Military applications of artificial intelligence

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2025}} {{Short description|none}} Artificial intelligence (AI) has many applications in warfare, including in communications, intelligence, and munitions control. AI is not limited to new weapons such as drones or strategic means such as cyberwar, as it can affect all forms of military planning.<ref name="Allen West 2020">{{cite web | last=Allen | first=John | last2=West | first2=Darrell | last3=Institution | first3=Brookings | title=Op-ed: Hyperwar is coming. America needs to bring AI into the fight to win - with caution | website=CNBC | date=2020-07-12 | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/12/why-america-needs-to-bring-ai-into-the-upcoming-hyperwar-to-win.html | access-date=2022-06-22}}</ref>

== Uses == AI can enhance command and control, communications, sensors, integration and interoperability.<ref name="Slyusar-2019">{{Cite report |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334573170 |title=Artificial intelligence as the basis of future control networks |last=Slyusar |first=Vadym |author-link=Vadym Slyusar |date=2019 |doi=10.13140/RG.2.2.30247.50087 |access-date=2025-07-06 |type=Preprint}}</ref> AI technologies enable coordination of sensors and effectors, threat detection and identification, marking of enemy positions, target acquisition, coordination and deconfliction of distributed Joint Fires between networked combat vehicles, both human operated and autonomous.<ref name="Slyusar-2019" />

AI has been used in military operations in Iraq, Syria, Ukraine, Iran and Israel.<ref name="CRS-2019" /><ref name="Lavender 972"/><ref name="Ukraine kamikaze drones" /><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Frankel |first1=Julia |last2=Mednick |first2=Sam |date=2025-06-17 |title=How Israel used spies, smuggled drones and AI to stun and hobble Iran |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/mossad-israel-benjamin-netanyahu-donald-trump-ismail-haniyeh-b2771543.html |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> An AI-powered Automatic Target Classifying System, which employs sensors and algorithms to automatically identify and classify targets on radar, was patented by the Indian Army in 2025. It swiftly and precisely compares real-time data—like pictures or radar signals—to a database of stored data. It can be used for disposable purposes, such guiding missiles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Anish |date=2025-09-11 |title=Indian Army’s AI Innovation Boosts Target Detection, Secures Patent |url=https://newsable.asianetnews.com/india/indian-army-ai-target-detection-patent-articleshow-krhuyct |access-date=2025-10-11 |website=Asianet Newsable |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mani |first=Sudarsanan |date=2025-09-11 |title=Indian Army secures patent for AI-based Automatic Target Classifying System |url=https://www.cnbctv18.com/technology/indian-army-secures-patent-for-ai-based-automatic-target-classifying-system-19670917.htm |access-date=2025-10-11 |website=CNBCTV18 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Autonomous armament === {{See also|Lethal autonomous weapon|Unmanned combat aerial vehicle}}

Military drones capable of autonomous action are in wide use.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Gregory |date=6 February 2019 |title=Understanding China's AI Strategy |url=https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/understanding-chinas-ai-strategy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190317004017/https://www.cnas.org/publications/reports/understanding-chinas-ai-strategy |archive-date=17 March 2019 |access-date=17 March 2019 |publisher=Center for a New American Security}}</ref>{{where?|date=July 2025}}

=== Command and control ===

In 2024 a Chinese laboratory at the Joint Operations College of the National Defense University in Shijiazhuang has created an AI military commander, for use in large-scale war simulations in the role of the commander-in-chief.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Stephen |date=16 June 2024 |title=Chinese scientists create AI military commander to run virtual war games |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3266444/chinese-scientists-create-and-cage-worlds-first-ai-commander-pla-laboratory |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref>

In 2024, the Ukrainian Army developed autonomous Kamikaze drones in order to make Russian interference during flight ineffective.<ref name="Ukraine kamikaze drones">{{Cite news |last=Marti |first=J Werner |date=10 August 2024 |title=Drohnen haben den Krieg in der Ukraine revolutioniert, doch sie sind empfindlich auf Störsender – deshalb sollen sie jetzt autonom operieren |trans-title=Drones have revolutionized the war in Ukraine, but they are sensitive to disruptive transmitters – therefore they are now supposed to operate autonomously |url=https://www.nzz.ch/international/die-ukraine-setzt-auf-drohnen-die-autonom-navigieren-und-toeten-koennen-ld.1838731 |access-date=10 August 2024 |work=Neue Zürcher Zeitung |lang=German}}</ref>

