Russian Military Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Developments: An Assessment
Speaker: Bendett, S. (CNA)
Date: 4 December 2021
Speaker Session Summary
SMA hosted speaker session presented by Mr. Samuel Bendett (CNA) as a part of its SMA EUCOM Speaker Series.
Mr. Bendett began his presentation by recognizing that new threats require new approaches to technological, intellectual, and human potential. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MOD), particularly over the last decade, has made major strides in developing new research and development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E) initiatives. According to Mr. Bendett, Russian MOD leadership helped ensure that the Russian army made a technological breakthrough related to the adoption of “robotic complexes” and intensified artificial intelligence research, for instance.
Next, Mr. Bendett discussed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developments in Russia over the past decade. He stated that the MOD organizes its drone fleet by companies that are divided into platoons based on the size and range of the UAVs they operate. This structure is designed to more easily facilitate command and control, as well as maintenance. Despite the developments that Russia has made with respect to UAVs, it recognizes its capability gap, Mr. Bendett stated. One of the starkest of Russia’s missing pieces is a combat UAV—a developing technology which has received recent global attention. Furthermore, Russia is developing unmanned ground, underwater, and surface vehicles. According to Mr. Bendett, Russia wants to connect all of its unmanned assets together with manned assets into a global web, where vehicles coordinate actions and exchange information and data. Furthermore, Russians view artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool for humans to make the best possible conclusions in targeting, Mr. Bendett explained. AI is not intended to replace a human; it is intended to work with a human and help the human make decisions. In all, while there is a drive for greater autonomy in Russia, it is with a “human-in-the-loop” approach. Russia is also interested in developing domestic, high-tech expertise and the digitization and intellectualization of its armed forces, Mr. Bendett added. He concluded his presentation by stating that, ultimately, Russia understands the need for military autonomy. It also understands how the world at large sees unmanned systems and is incorporating the lessons it has learned into its tactics and procedures.
Note: We are aware that many government IT providers have blocked access to YouTube from government machines during the pandemic in response to bandwidth limitations. We recommend viewing the recording on YouTube from a non-government computer or listening to the audio file (below), if you are in this position.
Samuel Bendett
Advisor, Russia Studies Program, at the CNA Adversary Analysis Group.
Member, CNA Center for Autonomy and AI.
Bio: https://www.cna.org/CAAI/Bendett_S
Samuel Bendett is an Adviser with CNA' Adversary Analysis Group, where he is a member of the Russia Studies Program. He is also an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security. His work involves research on the Russian defense and technology developments, such as unmanned military systems and Artificial Intelligence, as well as Russian military capabilities and decision-making during crises. He is also a Member of CNA’s Center for Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence.
Prior to joining CNA, Mr. Bendett worked at the National Defense University on emerging and disruptive technologies for government response in crisis situation, where he conducted research on behalf of the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy (OSD-P) and Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (OSD-AT&L). His previous experience includes working for US Congress, private sector and non-profit organizations on foreign policy, international conflict resolution, defense and security issues.
Mr. Bendett’s analyses, views and commentary on Russian military robotics, unmanned systems and Artificial Intelligence capabilities appear in the Forbes, C4ISRnet, DefenseOne, War on the Rocks, Breaking Defense, The National Interest and The Strategy Bridge. He frequently presents on the Russian unmanned systems and AI to the US government, private industry and academia, as well as think tanks and policy centers. He is also an honorary Mad Scientist with the USARMY TRADOC’s Mad Scientist Initiative. Between 2008 and 2016, he was a foreign policy and international affairs contributor to the RealClearWorld.com blog.
Samuel Bendett received his M.A. in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School, Tufts University and B.A. in Politics and English from Brandeis University. He has native fluency in Russian.
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