Ukrainian Drone Maker Claims Autonomous Drones Killed Russian Soldiers in Test

A Ukrainian drone manufacturer has claimed that fully autonomous drones were used to kill Russian soldiers during a battlefield test conducted approximately two years ago.

Alexander Kokhanovskyy, CEO of the Ukrainian drone maker Aero Center, disclosed details of the one-time test during an interview with New Scientist at a press event hosted by the Ukrainian embassy in London.

According to Kokhanovskyy, quadcopter drones were preprogrammed to fly to a front-line area. Upon reaching the designated zone, an AI-powered "Terminator mode" was activated, enabling the drones to independently seek out and engage targets within the specified area.

While there was no direct video feed or other immediate visual confirmation of the drones' targets or attacks, Kokhanovskyy reported that human-piloted drones were subsequently dispatched to assess the aftermath. These drones reportedly found "a couple" of dead Russian soldiers, leading to the conclusion that they were killed by the fully autonomous drones.

If confirmed, this incident would represent a notable milestone in the ongoing conflict, which has reportedly driven rapid advancements in military drones, robotics, and AI-guided weaponry.

(Source: Ars Technica)