Rapid Fire Nov. 28, 2012: Autonomous Systems Must Be Kept on Short Leash

Nov 28, 2012 09:50 UTC by Defense Industry Daily staff
  • The US Department of Defense released directive 3000.09 [PDF] stating that autonomous weapon systems are to be designed in a way that ensures humans call the shots:

“Semi-autonomous weapon systems that are onboard or integrated with unmanned platforms must be designed such that, in the event of degraded or lost communications, the system does not autonomously select and engage individual targets or specific target groups that have not been previously selected by an authorized human operator.”

  • The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) think tank ran a series of budgeting simulations last summer that required its participants to make meaningful choices and tradeoffs in a way that tries to preserve strategic interests within budget constraints. Navigating Austerity [PDF]. Their tool was set up to force the consideration of weapon systems and force structure elements to be funded (or not). Too often budget discussions are either too broad (procurement vs. R&D vs. maintenance as if they were lump sums) or too granular and parochial (don’t you dare touch this program in my county!).

  • India has an RFP out for 56 cargo aircraft, reports AviationWeek.

  • The Pentagon has been working on an RFP for the Joint Terminal Control and Training Rehearsal System (JTC TRS) program (i.e. JTAC training and mission rehearsal) for a year but they have just postponed the release of the finalized request to early next year. FBO.

  • Rafael’s Iron Dome is using kinetic force to destroy short range aerial threats, but directed energy is another possibility discussed for years. Northrop Grumman developed a system dubbed Skyguard 6 years ago. Now Lockheed Martin comes with their own Area Defense Anti-Munitions (ADAM) which they say has “successfully engaged a UAS in flight at a range of approximately 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) and has destroyed four small-caliber rocket targets in simulated flight at a range of approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 miles).” Raytheon partnered with Rafael last year, but they will not be alone in marketing systems with similar goals.

  • Russia reportedly intends to work on new aircraft carriers. This does not sound entirely official yet. Pravda | Voice of Russia.

  • Toshiba and the Japanese Ministry of Defense are suing each other because they disagree on whether the company breached its contract for a system used with F-15 aircraft.

    • Categories: Budgets, Daily Rapid Fire, India, Japan, Robots, Russia, Scandals & Investigations, Think Tanks, Transport & Utility, USA

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