Autonomous Warfare: Australia’s Strategic Shift

Australia's military is increasingly relying on autonomous systems to overcome geographic challenges. Developing uncrewed aircraft like the Ghost Bat with Boeing, the country aims for greater scalability, survivability, and lethality. The shift towards uncrewed systems is causing organizational friction as defense strategies evolve.

Australia's military is set to bolster its capabilities by adopting autonomous systems to tackle the challenges posed by its expansive geography. As per defense officials, the integration of uncrewed technology could cause 'friction in the system' as it gradually becomes more central to their operations.

In collaboration with Boeing, the Australian air force is advancing an autonomous combat aircraft known as the Ghost Bat. According to Chief of Air Force Stephen Chappell, despite not being armed, the Ghost Bat will demonstrate its capabilities this year, leading to potential governmental recommendations.

The initiative is a move to enhance scale, sustainability, and combat effectiveness without replacing current crewed platforms. Ninh Dong from Australia's Defence Science and Technology Group stressed the significance of autonomous and AI technologies amid global warfare changes, while also highlighting the importance of hypersonic missiles for strategic defense.

(With inputs from agencies.)