Unmanned Systems In Defence: More Than Just Technology

Sjoerd Mevissen is the Commander of Robots and Autonomous Systems (RAS) at the Koninklijke Landmacht (Royal Netherlands Army). He has extensive experience as a staff officer in the military, showcasing strong skills in operational planning, command, analytics, and driving innovation. His background includes service with the Koninklijke Landmacht as well as studies at the prestigious University of Twente. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated leadership capabilities and expertise in leveraging cutting-edge technologies like robotics and autonomous systems to enhance military operations.

Through this article, Sjoerd shared his insights on the effective deployment of unmanned systems in defence.

The introduction of unmanned systems in the defence sector has the potential to drastically transform military operations. This is visible in the war in Ukraine, where Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) play a crucial role in reconnaissance, surveillance, and attack missions. These technologies offer new possibilities to monitor the battlefield, conduct precision strikes, and support logistical operations. However, to fully exploit the potential of unmanned systems within defence, mere technical development is not enough. It also requires conceptual and political/economic choices. This article argues that these non-technical aspects are crucial for the effective deployment of unmanned systems in defence.

 Technological Progress

Technological innovations form the foundation of current unmanned systems. Advanced sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), and improved communication technologies have made UAS and UGV increasingly effective and versatile. These systems can now perform more complex tasks such as long-term surveillance of enemy areas, conducting precision attacks, and supporting logistical operations without direct human intervention.

Although these technical advancements are impressive, they represent only part of the story. To effectively deploy these technologies, defence organizations must consider how they can be operationally integrated into existing and new military strategies.

Conceptual Innovations

 The development of new operational concepts is essential for the successful integration of unmanned systems. 

Traditional military tactics and strategies need to be revised to optimally utilize the unique capabilities of these technologies. Usage profiles determine the design variables; the way systems are deployed dictates how they need to be developed. This goes beyond the operational role, such as reconnaissance, logistics, or attack tasks. It involves whether we approach the system as a “loyal wingman” or as an “expendable” system.

A “loyal wingman” can be seen as a buddy. A buddy is for life and must be reliable. He stays relatively close to you, and your safety depends on him. Such a system must be robust, reliable, and long-lasting. An “expendable” system, on the other hand, can be seen as a pawn. It is cannon fodder where a loss percentage of more than 40% should not be a problem for the progress or success of the mission. Quantity is the quality here; these systems need to be cheap and available in large numbers.

It is not a matter of choosing between both approaches. Both types of systems are needed in military operations. However, the industry must choose where to focus when developing a system. The user and the industry still face challenges in developing “expendable” systems. The user will need to be more creative in developing concepts to fully exploit the potential of such systems, making concessions on the functional and technical requirements they impose; not asking for a Swiss army knife with a golden handle. The industry should base its design on interchangeable components where parts can be manufactured in the field with 3D printing.

Political and Economic Considerations

Political and economic choices play a crucial role in the deployment of unmanned systems in defence. An important strategic choice concerns the production of unmanned systems. To be able to deploy these technologies as pawns, we must consider them as ammunition. For example, in Ukraine, the consumption of drones is already more than 10,000 units per month. This means developing a European industry capable of producing these systems in large quantities to avoid dependence on the US or Israel regarding production capacity. Only by being self-sufficient in the production of drones and other unmanned systems can the defence industry achieve the necessary scale and speed.

"Political And Economic Choices Play A Crucial Role In The Deployment Of Unmanned Systems In Defence. An Important Strategic Choice Concerns The Production Of Unmanned Systems. To Be Able To Deploy These Technologies As Pawns, We Must Consider Them As Ammunition"

Additionally, a strong focus on the development of autonomy for these systems is essential. The role of the pawn will be in the First line of Robotic systems (FLOR), far ahead of one’s troops to absorb the initial impacts. Due to the distance and the risk of electronic countermeasures, permanent direct control is both undesirable and impossible. A high degree of autonomy is essential to deploy them on a large scale. Investing in advanced AI and autonomous technologies must also be done at the European level to promote strategic independence.

Finally, we must stop the moralistic ban on investments in the defence industry. Morally responsible investment in the development of defence technologies is necessary to ensure the security and independence of Europe. By lifting these investment restrictions, the defence sector can access the much-needed financial resources to stimulate innovation and increase production capacity.

Conclusion

The deployment of unmanned systems in defence offers unprecedented possibilities for military operations, but to fully exploit this potential, more than just technical progress is required. Strategic concepts must be adapted to the unique capabilities of unmanned systems, and political and economic choices are essential. Europe must build its industry for the mass production of these systems, strongly focus on the development of autonomous technologies, and lift restrictions on investments in the defence industry. Only through this holistic approach can defence organizations maximize the returns from unmanned systems and ensure that these technologies effectively contribute to national and international security.