In November 2024, Joe Biden and Xi Jinping affirmed the need to maintain human control over the use of nuclear weapons as opposed to artificial intelligence.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Renshaw |first=Jarrett |last2=Hunnicutt |first2=Trevor |date=November 16, 2024 |title=Biden, Xi agree that humans, not AI, should control nuclear arms |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/biden-xi-agreed-that-humans-not-ai-should-control-nuclear-weapons-white-house-2024-11-16/ |access-date=February 11, 2026 |work=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Khalid |first=Asma |date=2024-11-16 |title=Biden and Xi take a first step to limit AI and nuclear decisions at their last meeting |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/11/16/nx-s1-5193893/xi-trump-biden-ai-export-controls-tariffs |access-date=2026-02-11 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref>

During the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict, the Indian military’s AI-enabled Meteorological Reporting System (Project Anumaan) was fed IMD data to assist the Artillery Combat Command and Control System with planning and accurate targeting with extended range artillery shells. Up to {{convert|200|km|mi|abbr=off}} inside Pakistan's borders, the system can predict exact wind speed and other meteorological conditions 48-72 hours ahead of time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Philip |first=Snehesh Alex |date=2025-10-07 |title=Op Sindoor is India’s first AI-enabled operation. How 'heavy use' of modern tech by Army played out |url=https://theprint.in/defence/op-sindoor-is-indias-first-ai-enabled-operation-how-heavy-use-of-modern-tech-by-army-played-out/2758797/ |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ray |first=Kalyan |date=2025-10-07 |title=Wars of tomorrow will be fought with algorithms: Rajnath Singh urges focus on cutting-edge tech |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/wars-of-tomorrow-will-be-fought-with-algorithms-rajnath-singh-urges-focus-on-cutting-edge-tech-3756110 |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=Bhaswar |date=6 October 2025 |title=AI widely used in Op Sindoor, military LLM to be ready in 6 months: Army |url=https://www.business-standard.com/external-affairs-defence-security/news/ai-widely-used-in-op-sindoor-military-llm-to-be-ready-in-6-months-army-125100601341_1.html |access-date=9 October 2025 |work=Business Standard}}</ref> The AI also aided in long-range missile trajectory calculations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Anish |date=2025-10-06 |title=How AI Helped the Indian Army Achieve Over 94% Accuracy in Operation Sindoor |url=https://newsable.asianetnews.com/india/how-ai-helped-indian-army-achieve-over-94-percent-accuracy-in-operation-sindoor-articleshow-6yk28h9 |access-date=2025-10-09 |website=newsable.asianetnews.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== Military intelligence === In 2023, the United States Department of Defense tested generative AI based on large language models to digitize and integrate data across the military.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Manson |first=Katrina |date=5 July 2023 |title=The US Military Is Taking Generative AI Out for a Spin |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-07-05/the-us-military-is-taking-generative-ai-out-for-a-spin |access-date=2025-07-06 |work=Bloomberg.com |publisher=RAND Corporation |language=en}}</ref>

