Robots on the Battlefield

ROBOTS ON THE BATTLEFIELD
SFC REED
Master Leader Course
Class 404-23-05
MSG Coy Lee Hartman
21 March 2023
ROBOTS ON THE BATTLEFIELD
Introductory Paragraph: In today's modern battlespace, the utilization of robots on the battlefield is not a choice but rather a necessity. Robots can be quickly mobilized to conflict areas from anywhere in the world and do not require prior training. The removal of people as a factor on the battlefield will result in a decreased rate of civilian casualties. It will be possible to complete missions with less downtime if robots on the battlefield are modular and easy to maintain. In order to preserve both peace and prosperity, it is imperative that the defense of our nation continue to evolve in the modern battlefield. This white paper argues for the utilization of robots in the battlefield owing to the fact that they are free of human frailties and shortcomings, can be trusted to make quick decisions, are easily replaceable and upgradeable, and are capable of performing dull, dirty, or dangerous operations faster and with greater accuracy. It theorizes that the use of robots in warfare will improve the effectiveness and accuracy of combat activities, reduce human casualties, and enhance response times in dirty environments.
Body
From Spying to Missiles, Enhancing War Wirelessly
Supporting Idea 1: Spying, Flying, and driving
Robots offer a comparative advantage in spying, flying, and driving. For instance, unmanned aerial vehicles are now capable of navigating a labyrinth of obstacles to access tight enclosed environments and gather military intelligence. Spy drones can fly independently into enemy territory and perform high level tasks while transmitting crucial information in real time (Meddeb et al., 2023). Similarly, robotic jets can be used to perform jobs that are too boring, dangerous, or expensive for aircrews. Military pilots may also use robotic jets to scout rival targets and neutralize enemy fire thereby prevent the loss of human life and costly military hardware. On the other hand, unmanned ground vehicles and robot tanks can improve logistics efficiencies in hard-to-reach sites by reducing the physical burden placed on human soldiers traversing difficult terrains or in adverse weather conditions. Autonomous vehicles can also be used to advance into hazardous war zones without jeopardizing the lives of soldiers.
Supporting Idea 2: Rivals become equals
Robotics provide an opportunity to equalize the battlefield owing to the ability of nation-states to mass produce highly autonomous fighting systems. The proliferation of information technology-enabled robots has shifted the scales and allowed nation-states to achieve comparative advantage in warfare. Robots have eliminated the need for large numbers of human agents or expensive military hardware. Nation states can achieve parity in the battleground through large numbers of uninhabited robots to disperse combat power, achieve swarm resiliency, and saturate adversary defenses (Singer, 2009). Military robots are attritable and economical compared to human soldiers thereby allowing nation states to take greater risk against enemy forces.
Supporting Idea 3: Using Robots
Robots may not have the same intellig...