Since the invention of gun powder, submarines, and airplanes, the continuous technological transformation in the realm of military capability development drives threat perceptions of nations as well as adjustments of strategies for offensive and defensive warfare. Discussed under the technical term “Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA)”, the developments in 'Robotics' continue this trend as shown by the recent supply of U.S. “Phoenix Ghost” robotic kamikaze drones to the Ukraine. In addition, the combination with 'Artificial Intelligence (AI)' would lead to “brilliant weapons systems” capable of operating beyond human control and offering the opportunity to decrease casualty rates U.S. sources suggest that the Chinese armaments industry exported these weapons in 2019 to the Middle East, which cannot rule out that the technology also fell into the hands of terrorists.
These developments set the stage for the presented case study and two research questions for Germany: How will 'AI & Robotics (AI&R)' as 'Independent Variable (IV)' affect
a) the 'National Security (NS)' on the Grand Strategy level ('Dependent Variable = DV'),
b) how wars will be fought on the Military Strategy level (DV)?
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. GERMANY’S NATIONAL SECURITY
2.1 Concepts of Strategic Studies
2.2 Germany’s Grand Strategy and Military Strategy
3. AI & ROBOTICS
3.1 Definition, Characteristics, German AI Strategy
3.2 Military Use Cases
4. ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS
4.1 Antecedent Conditions
4.2 Opportunities, Threats, Challenges
5. CONCLUSION
ANNEX – EXCERPT OF GERMANY’S NI & POLITICAL OBJECTIVES
REFERENCES