U.S. military advances toward autonomous battlefield dominance

The United States is entering an era of increasing battlefield autonomy, highlighted by the development of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). At the Air Force Association’s annual Air, Space & Cyber Conference, discussions centered on how these technologies represent an evolution toward future air dominance.

While the rise of autonomous systems prompts questions regarding the future role of combat pilots and operators, there is a strategic emphasis on maintaining human control. The current preference is to keep a human “on,” if not directly “in,” the kill chain to ensure oversight of battlefield technologies.