Top-secret UK army scientists launch groundbreaking test of killer drones that use AI to scope for enemy targets
TOP-SECRET UK army scientists have tested groundbreaking killer drones which use AI to scope for enemy targets.
Boffins from the ultra-secretive Porton Down lab in Wiltshire have tested a self-piloting AI drone swarm.
The drones rapidly scan huge areas of the battlefield for enemy vehicles.
They lock on to targets on the ground – then use AI to identify them in just seconds.
A drone handler back at base then decides whether or not to pull the trigger and wipe out the target.
The drone swarm was tested alongside an American quadcopter and an Australian drone at an exercise this year in Fort Irwin, California.
They had to search a swathe of the California desert for targets – all under their own control and direction.
Britain’s drone swarm included two Red Kites and three Ghosts – all developed by tech firm Blue Bear.
The Red Kite can be launched from a strip of grass and can travel up to 60miles with a 5kg explosive payload.
Around 500 British Army troops were deployed on the exercise, which was named Project Convergence.
The troops included the Ranger Regiment, a special ops unit which carries out secret missions across the world.
Commodore Rachel Singleton said Britain’s AI drone swarm can work seamlessly with cutting-edge US and Australian tech.
She told The Times: “Service personnel from one nation will be supported by capabilities that have been developed across all three nations.”
Three American Altius-600 kamikaze drones also took part in the California exercise.
The Australians used Skywalker X8 drones, which can be bought on the internet for only a couple of hundred pounds.
Porton Down said the drones from all three countries worked together “seamlessly” as a swarm.