The field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is evolving quickly. New artificially intelligent technologies are being developed continuously, and sometimes they can be ground-breaking. These technologies are increasingly incorporated into diverse aspects of everyday life and are becoming crucial for commercial, economic and scientific development and innovation. It is not surprising that the defence sector is also seeking to take advantage of AI and introduce these new technologies into the security arena. As explained by Murugesan (2022, p. 4), AI can be used, among other things, “for repetitive tasks to free up security staff for projects that require human ingenuity.” Furthermore, testifying to the benefits of AI, “NATO Member States have already started to invest in this technology and have incorporated it in their defence strategy” (Carlo, 2021, p. 269). Despite its benefits, AI is expected to bring “dramatic changes in the strategy, operational art, tactics and doctrines of the warring sides” (Ploumis, 2022, p. 1). On this line, changes need to be carefully considered and studied to prevent the risks they could engender. For example, AI technologies “have a substantial impact on cyber warfare, but could have an adverse effect and significantly increase the number and threat level of cyber-attacks in the future” (Kline et al., 2019). AI systems are thus expected to impact “the conduct of warfare, bring new capabilities into being, and alter power equations” (Singh Gill, 2019, p. 169). Drawing from these assumptions, this paper aims to study how AI can impact the nature of conflicts. In particular, the paper seeks to better understand the benefits and risks associated with the introduction of AI technologies in the security sector for military joint operations, considering technological compatibility and ethical considerations. How do developments of Artificial Intelligence Systems in the defence sector affect military cooperation? What are the benefits and risks associated with the inclusion of Artificial Intelligence in the defence sector?

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.