Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. has written for Breaking Defense since 2011 and served as deputy editor for the site's first decade, covering technology, strategy, and policy with a particular focus on the US Army. He’s now a contributing editor focused on cyber, robotics, AI, and other critical technologies and policies that will shape the future of warfare. Sydney began covering defense at National Journal magazine in 1997 and holds degrees from Harvard, Cambridge, and Georgetown.
Over the last 11 months, the US has made major progress in defining “Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence” and even getting other nations to sign on the idea — without ever actually precluding the kind of automated “killer robots” activists want to ban.
From expendable drones, to ad hoc battle networks, to hacker “armies” of volunteers, the war in Ukraine has shown the big-spending US military new ways to fight in the Information Age.
“We still do hold a technological edge, but it’s a smaller edge than we used to have,” said Air Force Maj. Gen. David Snoddy. “We’re now focused on, let’s bring that margin back.”
Numerous, redundant satellites in low Earth orbit will link the new Marine Littoral Regiments to joint commanders, allowing them to serve as the eyes and ears of the joint force in the Pacific, said Lt. Gen. Matthew Glavy.
Quantum bits are potentially powerful but notoriously error-prone. Now a Harvard team says it has found a way to prevent mistakes — by manipulating individual atoms with laser beams — making quantum processing much more efficient.
Progress on CCA, the AI-piloted “loyal wingman,” and JADC2 command networks will stall if Congress cannot pass funding for fiscal 2024, the Air Force Secretary warned – while China races ahead.
“We no longer regard information as a separate consideration or the sole purview of technical specialists,” the new ADP 3-13 says. “Instead, we view information as a resource that is integrated into operations” — from cyberwar to psyops, reconnaissance to deterrence, social media to camouflage.
“If we want to fight as a system… you have to start sharing technology now,” the former head of the Pentagon’s Joint AI Center told Breaking Defense. “We can’t build the system on the eve of battle.”
Details are scant for now, but experts tell Breaking Defense that any AI agreement between China and the US could involve a pledge not to use AI in nuclear systems.
Soldiers burdened by 15-plus pounds of batteries — of multiple, incompatible types — could benefit from more efficient, standardized power sources like the Small Tactical Universal Battery.
While designed for military program managers, the app will be also available to the public so that industry, allies and ordinary citizens can understand how the Pentagon is implementing “responsible AI” – and how China is not.
BigBear.ai is on contract to combine 15 readiness data systems into a new cloud-based system called Global Force Integrated Management, while LMI leads on consolidating 28 more into the Army Training Integrated System.
The Air National Guard, regular Army, and Space Force are also exploring Hypori’s “zero trust” Bring Your Own Device approach to connect personal phones securely to government systems.
High-performance systems generate tremendous amounts of heat that can compromise missions and make high-tech systems less effective in tactical environments. But there is a solution to this modern-age challenge.
High-performance systems generate tremendous amounts of heat that can compromise missions and make high-tech systems less effective in tactical environments. But there is a solution to this modern-age challenge.
With programs like MTC, Millennium Space Systems is redefining what it means to be an operational prime – rapidly delivering operational small sat constellations on rapid timelines.
With programs like MTC, Millennium Space Systems is redefining what it means to be an operational prime – rapidly delivering operational small sat constellations on rapid timelines.
