New artificially intelligent technologies are being developed and becoming crucial for commercial, economic, and scientific progress. The defence sector is adopting AI to enhance security, using it “for repetitive tasks to free up security staff for projects that require human ingenuity” (Murugesan, 2022, p. 4), and “NATO Member States have already started to invest in this technology” (Carlo, 2021, p. 269). While AI offers benefits, it brings “dramatic changes in the strategy, operational art, tactics and doctrines of the warring sides” (Ploumis, 2022, p. 1) and may increase cyber-attack threats (Kline et al., 2019). AI is expected to impact “the conduct of warfare, bring new capabilities into being, and alter power equations” (Singh Gill, 2019, p. 169). This paper explores how AI affects conflicts, focusing on its benefits, risks, and implications for military cooperation, technological compatibility, and ethical considerations.

The Russian war in Ukraine has underscored the importance of air superiority in achieving war objectives, demonstrating that fighting without it involves massed armies relying on ground-based artillery firepower, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths in the first year. Preventing prolonged and deadly campaigns for Land Forces is critical for Europe, a goal achievable through strong air capabilities. The Western world and Russia have long led in air combat technology. Since the Cold War, other nations, notably China, have advanced their aircraft capabilities to counter Western technologies. Building advanced aircraft requires significant investment in technological warfare and serves as a marker of geopolitical strength. Possessing self-made aircraft demonstrates industrial and financial capacity, as well as determination to achieve defence autonomy. Thus, it is worth analyzing whether Europe has the capability and determination to develop a standard combat air system.