Ground Robotics in Modern Combat

The automation of military vehicles and systems has long been a feature of warfare, but the emergence and development of ground robotics are revolutionising modern combat. Since their deployment in conflicts such as in Afghanistan and Iraq, ground robots have evolved into increasingly capable and autonomous entities integrated into military operations (Rosenberg, 2024). Fuelled by recent conflicts such as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the Russia-Ukraine War, which have highlighted the significant impact of military robotics on the battlefield, interest in the further development of this field continues. The development of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) has proceeded slowly, with ongoing challenges and questions surrounding their integration into military operations and ground forces (Gosselin-Malo, 2023). This paper aims to outline the advancements in ground robotics, explore the rationale for their increased proliferation in warfare, outline potential challenges in their widespread integration, and briefly analyse the deployment of such ordnance in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War.

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Revolutionising the Battlefield: How Unmanned Ground Vehicles are Replacing Humans in Armed Conflict

Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) are becoming increasingly common in security and combat operations. The introduction of Ukraine’s Lyut tank is a clear example of how automation is revolutionising armed combat. UGVs are currently capable of operating in a semi-autonomous manner but not in the use of lethal force. This paper will analyse the ways in which fully autonomous UGVS are being developed and introduced on the battlefield as well as the role that they may play in the future of security operations. As artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming omnipresent, it is necessary to understand the debate surrounding these systems in armed conflict.

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Smaller EU Member States and How They Navigate International Security Frameworks – the Case of Portugal and Estonia

This paper delves deeper into the often-overlooked role of smaller member states within international and regional security and defence frameworks by exploring their experiences and strategic choices within the EU and NATO security and defence frameworks. It is essential to understand how smaller member states’ interests often differ significantly from those of larger members. Despite their constrained power and relatively modest economic and military resources in comparison to larger neighbours, small states hold certain advantages that enhance their capacity to influence global affairs. While they may lack the military and economic might as larger nations, their persistence, determination, and steadfastness can yield significant outcomes. Effective policymaking can elevate a small state into an influential player on the international stage.

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EU Foreign Affairs Council Approves Ukraine Assistance Fund (UAF): €5 Billion for Military Aid

The European Peace Facility (EPF) has emerged as a critical financial instrument for delivering EU military assistance to Ukraine following the unprovoked Russian aggression against the country (Bilquin, 2023).Conceived as part of the 2016 EU Global Strategy, the EPF was established by the Council on 22 March 2021 through Council Decision CFSP 2021/509. It substitutes and expands upon former financial instruments and it is tailored to provide quick responses to security crises (Council of European Union, 2021), funding both lethal and non-lethal military equipment and supplies (Council of the European Union, 2024).

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Convergence and Divergences: Unravelling the Challenges and Opportunities of the Future Combat Aircraft of Europe, a key element for European Interoperability

The Russian war in Ukraine has reiterated the significance of air superiority in achieving war objectives. “The war in Ukraine shows what fighting without air superiority looks like – massed armies relying on ground-based artillery firepower for their lethality, with hundreds of thousands of dead in the first year”. So, preventing long and deadly campaigns for Land Forces is critical for Europe, which strong air capabilities can accomplish. The Western world and Russia have been on the vanguard of air combat technology for decades. Since the end of the Cold War, many further countries have embarked on developing their aircraft capabilities, with China putting together one of the most severe efforts to counter Western technologies. Nowadays, building advanced aircrafts requires heavy investment in technological warfare. It is also a simultaneous sign of geopolitical strength. Thus, the possession of self-made aircrafts is proof of having not only the industrial and financial capability to reach higher levels of defence autonomy, but also the will and determination to achieve such goals. In that regard, it is worth to analyse whether Europe has the capability and determination to achieve such a milestone in defensive capabilities as having a standard combat air system.

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