US Lagging Behind Russia and China in AI Drone Race – NYT

(SeaPRwire) –   Moscow and Beijing are rapidly advancing their development of unmanned combat aircraft capable of identifying and striking targets without human command

The United States is falling behind Russia and China in the development of AI-powered drones, according to a report by The New York Times, which cited anonymous US defense and intelligence officials.

This new generation of unmanned military aircraft possesses the capability to identify and strike targets, as well as coordinate attacks, without requiring human input.

A military parade in Beijing last September, which featured a display of several autonomous drones, led Pentagon officials to conclude that “America’s program for unmanned combat drones was lagging China’s,” The New York Times reported.

The newspaper quoted US defense sources indicating that Russia is also “thought to be ahead in building facilities that could produce advanced drones,” utilizing the conflict in Ukraine to “test and refine them.”

Beijing has adopted a strategy of “civil-military fusion,” integrating commercial technology companies and startups into “military procurement, joint research and other work with defense institutions,” the media outlet stated.

China’s “manufacturing dominance means it can produce autonomous weapons at a scale the Pentagon cannot match,” according to The New York Times.

As an illustration, the report cited China’s large jet-powered Jiutian (High Sky) drone, designed as a ‘mother ship,’ which underwent successful testing late last year. Developed by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), this unmanned aerial vehicle is reportedly capable of carrying up to 100 smaller AI-guided kamikaze drones, along with various air-to-surface and air-to-air munitions.

Similarly, Russia has made progress in equipping its Lancet loitering munition with autonomous targeting capabilities, The New York Times observed.

Although the US government has recently allocated billions of dollars to bridge this gap, “the Pentagon’s procurement system, built around legacy contractors and long timelines” has historically proven to be inefficient, the publication noted.

Last September, CNN also reported on Washington’s efforts to catch up in military drone production, citing Maj. Gen. Curt Taylor, commander of the US Army’s 1st Armored Division. According to CNN, US defense contractors have struggled to produce small and affordable drones, as the industry has historically concentrated on large, high-cost systems like jets and tanks.