Israel used two AI systems in the Gaza War to generate targets to strike: Habsora (translated: "the gospel") was used to compile a list of buildings to target, while "Lavender" produced a list of people. "Lavender" produced a list of 37,000 people to target.<ref name="Lavender 972">{{Cite web |last=Iraqi |first=Amjad |date=2024-04-03 |title='Lavender': The AI machine directing Israel's bombing spree in Gaza |url=https://www.972mag.com/lavender-ai-israeli-army-gaza/ |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=+972 Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Davies-2023" /> The list of buildings to target included Gazan private homes of people that were suspected of affiliation to Hamas operatives. The combination of AI targeting technology with policy shift away from avoiding civilian targets resulted in unprecedented numbers of civilian deaths. IDF officials say the program addresses the previous issue of the air force running out of targets. Using Habsora, officials say that suspected and junior Hamas members' homes significantly expand the "AI target bank." An internal source describes the process as a "mass assassination factory".<ref>{{Cite web |last=MEE Staff |date=2023-11-30 |title=Israeli army relaxed rules for bombing 'non-military targets' in Gaza |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-palestine-war-army-gaza-relaxed-rules-bombing-non-military-targets |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Davies-2023">{{Cite news |last1=Davies |first1=Harry |last2=McKernan |first2=Bethan |last3=Sabbagh |first3=Dan |date=2023-12-01 |title='The Gospel': how Israel uses AI to select bombing targets in Gaza |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/01/the-gospel-how-israel-uses-ai-to-select-bombing-targets |access-date=2023-12-04 }}</ref> By 2026, Israel expanded the use of AI in the military beyond Gaza, developing an army-wide "Operational Data and AI Factory," which was used for drone strikes, targeting and defensive measures as part of the war with Iran as well as in Lebanon<ref>{{Cite news |last=Benjakob |first=Omer |date=March 31, 2026 |title=IDF Confirms: AI Infrastructure Built in Gaza Now Active in Iran, Lebanon |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/security-aviation/2026-03-31/ty-article/.premium/inside-the-idfs-ai-data-factory-powering-strikes-from-iran-to-lebanon/0000019d-4343-d905-a39d-d3c7dc110000 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260331121044/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/security-aviation/2026-03-31/ty-article/.premium/inside-the-idfs-ai-data-factory-powering-strikes-from-iran-to-lebanon/0000019d-4343-d905-a39d-d3c7dc110000 |archive-date=March 31, 2026 |access-date=March 31, 2026 |work=Haaretz}}</ref>. Some reports stated that AI-assisted systems were used to assist in identifying and tracking senior Iranian officials during Israeli military operations in the 2026 Iran conflict.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Greg |date=2026-03-30 |title=Israel targets Iran’s leaders with lethal expertise using new AI platform |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/03/30/iran-israel-war-killings/ |access-date=2026-05-12 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lieber |first=Daniel Michaels and Dov |date=2026-03-07 |title=How AI Is Turbocharging the War in Iran |url=https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/how-ai-is-turbocharging-the-war-in-iran-aca59002 |access-date=2026-05-12 |website=The Wall Street Journal |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mednick |first=-Sam |last2=Mednick |first2=Associated Press Sam |last3=Press |first3=Associated |date=2026-03-23 |title=Iran built a vast camera network to control dissent. Israel used it to track targets, AP sources say |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/iran-built-a-vast-camera-network-to-control-dissent-israel-used-it-to-track-targets-ap-sources-say |access-date=2026-05-12 |website=PBS News |language=en-us}}</ref>

Researchers and human rights organizations described Israeli AI-assisted targeting systems as relying on large-scale analysis of surveillance footage, drones, mobile devices, and communications metadata to identify potential targets. They expressed concern that such systems may occasionally misidentify individuals or contribute to targeting errors when relying heavily on automated data analysis.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-10 |title=Questions and Answers: Israeli Military’s Use of Digital Tools in Gaza {{!}} Human Rights Watch |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/09/10/questions-and-answers-israeli-militarys-use-of-digital-tools-in-gaza |access-date=2026-05-12 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-05-04 |title=Inside Israel's AI targeting system: How data from a phone become a death sentence |url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2026-05-04/inside-israels-ai-targeting-system-how-data-from-phone-become-death-sentence |access-date=2026-05-12 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Defence |first=Global Human Rights |last2=Koridze |first2=Elisabedi |date=2025-11-24 |title=How does Israel’s AI-assisted targeting system in the Gaza Strip violate the principles of IHL? |url=https://www.ghrd.org/how-does-israels-ai-assisted-targeting-system-in-the-gaza-strip-violate-the-principles-of-ihl/ |access-date=2026-05-12 |website=Global Human Rights Defence |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Israeli Military’s Use of AI in Gaza: Operational Efficiency at the Cost of Humanity |url=https://www.iemed.org/publication/the-israeli-militarys-use-of-ai-in-gaza-operational-efficiency-at-the-cost-of-humanity/ |access-date=2026-05-13 |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2024, the U.S. military trained artificial intelligence to identify airstrike targets during its operations in Iraq and Syria.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Quach |first=Katyanna |date=2024-02-27 |title=US military pulls the trigger, uses AI to target air strikes |url=https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/27/us_military_maven_ai_used/ |work=The Register |language=en}}</ref>

