Abstract

The Military Decision-Making Process is arguably the single most important factor that decides the fate of an armed conflict. The emergence of AI-based Decision Support Systems are bound to influence this process. Towards this, it is important to understand what constitutes these support systems and how nations can optimally exploit their inevitable emergence. The impact would be felt in both the kinetic and non-kinetic applications of the armed forces. While doing so it is equally important to understand the associated risks involved and the plausible mitigating strategies. The inherent question of ethics and morality cannot be divorced from these strategies, especially when it involves decision-making processes that can involve disproportionate and indiscriminate casualties of both man and material. A holistic understanding of this crucial manned-unmanned teaming will allow responsible nations to assimilate and operationalize this into their joint warfighting doctrines, while denying this advantage to less responsible adversaries.