In the USA, for the first time, swarms of autonomous combat drones with AI were tested: what they are capable of

The new technology allows drones to fly in conditions of severe communication suppression and reduce the load on operators.

On October 16, during the first tests of its kind, Thales demonstrated the deployment of swarms of combat drones with different levels of autonomy. She reported about achievements on the official website.

To meet the needs of the armed forces, Thales has proposed an innovative AI-based system architecture that provides drone swarms with a high level of controlled autonomy and the ability to adapt to changing battlefield conditions. AI should reduce the burden on human operators, but at the same time allow them to constantly monitor the situation, especially at critical stages of missions.

As noted by Thales, the usefulness of drones on the battlefield has already been proven and is not in doubt, but their effectiveness is still limited by two factors: usually one operator is required for each device, and there must be a safe and fail-safe data transmission channel.

< p>During trials, the COHESION demonstrator drone from Thales demonstrated how AI and “smart” machines can be used to achieve the highest level of autonomy when deploying drone swarms. The COHESION system architecture enables operators to adapt the level of autonomy of their drone swarms to the operational requirements of each mission phase.

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

The developers claim that the new technology provides an unprecedented level of flexibility in difficult environments where electronic warfare equipment can overload communication systems and jam data transmission channels that rely on satellite navigation signals. Autonomous operation of individual drones or entire groups eliminates the need for a permanent data transmission channel with the control station.

Drones are able to perceive and analyze their local environment, exchange information about targets, analyze enemy intentions and prioritize missions. They can also use joint tactics and optimize their trajectories for increased resilience and effectiveness, helping the military better see and assess the battlefield.

“We pride ourselves on developing innovative solutions that are aligned with strong ethical values. Our solutions visual, actionable, step-by-step and deployable, acting as a force multiplier without increasing the cognitive load on operators, but at the same time ensuring that they retain their central role in the decision-making process,” — said Hervé Dammann, executive vice president of land and air systems at Thales.

Positioned as a systems provider and integrator, Thales has developed its Drone Warfare offering to accelerate interoperability between a wide range of land, air and sea platforms. The group is also a key player in the ecosystem of French industries and technology companies working to expand the capabilities of front-line drones in the theater of war.