In 2025 India–Pakistan conflict, the Indian Army employed AI to create a shared operational picture, analyze intelligence, evaluate threats, and create predictive models for long-range attacks. Twenty-three applications were developed for different purposes that handled inputs and data for real-time multi-sensor and multi-source data fusion. Applications include the Electronic Intelligence Collation and Analysis System, which has been integrated with Project Sanjay to provide a common operational picture for improved coordination, situational awareness, and decision superiority, and the Trinetra system, which has been used to identify and prioritize critical threats in order to achieve strategic dominance. AI-enabled weather forecast, allowed for accurate planning and targeting of artillery units and long-range vectors. The battlefield AI model was fed 26 years of data that had recorded and archived the Pakistan Armed Forces' frequency signature and radio emission. This specified which military unit in Pakistan was responsible for each piece of equipment and where it had previously been used. Integrating feeds from sensors, drones, radars, and satellites allowed for the collection of real-time data. All the data, including information on adversary positions, resources, and logistics, were combined and presented to the military commanders for appropriate action.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pandit |first=Rajat |date=2025-10-07 |title=Army used AI in a 'big way' during Operation Sindoor |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/army-used-ai-in-a-big-way-during-operation-sindoor/articleshow/124345398.cms |access-date=2025-10-08 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Banerjee |first=Ajay |date=2025-10-06 |title=AI enables 94 per cent accuracy in targeting enemy assets: Indian Army |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india/ai-enables-94-per-cent-accuracy-in-targeting-enemy-assets-indian-army/ |archive-date= |access-date=2025-10-08 |website=The Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

== Global trends ==

Various countries are researching and deploying AI military applications,<ref name="CRS-2019">{{Cite book|last=Congressional Research Service|url=https://fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R45178.pdf|title=Artificial Intelligence and National Security|publisher=Congressional Research Service|year=2019|location=Washington, DC}}PD-notice</ref> in what has been termed the "artificial intelligence arms race". Ongoing research is focused on intelligence collection and analysis, logistics, cyber operations, information operations, and semiautonomous and autonomous vehicles.<ref name="CRS-2019" />

Worldwide annual military spending on robotics rose from US$5.1 billion in 2010 to US$7.5 billion in 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 January 2018 |title=Getting to grips with military robotics |url=https://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21735478-autonomous-robots-and-swarms-will-change-nature-warfare-getting-grips |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250604194245/https://www.economist.com/special-report/2018/01/25/getting-to-grips-with-military-robotics |archive-date=2025-06-04 |access-date=7 February 2018 |newspaper=The Economist |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-04-20 |title=Autonomous Systems: Infographic |url=https://www.siemens.com/innovation/en/home/pictures-of-the-future/digitalization-and-software/autonomous-systems-infographic.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818045750/https://www.siemens.com/innovation/en/home/pictures-of-the-future/digitalization-and-software/autonomous-systems-infographic.html |archive-date=2018-08-18 |access-date=2025-07-06 |website=Siemens |language=en}}</ref>{{Needs update|date=July 2025|reason=This data is 10 years old.}}

In November 2023, US Vice President Kamala Harris disclosed a declaration signed by 31 nations to set guardrails for the military use of AI. The commitments include using legal reviews to ensure the compliance of military AI with international laws, and being cautious and transparent in the development of this technology.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Knight |first=Will |title=The US and 30 Other Nations Agree to Set Guardrails for Military AI |url=https://www.wired.com/story/the-us-and-30-other-nations-agree-to-set-guardrails-for-military-ai |access-date=2024-01-24 |magazine=Wired |issn=1059-1028 |archive-date=20 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920061531/https://www.wired.com/story/the-us-and-30-other-nations-agree-to-set-guardrails-for-military-ai/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Many AI researchers try to avoid military applications, with guardrails to prevent military applications integrated into most mainstream large language models.<ref name="Slyusar-2019" />

Some analysts have noted that some military applications of artificial intelligence could pose challenges to and may eventually degrade the Chinese Communist Party's absolute control of the military.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Metcalf |first=Mark |date=2022-10-25 |title=The PRC considers military AI ethics: Can autonomy be trusted? |journal=Frontiers in Big Data |volume=5 |doi=10.3389/fdata.2022.991392 |issn=2624-909X |pmc=9640938 |pmid=36387011 |doi-access=free |article-number=991392}}</ref>

== In popular culture == {{Unreferenced section|date=July 2025}}

Military artificial intelligence systems have appeared in many works of fiction, often as antagonists.

=== Film ===

* The ''Terminator'' franchise * The ''Matrix'' franchise

=== Literature ===

* ''Legends of Dune'' trilogy by Brian Herbert

== References == {{reflist}}

Category:Military and wartime usage of artificial intelligence Category:Artificial intelligence Category:Military technology Category:War