On Tuesday, at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama, Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey, the head of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command and Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense, emphasized the need for future AI-enabled drone and missile defenses to accurately detect and eliminate threats without human involvement.

Gainey outlined the objectives for missile defense systems, stating, “The ability to accurately discriminate the threat, positively ID the threat, and then have the system auto-select the right interceptor or non-kinetic capability to defeat the threat is where we would definitely like to go.” He highlighted the urgency of developing such technologies due to the evolving threat landscape.

Recent conflicts, including interactions in the Middle East and Russia’s actions in Ukraine, have demonstrated that adversaries, particularly Iran, are effectively deploying large swarms of drones and missiles. Although U.S. forces can currently manage these threats, the reliance on costly missiles poses a significant challenge.

The concept of autonomous defense systems isn’t new. The Navy’s Phalanx Close-In Weapon System has been operational, utilizing radar to target and neutralize incoming threats without human intervention. However, the implications of autonomous systems deploying lethal force raise concerns regarding potential collateral damage.

The Marine Corps is advancing its drone defense capabilities with the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS). This system, which can be deployed on ships or vehicles, features 360-degree radar, electro-optical/infrared sensors, and electronic jamming capabilities. Recently, Anduril Industries won a $200 million contract to enhance MADIS with greater autonomy and a hunter drone that targets incoming threats.

Gainey noted that both trends in adversarial tactics and the current pace of drone warfare are driving a demand for advanced autonomous capabilities in defense systems. He emphasized the importance of integrating AI algorithms to improve threat discrimination and processing. However, he also stressed the necessity of employing a broader range of resources, including more sensors and personnel, rather than relying exclusively on robotic systems for defense operations.