The Pentagon made an announcement on Monday regarding a new program aimed at the development of numerous autonomous systems, including drones. This initiative is a response to China’s growing military power and aims to counter their mass procurement of conventional military resources. However, the use of autonomous weapons that operate without human input raises concerns among human rights groups and activists.
During the National Defense Industrial Association conference on emerging technologies in Washington, D.C., Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks unveiled the program named Replicator. Hicks referred to it as a “big bet” to overcome China’s military advantage in terms of resources. She emphasized that America’s strategies for winning wars have historically relied on outsmarting, outmaneuvering, and out-strategizing adversaries, not merely matching them in terms of military assets.
Hicks stated that the Defense Department will utilize autonomous systems across various domains, as they are cost-effective and minimize the risk to human lives. By countering China’s mass with its own mass, the United States aims to create a harder-to-predict and harder-to-defeat military force.
While the U.S. has already invested in autonomous weapons systems in the past, Hicks announced that the Pentagon will now escalate those efforts and produce new systems and weapons at a faster pace. Over the next 18-24 months, thousands of autonomous systems are expected to be developed across multiple sectors with the assistance of the defense industry.
Hicks, alongside Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Christopher Grady and Doug Beck, director of the Defense Innovation Unit, will oversee the Replicator program.
The use of fully autonomous weapons in warfare is still limited, with most drones and aircraft being operated remotely by humans. However, Russia has deployed self-operating drones with devastating effects in the war in Ukraine.
Several human rights groups have advocated for a ban on autonomous weapons, and the United Nations is currently deliberating the issue without reaching a definitive agreement. The International Red Cross has recommended strict global guidelines on the use of autonomous weapons, highlighting the prohibition of “unpredictable” systems and those designed to use force.
In January, the Pentagon updated its guidelines on the use of autonomous systems, ensuring a comprehensive review of weapons systems prior to deployment and the involvement of human judgment before using force. It also established a working group to address related issues.
Hicks assured that the Replicator program will prioritize ethical considerations in the development of these systems, aligning with responsible and ethical approaches to AI and autonomous systems.
In conclusion, the Pentagon’s new program, Replicator, aims to develop a multitude of autonomous systems to counter China’s military buildup. Despite concerns from human rights groups, the Pentagon intends to develop and field these systems responsibly and ethically.
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