The British Army has used AI for the first time, providing information on the surrounding environment and terrain during Exercise Spring Storm in Estonia.
According to the Ministry of Defence, through the development of automation and smart analytics, the engine can rapidly cut through masses of complex data. The AI-powered system is designed to provide efficient information regarding the environment enabling the Army to plan its appropriate activity and outputs.
The Army’s director of information, Major General Jonathan Cole, said: “The deployment was a first of its kind for the Army. It built on close collaboration between the MOD and industry partners that developed AI specifically designed for the way the Army is trained to operate.
“The lessons this has provided are considerable, not just in terms of our support to deployed forces, but more broadly in how we inform Defence’s digital transformation agenda and the best practices we must adopt to integrate and exploit leading-edge technologies.”
The AI capability provided soldiers with instant planning support as well as enabling enhanced command and control processes. The Army added the engine, which can be hosted in the cloud or operate in independent mode, saved both time and effort.
This latest operation follows the Prime Minister’s announcement in November last year that Defence has received an increase in funding of over £24bn across the next four years, focusing on the ability to adapt to meet future threats.
Further outlined in the Defence Command Paper, the MOD intends to invest £16bn in defence research and development, focusing on emerging technologies including AI, AI-enabled autonomous systems, cyber, space and directed energy systems.
20th Armoured Infantry Brigade and user of AI, Major James Mcevoy, said: “In future, the UK armed forces will increasingly use AI to predict adversaries’ behaviour, perform reconnaissance and relay real-time intelligence from the battlefield.”
Read more: Adarga supports British Army in real-world application of AI
