Image Source: Bing Image. License: All Creative Commons

War is not what it was. The time of soldiers marching in tidy rows or tanks driving over open fields is quickly passing. Instead, a new era is unfolding—one fueled by machines, algorithms, and artificial intelligence. What was once the realm of science fiction is now the very reality of the battlefield, thanks to the accelerated growth of autonomous technologies.

Image Source: Bing Image. License: All Creative Commons

Imagine unmanned systems—drones in the air, ground robots, and autonomous ships—marching as the multitools of modern conflicts. In the past two decades, these one-time gadgets have become weekly staples in the arsenals of militaries and even non-state actors. Since they’re comparatively affordable and easy to repurpose, nearly anyone can avail themselves of a commercially available drone and convert it into a weapon or a sensor.

Consider the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian troops have demonstrated just how handy you can be with off-the-shelf technology. In July 2024, for instance, a Ukrainian pilot flew a commercial drone into a Russian Mi-8 helicopter—a potent reminder of how suddenly these instruments can shift the balance in an asymmetrical conflict.

But the change isn’t simply applying individual drones or robots. The next great leap is applying teams of machines in tandem, under the direction of artificial intelligence. These systems, integrate,d can execute complicated missions—from reconnaissance to assault—with minimal intervention required from humans.

Surprisingly, arming robots is no longer the preserve of budget surplus labs. Do-it-yourself kits, such as those offered by ELECFREAKS, are being adapted for military purposes. The UK has even sent robot dogs to Ukraine for tasks like scouting and detecting traps. At the same time, Russian and Chinese forces, along with the U.S. Marine Corps, have been experimenting with arming robots with sniper rifles and rocket launchers.

But this dash to dominate autonomous warfare is not merely about gee-whiz hardware. It’s actually about who can best integrate these technologies into their military strategies. China is making tremendous strides in this regard. Its Academy of Sciences has made advances in autonomous vehicle perception and navigation that are applicable both in the military and civilian domains.

It’s all transforming the way nations view war. Autonomous systems—flying, rolling, or sailing—present quicker response times, increased precision, and less danger to human life. But they also disrupt established strategies, compelling militaries to rethink logistics as well as how battles are waged.

And if one drone is bad, then think of a swarm. AI-driven drone swarms can be programmed to attack, penetrate air defense systems, and destroy critical infrastructure—all with minimal human intervention. In 2024, the U.S. Army conducted tests against swarms of up to 40 drones, demonstrating just how much militaries require means of countering threats like these.

Meanwhile, China has gone a step further—using robot dogs with machine guns, flown in on drones. It reads like fiction in a science fiction movie, but it is taking place. The distinction between the two is getting increasingly blurred.

When machines assume more responsibility, it only begs one important question: Who’s actually in control? As much as autonomous systems may help increase efficiency and minimize risk to humans, they also create the possibility of their misuse—particularly when commercial technology can be so easily weaponized.

Throwing AI into the mix only makes things more complicated. When drones and robots have little control, the traditional line of command is pushed to the limit. That’s why it’s being urged by experts that there must be strict controls, clear guidelines, and international treaties to avert errors and escalation.

The innovations witnessed during the Russia-Ukraine war and China’s AI advancements are just a start. As autonomous technology improves, it will continue to blur lines between traditional and non-traditional warfare. Militaries are scrambling all over the world to keep pace, recognizing that lagging may prove expensive in a world where the line between human and machine continues to thin.