A consideration of how emerging military leaders perceive themes in the autonomous weapon system discourse. Issue 2 (3rd April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Galliott, Jai; Wyatt, Austin
• Is Part Of: Defence studies. Volume 22:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 253
• Page End: 276
• Publication Date: 2022-04-03
• Subjects: Autonomous weapon systems -- military ethics -- military innovation -- trusted autonomous systems -- military culture; Military policy -- Periodicals; International relations -- Periodicals; National security -- Periodicals; Defensive (Military science) -- Periodicals; 355.0305
• DOI: 10.1080/14702436.2021.2012653
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1470-2436

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The rapidly emerging scholarly literature responding to autonomous weapon systems has come to dominate our perceptions of future warfare. Scientists, governments, militaries, and civil society organisations continue to debate how to respond to their development. This paper draws on empirical data to consider how emerging defence leaders in the Australian Defence Force perceive major elements and questions within the autonomous weapon system literature. In doing so, this paper offers a data-driven end-user interpretation of the potential interactions between military officers and the autonomous weapon systems they may be asked to oversee. In the absence of a pre-emptive ban under international law, this paper presents a call for greater engagement with junior military leadership as a tool for analysing the assumptions made by policy makers and politicians on this issue.