from Sputnik News:

The exercises are but the latest in a series of noticeable efforts by the British military establishment to increase know-how in the realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotic weapons technologies.

The British Army has started an unprecedentedly large testing of battlefield robots, according to the Daily Mail.

The event, dubbed the ‘Autonomous Warrior 2018,’ will last for about four weeks and shall “push the boundaries of technology and military capability in the land environment,” according to the British government.

Our U.S. Army partners from @FortBenning have arrived for the start of AWE 18! Here they are receiving a ‘cultural understanding brief’ from a U.S. Army officer who has been in the UK for 18 months. @BritishArmyUSA pic.twitter.com/4F42vsfqwL

— Army Warfighting Experiment 18 (@AWE18_AWL) 12 November 2018

At the event, a range of prototype ‘robotic and autonomous systems’ (RAS) will be tested in battlefield simulations. These will include unmanned tank vehicles, long-range robotic precision-guided targeting and autonomous ground resupply vehicles, which aim to reduce the danger to troops during combat.

About 200 soldiers are said to be taking part in the exercises and they will be tasked throughout with identifying which systems work most effectively.

UK Defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson, issued a statement saying that, “Our troops now have the chance to test out a huge range of robotic kit in what will be the biggest exercise of its kind in our history. This equipment could revolutionise our Armed Forces, keeping them safe and giving them the edge in an increasingly unstable world.”

Just two weeks before the start of AUTONOMOUS WARRIOR (LAND) – the British Army’s largest ever experiment involving robotics and autonomous systems (RAS). We will be integrating RAS into armoured, mechanised and light force unit.#AWE18 #ArmyInnovation@BritishArmy @ArmyAEWE pic.twitter.com/VlRhX87CN9

— Army Warfighting Experiment 18 (@AWE18_AWL) 31 October 2018

The new Cheif of General Staff for the British Army, General Mark Carleton-Smith, is quoted as saying that the testing of new weaponry is necessary considering the world’s “darkening geo-political picture.”

“We live in exceptionally unstable times and that the world has never been more unpredictable,” he reportedly added.

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