{
  "id": 10045815,
  "title": "How Australia's defence force is turning AI into a 'silicon commander'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/how-australias-defence-force-is-turning-ai-into-a-silicon-commander",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-26T19:09:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-27/defence-force-ai-transformation/107139794"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the months leading up to Christmas last year, an aviation and AI milestone was achieved over the remote Australian outback. The Ghost Bat, a compact Australian-built aircraft, successfully targeted and shot down a decoy with an air-to-air missile. This unmanned platform operates without any human input or remote control, marking a significant step forward in military technology. The Ghost Bat's autonomous nature is a glimpse into the future of warfare where AI plays an increasingly important role in military planning and execution.\n\nThe phenomenon is not limited to Australia; armed drones equipped with powerful mini-computers and no visible antennas have been spotted in Ukraine, leading to suspicions that these are AI-piloted. Ukraine's armed forces have reportedly used AI-piloted drones to strike key Russian supply routes.\n\nRecently, Defence Minister Richard Marles visited the United States to meet with representatives from leading AI firms, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft, and Google, to discuss the future direction of these models. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is one of many nations grappling with how to integrate AI into various aspects of its operations, from improving intelligence gathering to piloting platforms with lethal capabilities. The ADF is also working on establishing appropriate safeguards, recognizing that while AI can aid in decision-making, human oversight remains essential.\n\nThe Ghost Bat and its underwater counterpart, the Ghost Shark, an autonomous submarine, are the most visible examples of AI integration within the ADF. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) describes the Ghost Bat as a \"pathfinder for the integration of autonomous systems and artificial intelligence to create smart human-machine teams.\" However, Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, the chief of Air Force, emphasizes that the Ghost Bat does not operate autonomously. Instead, AI contributes to the development of deterministic programming, generating thousands of potential actions for the aircraft to take, and the operator ultimately chooses the most suitable option after thorough testing. In the recent successful test firing, the Ghost Bat was initially instructed by an operator in an E7 Wedgetail aircraft, but the final authorization for missile launch came from the aircraft's system.\n\nWhile the ADF is still exploring the best ways to incorporate AI into its operations, the technology is already making a significant impact elsewhere. Israel's use of AI during its recent Gaza campaign has drawn attention, with the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) noting a dramatic increase in the country's AI use since the October 7 terror attacks. However, concerns have been raised about the potential risks of increased errors and the lack of human intervention in life-and-death decisions.\n\nThe UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have called for a ban on autonomous weapons that are unpredictable or target human beings, citing the potential for unpredictable outcomes and increased civilian harm in conflicts where AI is employed. These concerns extend to the highest levels of decision-making within the ADF, as experts argue that the real influence of AI lies in upstream decision-making processes, such as analyzing intelligence and generating recommendations for those tasked with making critical calls.",
  "summary": "Militaries across the world, including Australia, are rapidly adopting artificial intelligence to pilot drones and analyse intelligence. But experts worry \"automation bias\" could be creeping in.",
  "key_points": [
    "Ghost Bat unmanned aircraft successfully targeted and shot down decoy using air-to-air missile",
    "Armed drones equipped with mini-computers suspected to be AI-piloted in Ukraine",
    "Australian Defence Force exploring AI integration with human oversight"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}