Swarms of AI-fueled drones, vehicles track targets in AUKUS tests

WASHINGTON — A swarm of Australian, U.K. and U.S. artificial intelligence-enabled air and ground vehicles collaboratively detected and tracked targets during testing overseas.

The trials conducted by the AUKUS partners delivered several “world firsts,” including the live re-training and international exchange of AI models, according to the U.K. Ministry of Defence , which disclosed the news May 26, a month after testing.

More than 70 military and civilian defense personnel and industry players participated in the experiment, part of the AUKUS Advanced Capabilities Pillar, or Pillar 2, established to expedite the trilateral development of critical technologies, such as AI, quantum, cyber and hypersonics. Pillar 1 — more discussed — aims to help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines.

Abe Denmark, the U.S. senior adviser to the secretary of defense for AUKUS , in a statement said the April demonstration was “truly a shared effort.”

Together, teams developed models, directed different nations’ uncrewed aerial vehicles and evaluated performance. The joint deployments in the field featured Blue Bear Ghost and Insitu CT220 drones; Challenger 2 main battle tanks and Warrior armored vehicles; Viking uncrewed ground vehicles; a commercial FV433 Abbot self-propelled artillery gun; and a former Eastern Bloc BMP OT-90, an infantry fighting vehicle.

“By pooling our expertise and resources through our AUKUS partnerships,” Denmark said, “we can ensure that our militaries are equipped with the latest and most effective tools to defend our nations and uphold the principles of freedom and democracy around the world.”

Australian, U.K. and U.S. leaders have described AI as critical to international competitiveness in many sectors, finance, health and defense among them. By sharing AI and its underpinnings, the U.K. Ministry of Defence said in its announcement, the friendly militaries can figure out interoperability now, and not later, as well as save time and money.

The U.S. Department of Defense’s fiscal 2024 budget blueprint featured a $1.8 billion allocation for AI , with Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks describing it as a “key technology” area. The department catalogued at least 685 ongoing AI projects as of early 2021, including several tied to major weapons systems.

Colin Demarest was a reporter at C4ISRNET, where he covered military networks, cyber and IT. Colin had previously covered the Department of Energy and its National Nuclear Security Administration — namely Cold War cleanup and nuclear weapons development — for a daily newspaper in South Carolina. Colin is also an award-winning photographer.

华盛顿——在海外测试中，一群由澳大利亚、英国和美国人工智能驱动的空中和地面车辆协同探测和跟踪目标。

据英国国防部称，AUKUS 合作伙伴进行的试验取得了多项“世界第一”，包括人工智能模型的实时重新训练和国际交换。英国国防部在 5 月 26 日公布了这一消息，此时距离测试已过去一个月。

超过70名军方和文职国防人员以及行业人士参与了此次实验，这是AUKUS先进能力支柱（或称第二支柱）的一部分，旨在加快人工智能、量子技术、网络安全和高超音速等关键技术的三方合作开发。第一支柱（更多内容将对此进行讨论）旨在帮助澳大利亚获得核动力潜艇。

美国国防部长高级顾问、AUKUS成员阿贝·丹麦在一份声明中表示，4 月份的示威活动“确实是共同努力的结果”。

各团队共同开发模型，指挥不同国家的无人机并评估其性能。联合实地部署的装备包括：蓝熊幽灵和英仕图CT220无人机；挑战者2主战坦克和勇士装甲车；维京无人地面车辆；商用FV433阿伯特自行火炮；以及一辆前东欧集团的BMP OT-90步兵战车。

丹麦表示：“通过我们的 AUKUS 合作伙伴关系，汇集我们的专业知识和资源，我们可以确保我们的军队配备最新、最有效的工具来保卫我们的国家，并在世界各地维护自由和民主的原则。”

澳大利亚、英国和美国领导人均表示，人工智能对于金融、医疗和国防等诸多领域的国际竞争力至关重要。英国国防部在声明中指出，通过共享人工智能及其底层技术，友好国家的军队可以立即解决互操作性问题，从而节省时间和金钱。

美国国防部2024财年预算蓝图中包含18亿美元的人工智能拨款，国防部副部长凯瑟琳·希克斯称其为“关键技术”领域。截至2021年初，国防部已记录了至少685个正在进行的人工智能项目，其中包括几个与主要武器系统相关的项目。

科林·德马雷斯特曾是C4ISRNET的记者，负责报道军事网络、网络安全和信息技术方面的新闻。此前，他曾为南卡罗来纳州的一家日报报道美国能源部及其下属的国家核安全管理局，主要关注冷战后的清理工作和核武器研发。科林还是一位屡获殊荣的摄影师。