Military drones have just completed a successful testing in the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. The exercise is just part of one of the key programs the military is hoping to establish for future warfare. A mix of inter-connected and autonomous jets, drones, and ships will be tasked with infiltrating and defeating enemy targets.  The intent is to utilize a coordinated strike force powered by electronics and cyberspace technology while operating over all different types of terrain, including land, air, and sea. In addition, the military plans to use communication jammers and integrate it in their existing systems.

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, has announced a series of key tests over the Yuma Proving Ground to try and see if inter-connected virtual and live drones could work together in deep and total autonomy on missions, even in instances where GPS and communications are scrambled. The defense specialist agency mentioned in a report that the testing was a success. The drones carried out mission objectives, planned together in a cooperative manner, and were even able to share vital information during the exercise.

DARPA has been experimenting with emerging technological advancements such as AI machine learning, hoping to find the perfect balance of autonomous operation while still being able to send short bursts of data for coordination. This component was the focus on the drone exercise in Yuma.

The military testing was done using 24 virtual drone and 6 live ones. They were sent on a strike mission to try and see how the drones could communicate and coordinate with each other. Some of the exercises included receiving mission information, locating and hitting targets, navigating without GPS, and dealing with defenses and unforeseen obstacles. Scott Wierzbanowski, Collaborative Operations in Denied Environment manager, hopes that the behaviors demonstrated can be used as building blocks for autonomous tech that can adapt and adjust according to mission directives and unanticipated challenges.

The military exercise addresses the Defense Department’s policy that a human operator has to be in the loop during war operations, especially when it comes to taking a human life. The ability to receive commands even under heavy conditions and busy environments ensure the policy stays in place, even if it’s only minimal. These breakthroughs are only a small part in the future development of smart weapons. It will have its own pros and cons, and each one needs to be fully addressed before application and implementation.