Killer Robots Will Be Ubiquitous In The US Army

Gen. Mark Milley, the US Army’s chief of staff (pictured) said that the service’s future combat vehicles and helicopters will need to serve in both manned and unmanned roles to meet commanders’ needs.

The General fleshed out his vision for an Army of the future that depends on robotics, artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies that do not yet exist.

A large part of the success the service enjoyed in the first Gulf War and more recent conflicts, he said, was the result of the focused modernisation vision of leaders in the 1970s that created the Army’s previous big 5, the Abrams stank, Bradley fighting vehicle, Apache attack helicopter, Black Hawk helicopter, and the Patriot air defense missile system.

The Army now faces a similar challenge of modernising its major weapon systems that are quickly becoming obsolete, said Milley.

“If we, the United States military, do not recognise the need for change, and if we do not adapt and pivot to that change then, in my mind, that will be a grave strategic mistake,” he said.

For months, Milley has been pushing his modernisation strategy, which prioritizes next-generation combat vehicles, future vertical lift, long-range precision fires, sophisticated command network and soldier lethality.

“I am not interested in a linear progression into the future that will end up in defeat on a future battlefield,” said Milley, describing the mistake of depending on improvements to existing combat platforms.

“We are talking about ten times capabilities that don’t physically exist in the real world right this minute, but they will,” he added.

More than a decade ago, Army leaders touted the need for “leap-ahead” technology in the service’s Future Combat Systems effort, a multiyear, multibillion dollar program that consisted of 14 lightweight manned and unmanned systems tied together by an extensive communications and information network.

But, as was written in military.com, the technology FCS depended on simply did not exist. The Army spent billions on FCS, only to see it fail when then-Defense Secretary Robert Gates killed the 27-ton Manned Ground Vehicles portion of FCS in the 2010 budget while criticizing the advanced design as ill-suited to survive current battlefield threats.

After the demise of FCS, Army officials quickly took aim at the Ground Combat Vehicle, an effort to replace the Bradley fighting vehicle with a technologically advanced fighting vehicle that would last far into the future.

Five years later, Congress cut most of the funding for the overweight, over-budget vehicle program in the face of mandatory budget cuts under sequestration.

Milley acknowledges the failures of FCS but maintains that the Army must embrace emerging technologies such as robotics and artificial intelligence if the service wants to keep pace with its adversaries.

“Robotics is here; it is real,” he said. “We are talking about vehicles that are both manned and unmanned … every vehicle is going to have the capability to be robotic.”

Within 10 to 15 years, ground forces are going to have robotic vehicles for ground and air operations, Milley said.

“So If the commander on the ground can make an evaluation of his mission, enemy, terrain, time and troops available, and he can estimate the situation, he can make a determination as to whether he wants this assault to be manned or unmanned,” he said. “Does he want to attack Hill 101 with robots or does he want to do it with manned vehicles?”

Artificial intelligence is another example of a key emerging technology that the Army must recognise, Milley said.

“Whether we like it or not, artificial intelligence is coming,” he said. “I am willing to bet on it with programs and money.”

In terms of decision-making, “we want capabilities in the network that are taking advantage of significant advances in information technology to include artificial intelligence”, Milley said.

“I don’t know if artificial intelligence is going to mean robots and machines replace humanity … but I do know the quantum computing and some of the IT technologies that are out there today are so significant and can help you [with] rapid decision-making in complex decentralised environments, that if we don’t take advantage of that in things like the network, then we would be fools because others are moving out quickly on that,” he said.

I-HLS

You Might Also Read:

Russia's New Generation Of Military Robots:

'Killer Robot' Warfare Is Coming Closer:

 

« High Tech Police Tool Up For Winter Olympics
Prime Minister Wants A 'fake news' Rapid Response Team »

Infosecurity Europe
CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

CYRIN

CYRIN

CYRIN® Cyber Range. Real Tools, Real Attacks, Real Scenarios. See why leading educational institutions and companies in the U.S. have begun to adopt the CYRIN® system.

Jooble

Jooble

Jooble is a job search aggregator operating in 71 countries worldwide. We simplify the job search process by displaying active job ads from major job boards and career sites across the internet.

BackupVault

BackupVault

BackupVault is a leading provider of automatic cloud backup and critical data protection against ransomware, insider attacks and hackers for businesses and organisations worldwide.

Infosecurity Europe, 3-5 June 2025, ExCel London

Infosecurity Europe, 3-5 June 2025, ExCel London

This year, Infosecurity Europe marks 30 years of bringing the global cybersecurity community together to further our joint mission of Building a Safer Cyber World.

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North IT (North Infosec Testing) are an award-winning provider of web, software, and application penetration testing.

Prim'X Technologies

Prim'X Technologies

Prim'X Technologies provides information protection solutions to prevent unauthorised access to sensitive data.

Kenexis

Kenexis

Kenexis is a consulting engineering firm providing services for process hazards analysis, fire and gas mapping, and industrial cybersecurity.

itWatch

itWatch

itWatch is focused on data loss prevention (DLP), endpoint security, mobile security, encryption, and cost reducing solutions for IT operations.

CalCom

CalCom

CalCom Hardening Solution (CHS) for Microsoft OMS is a security baseline-hardening solution designed to address the needs of IT operations and security teams.

STM

STM

STM provides system engineering, technical support, project management, technology transfer and logistics support services for the Turkish Armed Forces.

Cancom

Cancom

CANCOM group is one of the leading providers of IT infrastructure and IT services in Germany and Austria. Solution areas include network security.

SpecterOps

SpecterOps

SpecterOps has unique insight into the cyber adversary mindset and brings the highest caliber, most experienced resources to assess your organizations defenses.

Cygenta

Cygenta

Cygenta brings a new approach to cybersecurity. We understand that true security means having digital, human and physical security working in harmony.

Palmchip

Palmchip

Palmchip is a Cyber Security, SOC and Software consulting company. We design and develop high performance and secure applications.

Cyberwatch Finland

Cyberwatch Finland

Cyberwatch Finland's services improve decision-makers’ strategic situational picture and enable successful holistic cyber risk management.

Great American Insurance Group

Great American Insurance Group

Great American's Cyber Risk Division offers cyber solutions for small and medium-sized businesses.

Cyber Tzar

Cyber Tzar

Cyber Tzar is a new approach at dealing with an old problem; assessing and managing risks to your IT estate.

Schillings

Schillings

Shillings defends your rights to privacy, reuptation and security. We fight passionately against breaches of your privacy, attacks on your reputation and threats to your security.

Beyon Cyber

Beyon Cyber

Beyon Cyber offer a complete portfolio of advanced solutions & services for cyber security in Bahrain.

StrongBox.Academy

StrongBox.Academy

StrongBox.Academy provides cybersecurity training courses that are tailored to the specific needs and challenges of the industry.

Hook Security

Hook Security

Setting a new standard in security awareness. Hook Security is a people-first company that uses psychological security training to help companies create security-aware culture.