Artificial intelligence is poised to become a pillar of strategic military relevance. For the Army, the integration of artificial intelligence has gone beyond the simple drawing board to result in tangible applications, whether through autonomous intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, predictive logistics or real-time decision support systems.
These tools are already changing the pace of combat and reshaping what readiness looks like in the modern era.
As a military intelligence officer, I‘I’ve worked directly with AI-enhanced platforms like the Maven Smart System, which has proven how machine learning can ease the burden of information overload. Yet, despite this progress, gaps remain. Many artificial intelligence (AI) systems depend on constant connectivity – a luxury we often can‘not allowing yourself to be in contested or denied environments. The truth is blunt: tools that fail under pressure don’t.‘t tools, they‘regarding debts. For AI to truly transform tactical engagements, it must be robust enough to operate reliably at the edge, not just at headquarters. The Army lacks the seamless hardware-software integration needed in disconnected spaces.
The military must accelerate the development of tactical AI if it hopes to keep pace with rivals like China, whose military strategy is centered on ““intelligent” warfare, a doctrine integrating AI from top to bottom. Unlike the United States, which often relies on off-the-shelf commercial technologies, China builds with end-state integration in mind. Whether this will prove superior remains to be seen, but time is running out.
The army‘The company’s foray into AI now extends to both battlefield operations and back-office systems. This initiative focuses on three main objectives: smarter decisions, agile force planning and resilient logistics. It is essential to determine where the strength lies before planning where to go.
Operational tools
Platforms like Maven enhance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) functions, increasing analyst throughput while preserving human oversight. With this tool, hours of surveillance footage can be browsed in minutes, not days. At the same time, large language models (deep learning algorithms capable of generating content using large data sets, according to NVIDIA) are quietly revolutionizing scheduling and paperwork. Whether drafting operational orders or automating personnel files, these tools reduce administrative friction and free up human bandwidth for what really matters.
Meanwhile, Army Special Operations is dabbling in generative AI for influence operations – think text-to-speech and personalized messaging for psychological operations. He‘This is a new frontier, where persuasion and perception could be as important as firepower.
The army is‘I don’t just come up with shiny new toys – it‘It also means reworking digital plumbing. Consolidated cloud contracts and resource rationalization reduce costs and speed deployment. Task Force Lima, Ministry of War‘The generative AI brain trust ensures that all this innovation remains ethically grounded and mission aligned.
Avoiding roadblocks
But that‘Not everything is easy. High-quality data remains scarce, especially the classified data that matters most. Add to that the computational size of these tools – many of which require more power than deployed units can spare – and it becomes clear that AI scaling is not necessary.‘It’s not as simple as flipping a switch.
There‘This is also ethical terrain to tread. The United States sticks to one “Human-in-the-loop doctrine for lethal decisions, a stance that can slow soldiers down compared to adversaries more willing to cede the reins to machines.‘It is a noble principle, but one that comes with tactical compromises. But again, time will tell how the United States and its adversaries approach this topic.
The real test of AI lies not in sanitized labs or backroom offices, but in dirt-under-the-fingernails combat scenarios. Tactical units need tools that work independently, in chaos and under duress. AI, for example, allows drones and unmanned vehicles to detect threats without the need for uplinks to the cloud. That‘This is a game changer in cluttered or isolated environments.
Likewise, predictive maintenance tools help commanders anticipate failures before they cost lives or missions. Then there‘s fire coordination. Israel‘Fire Factory’s Fire Factory platform, for example, uses algorithms to select targets and plan strikes, balancing speed and precision in a way humans can do.‘does not match. On the cyber front, AI flags threats and suggests countermeasures in real time, essentially becoming a digital battle buddy in electronic warfare zones. Command and control platforms are also evolving. AI merges sensor feeds, terrain data, and troop movements to make small decisions for overwhelmed commanders.
AI should‘t replace the decision-the creators; it should be a tool in the tool shed. The most promising systems do not‘To issue orders, they provide options, allowing humans to manage things while acting faster and smarter. For a soldier engaged in a fluid firefight, that matters. To really understand what‘The challenge is that the military must study how its rivals use this technology.
One step ahead
The Chinese army‘the doctrine of ““intelligent” warfare‘It’s not just jargon, it’s‘a complete overhaul of how he fights. The Chinese are merging their civilian and military technological efforts, giving them a head start in research, development and deployment. Their goal? Undermining America’s kill chains and exploiting our human-machine coordination gaps.
Russia, on the other hand, is banking on AI for asymmetric victories. They‘I have tested autonomous drones and electronic spoofing tools in real combat, including in Ukraine and Syria. They‘we rely heavily on AI-generated disinformation, using synthetic media as a weapon to cloud judgment on and off the battlefield. Russia installs bots on social media to spread hate and disinformation.
Rapid progress brings new vulnerabilities. AI can speed up decisions, but this acceleration can reduce opportunities for de-escalation, increasing the risk of miscalculations. Deepfakes and manipulated media threaten to distort situational awareness. Existing systems, for their part, are simply not‘They are not designed to support AI, and upgrading them is not‘It’s not cheap or easy.
There‘There is also the specter of data poisoning, where adversaries inject bad data to mislead AI systems. He‘A subtle but serious risk that could turn our tools against us.
Take action
Win tomorrow‘Wars are about action today. Tactical AI can‘Don’t get trapped in focus groups or pilot programs. This requires integration on the ground. Above all, the Army needs tools that work when communications go dark. Investing in AI that can disconnect should be a top priority. Testing these tools during combat training center rotations would provide the realistic conditions necessary for their development.
The ethical framework defined by the Ministry of War‘The Office of the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer in 2023 should be maintained, but without letting red tape hinder innovation. Keeping humans informed of mortal decisions is not‘It’s not just a moral position, it’s‘This is part of what differentiates Americans from their less scrupulous rivals. Sometimes this will hold us back, as mentioned before, but time will tell who made the right decision in this category. That said, educating the armed forces – from privates to colonels – about AI‘Its limits and its potential are essential.
Interoperability can‘It won’t be an afterthought. Whether operating within NATO or in ad hoc coalitions, U.S. AI systems must work well with others. Partnered research and development efforts could also accelerate development and deepen strategic ties. The next war won‘The United States cannot fight alone.
The traditional acquisition process does not match rapidly evolving technology. The Army must adopt more flexible procurement pathways while clearly defining the types of AI tools it requires – in ISR, influence operations, and maneuver support. AI at the battalion level will help ensure that the intelligence officer can provide ground troops with timely and accurate information.
Sense of urgency
AI is‘I don’t come to the battlefield‘is here. The question is whether the Army can adopt it in a way that improves combat effectiveness without compromising ethics or reliability. China‘The integration model of the country and Russia‘The country’s asymmetrical strategies highlight the urgency of the situation. The United States must move from experimentation to execution, from PowerPoint briefings to deployment at the battalion, company, and platoon level.
This path requires more than technology. This requires cultural changes, smarter governance, agile infrastructure and cross-alliance cooperation. Done right, tactical AI won‘It’s not just another gadget, but a force multiplier defining the next era of warfare. As a military intelligence soldier, I can‘I can’t wait to use the latest and greatest features. The clock‘it’s turning, and the stakes could‘is not higher.
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Captain Stafford Harmond is a military intelligence officer assigned as the officer in charge of the intelligence staff section of 1st Battalion, 37th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. He is currently stationed at the southern border of the United States. He was deployed to Syria and Iraq. He has a bachelor‘graduated with a degree in justice studies from Montclair State University in New Jersey and is working on a master’s degree‘a diploma in intelligence studies at the American Military University in West Virginia.
