Prelude of WW3

Photo courtesy: Euronews

“I’ll be back.” These chilling words, spoken by the T-800 as he slowly submerges into molten lava, symbolize an end to the rise of a mortal machine. Yet, in modern warfare, this scene feels less like fiction and more like a warning. Machines, once confined to the imagination and at best making coffee, now dominate the battlefield with⸻autonomous drones, AI-driven tanks, and cutting-edge military strategies. The T-800’s dramatic demise served as a cautionary tale about humanity’s reliance on technology. Today, however, a critical question looms: is humanity advancing in a war in which it has already crossed the line? 

The debate arises from the implementation of autonomous drones in areas of conflict between Russian and Ukrainian forces. Now entering its third year, the war has seen advancements in military technology. Attention turned to the issue when Ukraine’s armed forces released a video showcasing a drone strike targeting Russian troops. The footage highlights the increasing reliance on autonomous technology in modern warfare, and it also vividly captures the raw fear of soldiers facing death from a mechanical enemy (Telegrafi) 

The use of drones has raised pressing questions about their ethical and strategic implications. For Ukraine, drones have become a crucial support system for Ukraine in addressing a critical manpower disadvantage: Russia’s population of 144 million far exceeds Ukraine’s 38 million. In response to this challenge, Ukraine’s President has established a new military branch dedicated to autonomous drone operations across land and sea: the Unmanned Systems Forces (Politico). 

The rise of autonomous drones in warfare underscores the urgent need to confront their ethical and strategic ramifications, consequences that are already reshaping the future of conflict.