War of Machine over Human – Artificial Intelligence(AI) changing paradigm shift of technologies in Armed Forces.

By: Dr( Prof) Nisha Kant Ojha | Eminent Expert in Aerospace Security & Counter Terrorism ( West Asia & Middle East )

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In the coming centuries, AI technologies will be the most potent tools for extending knowledge, enhancing prosperity, and enriching human life. Second, AI is widening the vulnerability window, cyberattacks and disinformation attempts to penetrate our society, steal our data, and interfere in our democracy are becoming more dangerous as AI advances. Without pervasive AI capabilities and new warfighting paradigms, we will be unable to defend against AI-enabled attacks. The need to broaden our understanding of national security and develop AI-enabled solutions. To defend/compete/win the threats/opportunities/competition for our country, we need a paradigm shift in approach.

“AI plays a substantial role in national defence and this fact has to be get  accepted with open arms”

The time is of 4th Generation of Warfare. 4G warfare will be fought at Land, Sea, Air, Space, Cyber and EMSO in physical, Cognitive , information and Social domain in the Information Age (21st Century). The transforming geopolitical landscape is driving preparations the world over for future wars that will be waged less with the bullet than with cyber technology, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, quantum computing, augmented and virtual reality, robotics, big-data analytics, unmanned drones, small-satellite constellations for 5G and 6G telecommunications and information acquisition. Multi-domain, or cross-domain, operations will comprise ‘centaur’ teams, where human will bind with machines to optimise the performance of both.

Changing Nature of Conflict. Armed forces across the world are digitalising and building network-centric defence ecosystems to bolster combat readiness, modernise battlefield operations, and build strategic deterrence. Warfare is changing at a very rapid pace. The future warfare is driven by emerging and disruptive technologies. The future battle space will be fully digitised in volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous operational situations. The digital operations are transforming from net-centricity to info- centricity. The digitisation process links communication systems, battle space information, and command and control systems effectively and makes relevant real time information and communication facilities available to troops as well as commanders to meet the needs of the operational doctrines of the force. Machines that think and learn. Miniature munitions that strike with precision. Micro-networks that control swarming robots and tell soldiers where the enemy is hiding. Indian armed forces need to cater for collusive threats from neighbouring nations, border intrusions across terrestrial borders and the new phenomenon of multi-front warfare spanning borders, electronic, space and cyber domains with nuclear threat as back-drop. The nation with better technology will win. To which, the Indian Army is also leaving no stone unturned to be digitised and fight a network centric warfare. However, there is a need to examine the current state and the measures needed to optimise the technological usage in India.

Many of these new technologies like sensors and smart devices; creation of sophisticated information networks; growing potential in automated systems and AI, advances in electronics, big data analytic, quantum technology applications, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. This technology will introduce parallel soft computing methods like fuzzy logic, neural networking, evidential reasoning and genetic algorithms into photonic or quantum applications.

It would be interesting to note the critical technologies that would be important for the Indian Armed Forces. Development of these would lead to enhanced operational capabilities of the Indian Defence Forces. Critical technologies for futuristic requirements of our defence forces which would be needed are that of: Nanotechnology, Drones & Counter-drone, Big Data, Quantum Technology, Bio Technology, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Micro-Optronics, Information Security, Radar and Microwave. Satellites, Rockets and Missiles, Material Science, Manufacturing, and Nuclear all these technologies would lead to development of weapons which would be state of the art and capable of ensuring soldiers are capable of attaining success.

The growth of zero-day or zero second cyber threats, as well as polymorphic malware, will test even the most advanced signature-based cyber defence, much as AI will fundamentally influence the speed of battle. This necessitates a considerable upgrade to existing cyber defences. Vulnerable systems are migrating at an increasing rate, necessitating a layered approach to cybersecurity based on cloud-based, cognitive AI platforms. This strategy leads the community toward a “thinking” defensive capability capable of defending networks through continuous threat training. We must use AI for national security and defence to guard against these threats. It would be disastrous for us to defend against AI-capable opponents functioning at machine speeds without using AI. AI will reduce decision times from minutes to seconds, increase the scale of attacks, and require solutions that will push human intellect to its limits. Without the support of AI-enabled machines, human operators will be unable to keep up with or defend against AI- enabled cyber or disinformation attacks, drone swarms, or missile attacks.

AI  should be like a blood flowing in the veins of Army and across their tasks. Building a shared digital infrastructure, training a digitally literate staff, and implementing more agile acquisition, budgeting, and monitoring processes are all part of this strategy. It also necessitates strategically divesting from military systems that are ill-equipped for AI-assisted warfare in favour of next-generation capabilities.

All facets of military relations will be transformed by artificial intelligence. AI applications will aid the military in preparing, sensing, understanding, deciding, and executing operations in a faster and more efficient manner. One or more AI technologies will be used in a variety of weapon systems. AI systems will deliver commanders with options and establish battle networks that connect systems across all domains. Logistics, procurement, training, and  the design and development of new gear will all be transformed. Adopting AI will necessitate the creation of new operational and tactical ideas. Algorithms will be pitted against algorithms in the future. Traditional military advantages such as force size and weapon levels will be replaced by greater data gathering and assimilation, connection, computer power, algorithms, and system security.

Manage the dangers of AI-enabled and autonomous weapons. Weapon systems will be able to achieve new levels of performance and autonomy thanks to AI. However, it creates significant legal, ethical, and strategic concerns about the use of fatal force. Assuming that their employment is approved by a human commander or operator and that they are properly built and tested. AI-assisted and self-driving weapon systems can be employed in ways that are legal under international humanitarian law.

To generate justified confidence, the government should focus on ensuring that it’s AI systems are strong and consistent, particularly through R&D investments in AI security and a persistent initiative led by national research labs to advance human-AI teaming. To increase executive leadership and policy supervision, AI leads should be appointed across the government. National security agencies urgently require more digital specialists, or they will be unable to purchase, construct, and employ AI and related technology. The way strategy should to create Central Intelligent Task Force (CITF) & TMC (Threat Monitoring Centre).Establishment of a CITF and TMCs to coordinate and lead government efforts to combat foreign-sourced malicious information in real-time.

The CITF should coordinate the actions of major military, civil, state, central, and judicial agencies, as well as divisions within each of these offices. The CITF should be in charge of surveying the landscape of relevant public and private players, coordinating among them, and responding in real-time to foreign information operations. To successfully expose, attribute, and respond, the CITF should draw on existing authority to construct an operations centre with modern, AI-enabled digital technologies and professional employees.

The CITC should be allowed to share and exchange essential information with significant companies who operate social media and internet platforms where malicious material spreads. We need to develop standards/governance that is agreed upon by the government and these firms to exchange information and collaborate with internet and social media platforms on malicious information threats.