A proposal to embed new drone and robotics platoons within brigades U.S. Army-wide is reportedly under consideration. The Army says the platoons have the opportunity to save lives by further limiting the direct combat for human troops.
The number of robotic platoons embedded within units is still being determined. However, if implemented Army-wide, Defense One reported that the Army has the capacity to outfit 16 Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) platoons.
The military has experimented with ground robots for a long time. Some are called quadruped robots, more commonly known as “robot dogs.” The kinks in the ground robots are still being worked out. According to Defense One, the ground bots had some problems sensing obstacles and didn’t entirely listen to the humans “barking” orders at them.
Currently, the Army has two RAS platoons. One platoon is in the 82nd Airborne and the other is experimental.
The robotic platoons are equipped with a number of different drones, including the Ghost-X drone. They also feature a Squad Multipurpose Transport Vehicle. This vehicle can be fitted with different tools or weapons, depending on the mission, like a Javelin anti-tank missile.
RAS platoons are capable of scouting out locations and engaging enemy forces before any friendly humans step foot on the battlefield, helping to save American lives.
Of course, there are ethical questions that still need be answered. For instance: Who should kill an enemy, a robot or human?
Right now, the decision lies in the hands of the human operating the machine — at least for U.S. armed forces. There is evidence that some drones in Ukraine could be taking autonomous lethal action.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has not said much about “robotic warfare.” In Geneva in 2021, U.N. officials reportedly discussed autonomous weapons, but tabled the talks.
When it comes to drones and international law, there is no provision specifically mentioning their use in war. The Geneva Convention has been updated in the past to restrict land mines, booby traps and incendiary weapons.