in changing field conditions.
· Makes predictions of outcomes in real-time.
· Makes tactical decisions regarding a target.
· Provides summaries of data across multiple languages.
· Learns from its own data collection and analysis.
Examples of AI Applications
ALPHA, US Air Force – Can automatically control the flight of a fighter jet and even win an air dual against an experienced military pilot in simulated battle. Detects and identifies enemies with radar and sensors, strike adversaries with missiles, and maneuver in combat.
Today’s fighter jets travel in excess of 1,500 mph, so microseconds matter in managing the plane and missile systems. ALPHA takes in all the sensory data and target information, creating a mapping of the combat situations almost instantly for a single aircraft or a small fleet. It can make responses faster than a human can blink. It can evade hostile missiles, take accurate shots at multiple targets, coordinate a squadron, and record observations from enemy tactics and capabilities. Amazingly, it requires no more computing power than a PC.
ATLAS, US Army – Assistance for tank and armored vehicles by detecting and identifying enemy targets, assess risks, aim gun at target, process data from its own sensors and devices, and receive data from outside sources. Can strike targets three times faster than humans.
The Advanced Targeting and Lethality Aided System provides target recognition on the M1 Abrams tank. It uses advanced sensors, machine learning algorithms, and touch screen displays to automate the detection and firing at targets. Optical sensors are mounted on top of the tank. Once activated, it continually scans the battlefield, feeding the data into a machine learning algorithm. Images of enemy threats are sent to the touchscreen display, which interfaces with the fire control system.
Images are lined up vertically on the left side of screen, with the main part of the display showing what the gun is currently aimed at. Around the edges are a number of different controls for selecting ammunition, fire type, camera settings and more. The operator simply touches one of the targets on the left of the screen with his finger and the tank automatically swivels its gun, training its sights on the center of the selected target. As it does that, the fire control system automatically recommends the appropriate ammo and setting such as a burst or single shot, although the user can adjust these as needed. The operator can approve the AI’s recommendations or disengage the entire process. From target detection to pulling of the trigger can take just seconds. Once the target is destroyed the operator simply touches the screen to select the next target picked up by Atlas.
Aegis, US Navy – The Aegis Combat System uses computers and radars to track and guide weapons to destroy enemy targets. It is produced by Lockheed Martin. Initially developed by the US Navy, it now is used by Japan, Spain, S. Korea, Australia and Canada. As of 2022, 110 ships were Aegis equipped.
Aegis implements command and control (C&D) at its core. Components also include weapons systems, anti-submarine warfare, and Tomahawk Land Cruise missiles. It receives and processes data from ship and aircraft, provides target designation to missile launchers, and can be programmed to automatically destroy targets without human intervention or from a remote command center. The radar is able to perform search, tracking, and missile guidance functions simultaneously at over 100 nautical miles (190 km) away.
Raytheon Intelligence & Space – Raytheon is a major US military contractor developing AI software. One product is CASPER, which combines sensor controls with data processing. For example, a ship operator tells CASPER to scan for fast boats and prioritize by threat to the carrier. CASPER takes control of the sensors to identify which boats are threats based on appearance, behavior and its data banks to provide the operator with a threat list and recommended courses of action. JADC2 is a future command and control network that will link military platforms across the globe in all domains of air, land, sea, cyber and space.
Russia – Equips smart bombs and missiles with electronic control systems. Equips UAVs and drones with cameras and sensors, target recognition, cannons, machine guns, anti-tank missiles, flamethrowers, robotic systems. AI is added to communication systems and high precision missile systems. All combat troops are trained in the use of AI on the ground. See Russian analysts and bloggers for much more detail on Russian technology and weapons.
Concluding Thoughts
Lessons are being learned in the Ukraine SMO about the need for real-time intelligence, which can only be met with technology embedded with AI. An absence of AI enabled ISR will effectively spell the difference between military mission success or failure. There are thousands of systems, sensors, and carriers in the battlefield today that are changing modern warfare. This article is an introduction to the ISR and its AI brother to give non-military persons a small sampling of military science.