US to deploy AI-enhanced UAVs by August 2025

The US Armed Forces are set to deploy several thousand unmanned aerial and maritime vehicles equipped with artificial intelligence capabilities by August 2025.

In an interview with the Japanese newspaper Sankei, Kathleen Hicks, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, detailed the Pentagon's plans to integrate these low-cost systems into their operations, Caliber.Az reports.

Hicks emphasized that the AI-driven drones are designed to operate autonomously, particularly in situations with poor communication. This technological advancement is part of a strategic response to the growing rivalry with China. She noted that these unmanned systems represent the first phase of a broader initiative to incorporate AI into military technology, with plans for a subsequent wave of deployment.