INTEGRATION OF LETHAL AUTONOMOUS WEAPONS SYSTEMS IN LAND MILITARY OPERATIONS
INTEGRATION OF LETHAL AUTONOMOUS WEAPONS SYSTEMS IN LAND MILITARY OPERATIONS

Author(s): Adrian-Marius MITRU
Subject(s): Security and defense, Military Sciences
Published by: Carol I National Defence University Publishing House
Keywords: lethal autonomous weapons system (LAWS); responsibility gap; meaningful human control; artificial intelligence (AI); land operations.
Summary/Abstract: Lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS) are rapidly transforming how militaries plan and conduct land operations. From executing high-risk missions as a stand-alone system to integrating into tactical teams and operating in complex dynamic environments where synchronization is essential, these technologies are changing the pace and logic of modern warfare. This transformation is closely linked to advances in artificial intelligence, sensor fusion, and data processing capabilities, which enable increasingly autonomous functions within the targeting and engagement cycle. As a result, commanders are required to adapt doctrinal frameworks, command-and-control structures, and decision-making processes to accommodate human-machine interaction. This study aims to provide a clear and concise overview of the issues surrounding these systems, as debated by international regulatory bodies, and how they are integrated into ground operations, highlighting their advantages and the challenges posed by the development of autonomous technologies, particularly in relation to accountability, meaningful human control, and compliance with international humanitarian law.

• Details
• Contents