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"This technology constitutes the coming danger," cautions a defense consultant, who recently obtained a recently captured enemy unmanned aerial vehicle.

This proved to be far from typical drone as well, it was revealed. Powered by artificial intelligence, the unmanned aerial vehicle can find and attack targets autonomously.

The consultant has examined many drones in his capacity as the nation's defence forces consultant.

Unlike other models, the drone did not transmit or accept any signals, causing it to could not be jammed.

Both sides' militaries have both been testing AI in this war, and for certain tasks are now deploying it, to assist in target identification, intelligence collection and clearing mines.

And for the nation's military, AI is now essential.

"Our military gets more than 50,000 footage feeds [from the battlefield] every month that get processed by artificial intelligence," says Ukraine's deputy defence minister.

"It enables us rapidly handle huge volumes of information, pinpoint objectives and mark them on a digital chart."

AI-Driven Tech as a Critical Asset

AI-enhanced tech is seen as a tool that can enhance military strategy, optimize resources and in the end save lives.

However when it comes to autonomous armaments, it is also revolutionizing the battlefield.

Ukrainian troops already use AI-based systems enabling drones lock on a target and subsequently fly autonomously for the final segment until the mission concludes.

Signal disruption is impossible and shooting down such tiny airborne device proves difficult.

Ultimately these systems will likely become completely independent weapons that can find and destroy objectives on their own.

An operator will need to do is press a button on a smartphone app, notes Yaroslav Azhnyuk, head of Ukrainian developer.

The drone handles the rest, according to him, finding the objective, dropping munitions, evaluating the impact and then returning to base.

"It doesn't demand piloting skills from the user," he continues.

Interceptor Drones and Upcoming Developments

Defensive unmanned craft with that kind of autonomous capability could significantly enhance air defences targeting enemy remote strike aircraft, such as the notorious certain models.

"A computer-guided self-operating unit can be better than a human in so many ways," explains Azhnyuk. "It can be more perceptive. It detects the target sooner than a human can. It can be more agile."

The deputy defence minister says that kind of system is not yet available, but he mentions the country is nearing finishing its creation. "They've partially integrated it in some devices," states the deputy defence minister.

It's possible there will be many thousands of these technologies in place by the year 2026, predicts the developer.

Concerns and Dangers of Total Independence

But Local developers are cautious about fully making use of military technologies that depend solely on AI, without any operator input. The risk is AI might not distinguish a Ukrainian fighter from a Russian one, as they may be wearing the identical attire, says Vadym, who asked to remain anonymous.

The firm produces remote-operated machine guns, that use AI to automatically detect individuals and track them. Due to worries about friendly fire, he states they don't have an automatic shooting option.

"We can enable it, but we must gain further expertise and additional input from the ground forces to understand the safe conditions to employ this capability."

Ethical Issues and International Rules

Additionally, there are fears that AI-driven technologies will violate the rules of war. How can they avoid harming civilians, or tell apart soldiers who wish to yield?

For the deputy defence minister, the final decision in these cases must be made by a human, although AI would make it "simpler to choose". But it's not certain that states or armed groups will follow international humanitarian norms.

Therefore neutralizing these systems becomes increasingly important.

How can one halt a "swarm of drones" when jamming or using aircraft, tanks or missiles is rendered ineffective?

Ukraine's very effective "Web" mission, when a hundred unmanned aircraft targeted enemy military airports last June, was probably assisted by artificial intelligence.

Many in Ukraine worry that the adversary may replicate this approach, not only on the front line but beyond it too.

Ukraine's leader warned the UN recently that AI was contributing to "the most destructive weapons competition in human history."

He called for international regulations for the application of AI in weapons, and stated the issue was "equally pressing as preventing the spread of atomic arms."